Lessons from Lowkey L
Chapter 12
An underrated aspect about Finessed Media, is the quality of Panelists that they’re able to bring on to their events. It’s not about the popularity of the panelist, it’s about what they believe in, and how willing they are to support the generation of artists and executives to come after them.
A lot of our panelists don’t have to pretend to relate to us, because they once were us. They too dreamt of working in the industry and worked hard to get to the point that they are now. When “Lowkey L”, A&R of “The Offense Triangle” and friend of Wayno’s, talked to us, he reinforced this idea wholeheartedly.
Just as our event started, our panelist, L, embraced us and the opportunity, sharing with us a mantra that he lives by, “each one, teach one”. As we got started, L spoke to us about not letting the industry control our lives. He emphasized the importance of good friends and family to help keep you grounded, because working in the music industry is still a job – a dream job, maybe, but a job nonetheless and it’s important to be able to get away.
L’s story is a story of patience and determination, both things that we should relate to. Anytime he had ideas, he worked to make them happen. If that meant learning how to do things himself, he did it. And by the time he met Wayno, another “hometown legend”, L was able to keep it cool, and took his time. He didn’t have to hound Wayno for opportunities, because he was going to hustle regardless. Because of this, L built a reputation based on the fact that he was a go-getter that could be trusted to get things done.
A lot of us in the positions that we’re in don’t understand the risks that people are taking when we want them to give us an opportunity – but L did, and negated that risk by working behind the scenes until his reputation spoke for him.
And even when his work began “speaking for itself”, L knew how important it was to not get caught up. One dope song, one dope event, none of that matters, if you can’t do it again. The industry is about longevity, and how determined you are to get better, regardless of how your past work is being received.
L has worked and met with plenty of artists over the years, and he’s noticed that a lot of them are “ready for the moment, but not ready for the rest”. It’s easy to fall in love with an idea that looks perfect in your head, but how do you react if things don’t go that way? How do you react after, even if things do go that way? To L, that’s what development is about. How ready are you for the rest of your life? And how bad do you really want it? It’s more than the music for a lot of the executives in the industry, it’s about your drive, and the best way to prove it – is to do it yourself.
Performed by @MitchMula
Directed by @Lowkey_L