1/I used to be a booking agent for musicians. One year during SXSW I was with a few of my artists; there was an up and coming artist that booking agents from across the country told me they were getting sick of. They felt he was disrespectful to them. I took him aside and said https://twitter.com/thecompanyman/status/1332373759425015811

2/“Everyone behind the scenes in this biz knows each other. I know it’s a lot of pressure when you blow up fast but try not to drag people to make a name for yourself because when your star falls, & it always does in this business, the behind the scene folks will still be there.”

3/“You won’t always be famous, but if you’re kind to people, you’ll always work. Talent is great, but there are a lot of talked folks waiting to take your place— if they’re also humble, that’s who booking agents and venues are going to want, especially when your crowds shrink.”

4/I gave him a hug and said, “I think you’re really talented I just don’t want you to get in your own way.” It was a 10 min convo but a few years later he was performing in NYC, saw me at a bar, & thanked me for the advice. His crowds were already getting small but he was working

5/I’ve worked with a lot of people that have been in “the spotlight” (Grammy, Tony, and Oscar winners) and quick fame either makes your a bit of a monster or it humbles you because there is a ton of pressure on you to “be” what the media or crowds think you are.

6/Anyway, I don’t know Young Thug, but I have met/spoken to Andre 3000 a few times (neither are the artist I was talking about in the story BTW) but Young Thug will learn it never works out well to drag fellow artists like that, especially the ones who’ve clearly influenced you.