"microphone-1209604"by BelaTroszt is licensed under CC BY 2.0

In an era where technology has allowed the majority of society to be able to connect and share their thoughts and talents with the world, it seems that daily we're being told about the next big thing and the next one to blow. Often times they are people most of the public has never heard of, creating the illusion of overnight success.

In reality, what is the definition of success for a rapper? Is it the number of YouTube views? Soundcloud and Spotify streams? A large following on these and other social media platforms? All of these things can be purchased creating the notion that a rapper is more popular than they actually are, therefore creating the need for a more accurate definition of what success really means.

Some people still operate under the belief that "making it" means getting a recording contract with a major label. This outdated way of thinking coupled with not understanding how the mainstream music machine functions causes them to think if a rapper doesn't have all of these things they aren't successful and should stop pursuing their dreams.

There are reasons for a rapper to stop rapping, age is not one of them. Ageism in music is nonsensical due to the fact there is more than one demographic that listens to music. Mainstream music tends to cater to the 16-24 crowd, so who's making music for those 25 and up?

They enjoy making music.

Art is a form of self-expression and can be therapeutic. Having fun with a gift you've been given makes life great. Exercising your passion can be exhilarating and make you feel good about yourself. Taking the time to enjoy things that are important to you can help you recharge and be a functioning member of society.

They have something to say.

With mainstream music saturated with formulaic songs that the label thinks will sell, there aren’t enough artists actually speaking truth about a variety of topics.

There's more than one demographic.

Considering the fact that Hip Hop was officially birthed in the 70s, lovers of hip hop are from a different demographic than radio & mainstream rap is trying to reach. As the core fans from the 70s-90s get older, there's still a need to relate to this demographic and address their situations & lifestyles. After all they're the ones who initially supported the artistry with their greenbacks.

People who feel compelled to make music are drawn to it for a reason— there’s someone out there that needs to hear what they have to say. Recommending someone stifle their voice because of antiquated ideas about success at a certain age is villainous. Hip Hop is not something you can just give up once it’s a part of you, nor should anyone have to just because of how many trips they’ve made around the sun. As we grow older and evolve, our perspectives on the world do the same. That extra knowledge gained through maturing can provide a necessary wisdom to the art form and supply inspiration for the newcomers that will be following the same path.