From Rhymes to Resilience - 12 Lessons I Learnt From Hip Hop

Seeing as I’m slightly older than Hip Hop, it’s safe to say that I’m truly a member of the hip hop generation and I regard the majority of old school artists as family, since we all grew up together.??

The genre has been a huge influence in my life;

• If we were good friends, chances are you would have been gifted one of my hip hop CD mixes (shoutout to the Hot Sh*t series)?
• I've performed my own rap parodies at company presentations,?
• Opened speaking engagements with medleys of my favorite tracks,?
• Won lip sync battles with my lyrical prowess??

But even more, Hip Hop has presented me with a treasure trove of lessons with respect to managing careers;

Innovation and Adaptability: The constant evolution of the genre from Old School (which will always be my fave) to Gangsta to Drill to Crunk and more, has taught me the importance of staying fresh - being innovative and adaptable. Just as artists have experimented with new sounds and styles, we need to embrace change, learn new skills, and seek opportunities to stand out in a competitive market.

Turning Challenges into Opportunities: A number of my favorite artists faced adversity early in their careers -?they were young, often inexperienced, but the successful ones turned those challenges into opportunities by channeling their experiences into creative expression, teaching us the value of resilience. Similarly, I’ve coached many highly capable women who have been passed over for promotion, resigned from roles because of ill treatment etc. but have taken those setbacks as chances to grow and learn.

Embracing Diversity: As demonstrated by the many sub-genres, Hip Hop thrives on having diverse influences, styles, and perspectives. This has taught me to appreciate the benefits of diversity in my own career, even when I can't see it at first. Embracing different ideas, cultures, and viewpoints can lead to fresh insights and solutions.

Authentic Self-Expression: This has got to be one of my biggest lessons and has definitely come to the fore in the latter part of my career. Being my authentic self has helped me to foster trust and helped to build a genuine personal brand true to my values and strengths while navigating my career. Hip Hop encourages artists to be authentic and express their individuality.

Networking and Collaboration: Who doesn’t love a collaboration track from their favorite artists? Some my favorites have been;?

Lil’ Kim, Left Eye, Angie Martinez, Da Brat & Missy Elliott - Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)

Missy Elliott and Ludacris - Gossip Folks

Foxy Brown Feat Spagga Benz - Oh Yeah

They’ve recognized the power of teamwork. Networking and forming partnerships has been my focus for this year and it has opened doors and opportunities I couldn’t have achieved on my own. Building strong relationships can lead to mutual growth and success, both in your career and business.

Versatility and Multifaceted Skills: Now here comes the remix! Numerous?Hip Hop artists have ventured into acting, entrepreneurship, and other fields - I’m sure quite a few of the younger generation don’t know LL Cool J before NCIS LA or Queen Latifah aka Dana Owens before The Equalizer, Eve before coming and actress and the wife of Maximillion Cooper of Gumball Rally fame. They have learnt the value of versatility or not allowing yourself to be defined by one skill or applying those skills in a different context. I never imagined having spent the majority of my career in the contact centre industry that I would be prepared to be as equally as successful in a totally different country in the Telecoms sector, but the analytical skillset I developed served me well in an equally numbers driven environment.

Learning to be adaptable is a key asset when considering career pivots, changes of industry, change of roles etc., and developing a diverse range of skills can expand career options and open doors to unexpected opportunities.

Persistence and Perseverance: Transitioning to entrepreneurship, I experienced a lot of Nos, just like artists often faced rejection before achieving success - their style was different, no one understood the music, in some cases they were the not deemed smart enough, case in point Jay Z who after being rejected from numerous record labels created his own Roc A Fella. His story highlights the importance of persistence and I’m sure we all have our own stories we can share.

During my own career, I've been told I’m “not the right fit”, over qualified, under qualified, we’d love to employ you however… and as disheartening as these situations were, I took the time to see what I could learn from each, with the view that challenges can be overcome.?

Effective Communication: Hip Hop relies on storytelling and lyrical prowess. Nas - known for his intricate storytelling and thoughtful lyrics, exemplifies careful planning and structured storytelling, just like setting a career path. Strong communication skills enable you to articulate ideas, build relationships, and influence others positively, a definite plus in any career.?

Longevity: I wasn't joking when I said at the top of this article that I feel like that I've grown up with my fave artists as they're still producing tracks that I want to hear. And a quite a few of them are even better than when they started in the game (hello have you seen Method Man ??).?They haven't brought into the narrative that at 50, all they should be thinking about is how to be content with their pipe and slippers. They understand that it gets greater later as you have the benefit of experience.?

Lifelong Learning: The aforementioned longevity is primarily due to Hip Hop artists continually evolving and refining their craft. This showcases the value of continuous learning and self-improvement. I'm a firm believer that you should be the biggest investor in your personal development, seeking opportunities to learn and grow throughout your career.

Seizing Opportunities: Beats by Dre, Kanye and Yeezy, Rhianna and Savage Fenty, 50 Cent and the Power series, Diddy and Ciroc to name a few, Hip Hop artists have often seized the moment, capitalizing on trends and cultural shifts. It pays huge dividends staying vigilant for opportunities and being willing to take calculated risks to advance your career. My recent client, a Head of Marketing saw the opportunity to lead a project outside of her comfort zone due to a colleague being taken ill. It placed her in unfamiliar territory, she had to research, propose and execute a strategy that would boost customer engagement, work cross functionally and with third parties. It made her incredibly nervous, but she delivered on time and within budget. The results caught the attention of the Board, increasing her profile, given more responsibility, and eventually a well deserved promotion.

Seizing the opportunity, even outside your comfort zone, can lead to remarkable career growth.

Command your space: I love live performances, watching how the artists own the stage with charisma, I can't lie there have been times I've channeled my inner Missy Elliott when about to take the stage attempting to command my professional space with confidence. That presence and demeanor influences how others perceive you.

Incorporating these lessons from Hip Hop can help you approach your career with a fresh perspective, cultivate resilience, and navigate the ever-changing professional landscape with confidence and creativity.

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