Derek Minor must be a morning person.
On Thursday before 9 a.m. ET, the Reflection Music Group rapper/producer/co-founder took to Twitter to get what seemed to be a burden off his chest.
He touched on a few topics — prioritizing business versus ministry and the pettiness of the “Christian rapper” title debate, but the overarching theme was a plea for readers to examine their motives.
Nineteen tweets later, Minor started a healthy conversation.
To be successful, have people that are believers, not exploiters on your team. Major
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
I'll take 2 lesser qualified people that believe in me around vs 200 people who just want to pillage my talent, any day of the week.
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
Many people chase after the big names and big resources to push them farther and overlook the gold in their backyard.
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
Build a team that loves what you do and grow together! Everything you need to be what God desires is in and around you!
MAJOR— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
Met @StrangeMusicCEO a long time a go. He probably doesn't remember but he told me something vital. He said I don't hire industry people.
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
Said he hires people that are serious and get the job done. Not smooth talking industry hacks that are full… You get the picture.
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
When the CEO of one of the most successful indie labels speaks you listen. Just passing that info along to you, my friends!
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
I'm not done. Got some more to say.
Please pay attention to what I'm saying next.— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
Sometimes success is the worst thing for a culture. I believe that true with young Christians making urban music.
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
At one point and time, we didn't care about brand at ALL. <<that was a bad thing.
All we cared about was Jesus <<that was a good thing.
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
As we've gotten better and doing business, it would seem our culture has become more focused on beating Reach Records, than growing hearts.
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
It's like as people rose, either the collective motives of the culture saw the other stuff as less important or were hiding all along
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
This is the music industry but what made what we were doing special is what was happening OUTSIDE of the industry.
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
I'm not talking about a specific person or group, I'm directing this to you! Look inside and ask yourself… Why am I doing this?
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
I mourn the day that we are caught up in the title of whether someone is a Christian rapper or rapper that's a Christian.
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
We over here worried about some dumb titles and could careless about people's hearts. We worried about numbers and don't care about hearts.
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
Newsflash!
Jopp – Christian rapper
Asaiah Ziv – Rapper that's ChristianBoth are neither now.
Titles still matter to y'all tho?
— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
When this is no longer about the people and solely about money and influence…
I'm out; Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016
Ok now I'm finished.
Pick up the 's— Derek Minor (@thederekminor) February 4, 2016