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The results aren't as tangibly measurable as other industries. You can say in education, a teacher needs needs x enrollment, y amount of passing students, z holding an internship/job. You can say in health, a worker needs to reach a type people, we need to implement b type care & policies, etc. But in measuring an artist's growth, it's less finite. Yes, we can go off of sales and analyze the business side of it, but I'm assuming we're talking about artistic integrity & growth.
The debate I notice always boil down to two preferences, or two crowds; Ones who like an artist for their signature sound and what they're known for, and ones who like an artist because they always try to outdo themselves, challenge themselves, hone their skills, and the like.
I honestly believe both are fine.
But crowd A type folks would be concerned if Sade started embracing bluegrass in a new album, or Stevie started finding ways to sing to trap beats.
And crowd B type folks would be concerned, or more so bored, if every single album by John Legend or Alicia Keys, or whoever sounds too similar to each other.
The complaints from people who say "stop creating" seem to be crowd A-type folks; who know they love the artist and know why the love the artist and that love is instilled all up in em, but refuse to let the beloved artist recreate themselves. And that's why, as much shyt as I may talk about an artist I no longer like, or sold out, I really don't dwell long on it if they want to change their sound.
Ex1: Musiq. I haven't listened to Musiq in years but I rode hard for him w/ his last two albums. But his most recent ish? I know he's going for wider audience. Wack to me, but you do you. I just won't buy your albums. But I'm not going to tell him stop making music.
Ex2: Ledisi. Same issue as Musiq. I truly adore her when she performs, but her songs? No not at all. Don't like the modern ill-produced Ledisi. But I'm not going to tell her to stop making music.
The ultimate thing about this?
Intention.
Are these artists, legends or not, putting the same energy they put as in the work that we fell in love with? Are they really making sure a song is written so that you *really* are being honest in what your saying? Are you really stucturing a song so that people can get *really* lose themselves to dance/crying/joy/rage? Are you messing w/ that chord progession enough to see it morphed into something else, or are you settling for some A than B than A than B with no variation?
If you aren't lazy, and your supporters are *honest with themselves* about not liking it, and not just clinging on to your old music, don't stop making music: someone will feel it.
If you have become lazy, and your supporters are honest with themselves in that analysis, don't stop making music: just come harder
That honestly is exactly how I view it. Don't stop making music if your heart is still there. If the energy and intention behind the music is heartfelt, your ass WILL doing some kind of work to show for that. And someone or something, maybe not even in this generation, will feel you.
------------------ reflect.
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