We were lucky to catch up with Darren Collins recently and have shared our conversation below.
Darren, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
That’s a great question! I keep my creativity alive by trusting what I feel inside. I block out the outside/world and allow what I feel inside to be free without doubt, fear or hesitation. To be a creative, you must do what feels right to you. The moment you start to create from something other than what feels right to you leads to a path of failure or hard lessons. There is only one you so nobody can tell you what you truly feel inside when it comes to being creative passionately.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
The short answer in what I do is that I am a recording artist first. I love to create songs. I am passionate and very serious about how I use my influence. Being a small business owner is a separate conversation. Even in that, you have to remember that business is business and your creativity is creativity. When you are truly passionate about creating and then work hard at perfecting your craft.. the money will come secondary. It’s the creativity that ultimately allows you to the money. Without the creativity (product) there is no money to come. Creativity first, finding a way to fund what you love creating comes close second.
My stage name is THE RIDAH G.O.D and you can simply google search me. Links should pop up to get you to my music and other creative things that I do. I am actually in the middle of a rebrand at this time. I am from Little Rock, Arkansas. I record rap/hip hop songs. Being older now, I use my platform to inspire and awaken to the best of my ability. I am an independent artist/brand. I pretty much fund my own movement at this time. Indie usually means that you pretty much fund your own movement unless you have outside financial backing that funds/invest in what you are doing. I’m unfortunately not at that stage as of yet but plan to be very soon. Being from Arkansas puts you in a much different space when it comes to rap/hip hop. Our market has literally been excluded in the first 50 years of hip hop. I come from a city and state where there is immense talent in any genre that you can think of including rap/hip hop. For that very reason, it’s sometimes hard to be taken seriously as an artist. Therefore, you have to be almost great literally. In the midst of all of that, the music business in large is undergoing a complete makeover. Depending on your perspective, that can seem scary but I see that as exciting. It’s much needed.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Failure, faith and passion. Failure brings forth wisdom. Educate yourself in your area of expertise whatever that means to you. Faith in yourself will instill belief allowing you to never give up on you. Passion/love for what you do allows you to always blow past haters or doubters. If you don’t believe in you then how do you expect others to believe in you. Never attach your self esteem to things outside of what’s inside of you.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
“ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MUSIC BUSINESS” by Donald Passman. It has always been considered the Bible for the music business. It’s a must have.
Contact Info:
- Website: theridahgod.com
- Instagram: @theridahgod
- Facebook: @theridahgodofficial
