As I read the Twitter feed responses to the Drake versus Meek Mill beef, all I could do was laugh out loud. With social media and rap's industry influence, major brands are taking note and weighing in.
Featuring a picture of their chicken sandwich - White Castle posted:
Rosetta Stone - a leading company of language learning courses posted:
I know for a fact that I'm not the only one that got a kick out of the memes and tweets. At his OVO Fest last night, Drake included the Whataburger tweet as part of his presentation:
If nothing else, it's a clear indication of how hip-hop's cultural influence, is not only global - but corporate - even when record sales are NOT the bottom line.
Now the point of this post - there are some good lessons that entrepreneurs can learn from this influential exchange.
- TALENT + TIMING = TRIUMPH - Yes, you can look the part and act the part, but your product or service matters. It's not about the appearance or presentation alone. Meek started with a post, and his street cred outweighs Drake's. However, Drake put out a great finished product in his two diss records. The first one had people blank staring. The second had us eulogizing Meek Mill the rapper. Say what you will about Drake - he won. No questions asked.
As an entrepreneur, like Drake's verses your product or service must be solid, and focused on the task at hand. You must deliver it directly to your target audience clearly, confidently and make sure that it's consistent with your message. Also, a sloppy product could have irreparable damage to your reputation and business. Pushing out a weak product or service without the proper systems in place will cause you to lose money. Like fans or listeners, potential clients are fickle and will always choose the best quality product.
Instead of taking it personal, make things personal - with the right people. Network and connect with people that actually can benefit from what you have to offer. Start local, create a solid online presence and make one-on-one connections with other like-minded people.
It shifts the focus from WHAT REALLY MATTERS: NUMBERS. The tour is doing well. Meek's album was at the top of the charts. So whether or not Drake has a ghostwriter or promotes Meek's album - Moot. Irrelevant. Miscellaneous. Whatever.
As an entrepreneur, you have to make sure that you focus on what really matters and make proper decisions that benefit your brand. Corporations spend quite a bit of money monitoring what's posted about them and looking into reputable brand partnerships. Be careful. One bad tweet could have a potential partner or client reluctant to work with you.
Entrepreneurs take note - don't get caught up in gossip or trends, because your real competition won't. Also, when you compete with others - be clear on your network and available resources. You must be able to deliver and keep delivering quality consistently. Your actions, product and services will impact your business.
At some point, I'm sure that this is going to blow over. In this climate of Black Lives Matter and the upcoming presidential election, it's clear that this Drake and Meek Mill beef is a pleasant distraction. I'm waiting just like everyone else to see if there is actually another diss track coming from either one of them.
However, entrepreneurs must be clear in their presentation and etiquette. It's more than fun, games and cute little social media posts. You've developed a brand and invested in your own product or service. Don't threaten its success. Be careful of your movements online and in-person.