How to Be a Lyricist-Pt. 1 – Be Real or Be Silent (Theme: Be Authentic to Your Identity)

   In a world where everyone’s chasing trends, authenticity is rebellion. Being a lyricist isn’t about saying what’s popular — it’s about saying what’s true. You are your subject, your source, your muse. If you can’t be honest on the page, step back until you can.

 I did quite a bit of research and came back to a name that had been in the front of my brain ……..Enfantu Raa. Yes….it was powerful, different, even had the reference to Raa the sun god. Little g not big G. This name is one that I had in my mind and used for characters I would create as a kid. In my attempt to find a name that fit me, that I could identify with that was different than what I commonly heard…..it became apparent to me that I was overlooking the one name that had been with me since I was a kid.

Your story might not be polished, your past might not be pretty — but it’s yours. Own it, write it, whether you’re heartbroken, angry, enlightened, or confused, pour that into the verse. Your realness resonates. It cuts through the noise that is so loud on the internet and everywhere else today.

Don't edit your truth for acceptance. If you're from the suburbs but feel the streets in your bones, say that. If you’re deeply spiritual, say that. If you’re insecure, anxious, joyful, wild, grieving — say that. Vulnerability is not weakness — it’s your power in the world of wordsmiths.

Mimicking another artist’s flow or aesthetic might get you applause for a moment, but it won’t build legacy. Your legacy is in your lens and you have to flush it out. What do you see that no one else sees? What do you feel that others can’t articulate? Put that in the rhyme.

Being authentic also means letting your identity evolve. As you grow, your lyrics should too. What was real for you at 18 might not be at 28 — and that’s okay. Document that shift and growth is part of the story. At 53 I am not talking about what I did at 18, I’m in a different space of my life. In the end, your voice is your power. Don’t water it down or dress it up. Say what only you can say — or don’t say anything at all. Real bars hit harder. Always.

And as always……r u using ur mind?