Week 3: Confessions of a broke rapper

I saw a Facebook post the other day, the author shared a screen shot of a musician boasting about their worldly possessions. He commented that people shouldn't make a public post on social media every time they make money, just get on with the rewards of their hard work, and be quiet with it. He must see a lot of it or something, because that post triggered him to write in caps lock.

I understood what he meant. I know of a couple people who post about making "money moves", but

they honestly do it for the gram. You know the ones, depending off of government benefits? Or the one who think that their financial status will reflect their social status amongst friends and families? Their image is so important, they use making money as a means to "flex" or a way to get back at people whom did them wrong in the past.

Growing up in a pacific island household and surrounded by Polynesians for majority of my life, Ive noted that Money is a blessing and curse. When you have it, family from overseas and here in New-Zealand want you to spend half of your life's earning on a wedding, funeral or birthday (the worst part is when its for people you don't even know). When you don't have it, you can already hear the "why don't you have a job yet Jonah?", "do you have any money Jonah?" or more recently "when are you making money off your music?". 

It almost seems that my family and the pacific community alike, place money as too great of an importance and clouds their judgement in a way that becomes greedy and closed off from the world, despite our people having a schema that involves community and well-being of "us" instead of "me". I know its my duty to love and help others. I know that we’re supposed to do good things for one another and give what we can to help. Not for gold stars. For intention, not attention. But somewhere along the line, somethings got to give.

For me personally, Money has never been a thing. I have never cared about how much someone earns, or where they sit on the classes of society. Its never stopped me from being the loving and caring person, I feel I am. However, being a university student and a musician now, funds definitely become an important aspect of living (just not the most important). From having enough for my train fare to owning recording gear, are things I need to help me grow as an artist and student of the world, because as the old saying goes "money doesn't grow on trees". And if it did, there'd be no more oxygen and trees in the world. Such a complex topic, I have decided to write and rap on life experiences and my constant wrestle with funds in my latest track, Confessions of a broke rapper. The song as a whole took me four days to write. 

The first verse is telling the story of my day to day life, from the eyes of a "broke rapper". I confess many things such as 
"coins spinning out of control, when I put it on the counter of the store"  
"the dollar fifty pies is all I can afford" 
These lines are indications that the image of rappers having money, fast cars , girls aren't always accurate and in fact artists began from similar, if not the same, humble beginnings.

I go on to rap :
"Dont forget my tertiary course and my family who be breaking backs at the crack of dawn". This is paying homage to not only my family, but the people whom work hard and have inspired me to make better life choices,through further education. Also coming from a family whom are devote catholics and telling me to pray everyday (which I do lol).
 "I be praying to the Lord//Praying for My Flaws//Praying That I Ball//Money Till I Fall". 

Like many other artists I do dream of getting payed. Recognition on that level would be appreciated right now please. But at the same time, I haven't lost sight of whats important to me. 

My Family and friends, faith and music.