As social chaos in the world rises, there’s an uncertainty that we face in the future of society. There are looming dark clouds that seem to have been placed over our heads. This subtle restlessness buzzes in the back of our subconscious minds. We’re fed fear and constantly told to mask our inner feelings because there are more grave problems that exist beyond our own.
I was asked by my brother:
“How do we do it, Erik? How do we change the culture? How do we make people change their minds? How do we wake people up?”
What a loaded question. But let me do my best to answer it...
Art.
Art that captivates. Art that inspires. Art that challenges. Art that pulls emotion. Art that questions.
That’s what can be used to change the culture. By making dope art that makes people question themselves and reality.
Art that angers. Art that saves. Art that heals. Art that rebuilds. Art that strengthens.
That’s what I tried to do with my book, “Hert.” Some people got it. Others breezed over it without finding the deeper meaning. Or simply, taking it at face value which enraged them; rather than understanding the complexities of the story I told. It is easier to be triggered than it is to think.
The sad reality is that you have to find a way to combine ideas together in such a manner that attracts the audience’s attention; which not only scratches the surface, but also reveals the gold hidden underneath.
I’ve always gravitated towards artists that push buttons to create cultural shifts. Artists that breathe controversy and push boundaries placed by the masses.
The likes of Eminem, Kanye West, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, Tupac Shakur, Daniel Caesar, Russell Vitale, XXXTentacion, Martin Luther King Jr., Rollo Tomassi, Michael Jackson, Kendrick Lamar, etc.
Their ability to create despite adversity, to think freely despite the backlash, and to inspire others without fear of failure.
Not many want to “awaken,” it’s like the blue pill reality that most are okay with. They never wanted it. They fight it. But, there are others that are looking to find meaning, and there’s a significance in seeing the world for what it is: The Red Pill. There’s more to the world than fear. There’s more out there that people don’t see. There’s plenty of people in the world that think like you. You just have to spread your “art” or self to those people and find your community that sees the world as you do. Once that happens, with that unity, then the message is further spread; which can fall onto the eyes of people ready to see for the first time in their lives.
You can’t force anyone to see, they have to choose to. But you can keep working on yourself and hopefully, they’ll eventually come around. It’s like how people don’t see your vision until it becomes reality then everyone “clout chases” your success.
When you attempt to force an idea, people reject the message. The harsh reality is that people only learn when they suffer or gain experience, no matter how hard you try to instill ideas.
But if you’ve built a foundation and people finally wake up, they look at your art and go, “Whoa, they’ve always known and they were giving me clues. I just had to piece them together.” Or you help someone critically think from the first time they see your art.
Art with a passion, a message, is what connects people not only to others but themselves.
“I love that Erik, thank you. You pulled me out of a hole that I started digging. You’re right, it’s like a woman with sex, you can’t negotiate genuine desire, just like you can’t negotiate natural change, natural energy change. You have to keep on doing you until people follow you. You can’t tell them to follow you because people naturally don’t listen. It’s a hard reality, but we took that red pill a long time ago. We have to keep on going no matter what.
The blue pill tastes sweet, but full of sugar. The red pill tastes bitter, but is filled with nutrients. We have to make the outcome more important than the initial pleasure.”
— My Brother
In an unreleased song by Kendrick Lamar that leaked called Prayer (surrounding the notion of critics and cancel culture) he states: “The bodies that you consider genius, you like to box ’em in.” In regards to idols such as Michael Jackson and MLK Jr. dealing with the ruthlessness of media portrayal, even after their deaths.
There is a sickening culture of “holier-than-thou” by critics, fans, family, and friends alike; towards artists who are doing nothing but expressing themselves and telling stories of humanity’s imperfectness. “Talent doesn’t choose morality.” Kendrick raps explaining the cognitive dissonance of a person such as Carl Benz being a racist, would they stop driving cars altogether? This slippery slope of never-ending cancellations would leave the world void of everything.
A life worth living is given to us by artists who make us feel. To judge everything on what’s allowed and what isn’t on the basis of morality, no great art would exist because it would then be forced in the confines of a “safe box.” To pander and appeal to the masses of groupthink does more damage under a false pretense of progressiveness. All this does is establish a form of censorship in the ideas that can be actualized. This creates a delusion in the minds of the masses which fail to see the truth of the real world. Artists exist on a higher plane of expressiveness because of their capacity to be creative in their vulnerability. Most people are just consumers of creations to which they should have no definitive say in what is created.
On Yeezus, the sample used by Kanye West’s song On Sight sings, “Oh, he’ll give us what we need, it may not be what we want.” Consumers are unaware of the need to have such radical art rather than what they imagine they desire. What is often of shock value, must like Yeezus, is later hailed as revolutionizing to an entire industry. Rather than giving fans more of what they already enjoy (soul samples), Kanye chose to pursue the shattering of perceptions and boundaries. Steve Jobs once said, “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.” Hence, we would’ve never had such groundbreaking innovation in Apple or Pixar had Steve chose to abide and settle with previous successes. On the Zane Lowe interview, Kanye expresses that “[people] don’t have the education to know what to want,” because what is the “least genius or inspired” is what sells the most. But that isn’t what art is limited to, what Kanye strives for is what is “dope and makes money” to show unparalleled brilliance with a synergy of high culture and modern ideas.
The final line of Kendrick’s song Prayer struck me to my core:
“Just know the Earth is just a rock without the voices of art.”
Artists are those that can tap into the dark frequency of society’s pain and bring it to light.
Artists craft mirrors with pens, brushes, images, and sounds to show people an unpleasant reflection of themselves.
Those that “cancel” everything that goes against their perceptions are projecting their fear of art that reminds them of a reality that exists beyond their worldview.
Everything I write is designed to make you think. Question everything.
Ultimately, if you want to change the world, you must change your own.
Focus on you, your family, and your community.
That’s all that really matters.
Be ruthless with your art and daring enough to show the world.
Sincerely yours,
Erik De La Cruz.