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You have everything you need to build an empire.
In 2015, Steve Lacy, an 18-year-old producer, was nominated for a Grammy for an album he produced on his iPhone.
Two years later, he produced a track for Kendrick Lamar.
[3 lessons & a short story
]
![You have everything you need to build an empire.In 2015, Steve Lacy, an 18-year-old producer, was nominated for a Grammy for an album he produced on his iPhone. Two years later, he produced a track for Kendrick Lamar.[3 lessons & a short story ]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/El8igWWXIAEwkNe.jpg "You have everything you need to build an empire.In 2015, Steve Lacy, an 18-year-old producer, was nominated for a Grammy for an album he produced on his iPhone. Two years later, he produced a track for Kendrick Lamar.[3 lessons & a short story ]")
In 2015, Steve Lacy, an 18-year-old producer, was nominated for a Grammy for an album he produced on his iPhone.
Two years later, he produced a track for Kendrick Lamar.
[3 lessons & a short story
]
1.) The tools don't matter.
"He wants to remind people that the performance, the song, the feeling matter more than the gear you use to make it. If you want to make something, grab whatever you have & just make it. If it's good, people will notice. Maybe even Kendrick Lamar."
"He wants to remind people that the performance, the song, the feeling matter more than the gear you use to make it. If you want to make something, grab whatever you have & just make it. If it's good, people will notice. Maybe even Kendrick Lamar."
2.) What you make does.
Lacy didn't own a laptop, only a phone.
"He jailbroke his iPhone, which gave him access to an app called Bridge that could save songs straight from the internet...he started making beats all the time. At home. While driving. In class."
Lacy didn't own a laptop, only a phone.
"He jailbroke his iPhone, which gave him access to an app called Bridge that could save songs straight from the internet...he started making beats all the time. At home. While driving. In class."
THE STORY OF PRIDE
Lacy got connected with Kendrick Lamar through a mutual friend. He got himself in a studio session.
When everyone was sitting around on their phones, Lacy chimed in.
"Let me play you some stuff."
Lacy got connected with Kendrick Lamar through a mutual friend. He got himself in a studio session.
When everyone was sitting around on their phones, Lacy chimed in.
"Let me play you some stuff."
Kendrick liked what he heard.
"Put your number in my phone."
Lacy did. Kendrick hit him up a few days later & said he might like to do something with a beat.
Lacy sent one.
A few months later, when he hadn't heard anything, Lacy reached out. He wanted to get together.
"Put your number in my phone."
Lacy did. Kendrick hit him up a few days later & said he might like to do something with a beat.
Lacy sent one.
A few months later, when he hadn't heard anything, Lacy reached out. He wanted to get together.
Kendrick couldn't.
"I'm busy."
He was working on DAMN, the most anticipated rap album of 2017.
Lacy asked if Kendrick had the tracklist.
Kendrick responded, "Lol. 'Wasn't There' [Lacy's track] is Track 4."
That song became PRIDE. https://open.spotify.com/track/6IZvVAP7VPPnsGX6bvgkqg?si=Q-UVao_zQLCQr69Hvh4gig
"I'm busy."
He was working on DAMN, the most anticipated rap album of 2017.
Lacy asked if Kendrick had the tracklist.
Kendrick responded, "Lol. 'Wasn't There' [Lacy's track] is Track 4."
That song became PRIDE. https://open.spotify.com/track/6IZvVAP7VPPnsGX6bvgkqg?si=Q-UVao_zQLCQr69Hvh4gig
DAMN won five Grammys, including Best Rap Album.
Side note:
Kendrick Lamar won a Pulitzer Prize for DAMN. He is the first rapper to win a Pulitzer. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/16/kendrick-lamar-scored-a-pulitzer-prize-for-his-album-damn.html
Side note:
Kendrick Lamar won a Pulitzer Prize for DAMN. He is the first rapper to win a Pulitzer. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/16/kendrick-lamar-scored-a-pulitzer-prize-for-his-album-damn.html
3.) Don't fix what isn't broken.
"One thing won't change, though: Lacy's going to keep making music on his iPhone."
"The newest addition to his studio setup? A second phone. Mostly because too many people now have his number & it won't stop ringing long enough to let him work."
"One thing won't change, though: Lacy's going to keep making music on his iPhone."
"The newest addition to his studio setup? A second phone. Mostly because too many people now have his number & it won't stop ringing long enough to let him work."
If Steve Lacy can produce a track for a Grammy award-winning album with an iPhone, what's stopping you?
The tools do not matter.
What you make with them does.
Go make stuff.
The tools do not matter.
What you make with them does.
Go make stuff.
Quotes in this thread from: https://www.wired.com/2017/04/steve-lacy-iphone-producer/#:~:text=Steve%20Lacy%20Produced%20That%20Hot,Using%20Only%20His%20iPhone%20%7C%20WIRED
Thank you to @oliviercantin for the tweet that inspired this thread.
Also, shout out to @JoePompliano for his high-quality threads which served as the inspo for the structure of this one.
Check both of them out.
Also, shout out to @JoePompliano for his high-quality threads which served as the inspo for the structure of this one.
Check both of them out.
