Category: Music

I have come to enjoy these posts as I decipher what some of the artists in today’s music world are saying about money and how they can influence younger generations to either spend or save their hard earned money. The artist of the week is Calvin Harris featuring Neyo: Let’s Go is the name of the song. I must admit the song is good and has a great vibe to it.

I wanted to feature this song because it is mostly positive and can insight a great motivational message to our generation and younger generations as well. Maybe you are struggling to get by or have a mountain of debt. Any obstacle can be dealt with by merely having the right attitude and focusing on what needs attention. For example if you are struggling to get by then pick up a part time job or get a side gig on the weekends.

On the other hand if you have a huge debt problem then read books on how to eliminate it and implement a great system called the debt snowball. Remember financial decisions are based on 20% math and 80% behavior. Change your behavior and you will have the right motivation and will most likely succeed in personal finance.  

What do they say in the song:

Make no excuses now. I’m talking here and now.
Let’s Go
Your time is running out.
It’s not about what you’ve done it’s about what you’re doing?
It’s all about where you’re going now matter where you’ve been.
Let’s Go
It’s now or never. Oh Oh Oh
Tomorrow is good, tonight is better.
Let’s Make it happen.
Let’s Make it happen.
Let’s Make it happen.

These words can be used for anything in life that lacks motivation including financial, weight loss or any other life goals you are attempting to achieve. This song just makes the energy level and positive juices start flowing through your body. I played this song during my last workout. Financial influence is everywhere and sometimes it is delivered in a negative context, but this time it is all positive!

Enjoy the video, YouTube is awesome for letting anybody use and share videos.

Better yourself and strive for a new mentality of preserving what you have and growing it every day.

Pic and video by Calvin Harris

I have come to enjoy these posts as I decipher what some of the artists in today’s music world are saying about money and how they can influence younger generations to either spend or save their hard earned money. Kanye West is the next artist that his lyrics will be dissected to see if his message is positive or negative. The song is called: “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” from the album titled, Graduation released in 2007.

What did Mr. Kanye Say?

Verse 1

I had a dream I could buy my way to heaven


When I awoke I spent that on a necklace


I told God I’d be back in a second


Man, it’s so hard not to act reckless

Verse 2


Bought more jewelry, more Louis V


My momma couldn’t get through to me

OK let’s break this down and decipher what the message is in a financial aspect. He wants to have more money to buy anything he desires, he then goes on to state he spent it all on a necklace, but then he regrets the purchase. This is an example of classic buyer’s remorse feelings. The Chorus in my opinion is the most confusing message to listeners, “Wait till I get my money right” is repeated over and over. But he continues to talk about splurging on Louis V and jewelry. The only mature person is Kanye’s mother who as he states was attempting to help him save those bucks. Did he take her advice? I doubt it.

I actually like the song as it is catchy and makes me think of money. But the message is clearly not good for the audience as he is reckless with the negative uses of monetary instruments AKA Dollars. He clearly has major dilemmas in his life, as he wants to be successful while doing things right but then struggles to keep his mind focused. As he repeats in each verse how he spent rampant amounts of dollars possibly down at Canal Street. LOL. In any event Mr. West can definitely afford to spend a few bucks as he is worth about $90 million dollars.

When you try hard is when you die hard. This is the only good advice within the song’s lyrics that can actually motivate others to achieve a better work ethic. Hard work never turned out bad for me because the effort given equals the best results achieved. Even if I didn’t get paid to do something, in the end I either learned something new, or I felt a sense of pride by helping others. What can you do to give back in your own capacity? Maybe you have extra time in your week where you can teach somebody a skill you possess. Maybe you can ask someone you care about if they need help in any way?

Financial influence is everywhere and sometimes it is delivered mostly in a negative context! He gets 1 point for 1 positive reference.

Better yourself and strive for a new mentality of preserving what you have and growing it every day.

Update: Kanye West has an estimated Net Worth of about 90 million and growing. On that figure if invested in an account or business earning at least 4% he makes $ 3.6 million a year just in interest. See this link: Kanye for more detailed information regarding his Net worth and other business dealings. Given the fact that he is now a more business oriented person when this song came out he had a different mind frame. So the song is based on his financial references to money back when it was released and it may not pertain to how he feels about money now.  Kanye is involved in several foundations that benefit our society as reported by the press.

Pic taken at Tribecca Film Festival: DS

I have come to enjoy these posts as I decipher what some of the artists in today’s music world are saying about money and how they can influence younger generations to either spend or save their hard earned money. The artist of the month is Pitbull or Armando Perez aka Mr. Miami and Mr. 305 as he refers to himself in the third person 90% of the time. The lyrics and the subject matter of the post is in a song called, Rain over me Ft. Marc Anthony in his album titled Planet Pit. If you can withstand all the sexual connotations that he mentions in the song and just wait for the monetary reference he makes it is well worth it. This is actually a great song with a catchy beat to it that might get your hips moving without you even realizing it. Ha Ha.The song has 100 million views on YouTube and is most likely the most popular song on the album.

What did Armando say:

They will not know what I got till they read the will. I aint trying, I aint trying to keep it real, I’m trying to keep wealth and that’s for real.

This is pure genius as Pitbull’s mentality is perfectly stated in that line as somebody who has a saver’s mind frame and really cares about his future. When I heard this line after playing it a few times it really struck a nerve with me because I have had the same perspective he has for my entire life. I hope after listening to songs like this people are pulled to think the same way instead of always thinking about splurging on that next new thing which will never improve peoples financial well being. If Pitbull is smart with his finances as he states, I can see him leaving a massive legacy for his family and for his future foundations. (Most artists have a foundation as a way to give back)

Financial influence is everywhere and sometimes it is delivered in a negative context! But this time it was delivered in a positive light. 

Better yourself and strive for a new mentality of preserving what you have and growing it everyday.

My motto – Watch your Money!

Pic by GQ Mag

Hello,

As you know I listen to the lyrics of what some of these artists are saying in their music. Recently Drake released a song where he talks about ballin like crazy without any concern. I think he is just trying to relate to his audience which is proof that in his eyes most people would prefer to spend their hard earned money on that new sneaker, bag, or any product that makes them feel happy for a brief moment. I think he really meant to say in a subliminal message to his fans, to go buy his CD and not sugar coat it by saying that he spends like crazy. These artists say things in their songs to try to influence others to do exactly as they supposedly do.

He talks about being worth 25 million dollars at the ripe young age of 25. Now if you spend 5 million but bring in 10 million, then that is not a lot as its all relative to what he earns. The 25 million dollars he has invested in the bank makes him 1.25 million every year in interest alone on average, and thats not including his new income he gets from concerts, features in other songs, business ventures, CD/online sales, and reinvested stock gains. So you tell me if somebody that is young and bringing in that much money they can definitely afford to spend a lot as his lyrics state.

What he said- I never really been one for the preservation of money, nah I much rather spend it while I’m breathing.

HaHaHa- I have to laugh at this because I know for a fact if he was not making this much on an annual basis he would not be spending like he flaunts in his song. Also if he were to lose popularity and his income stream he would be signing a new note contrary to his lyrics.
I will go out on a limb and say that he is clearly lying on his song as he does want his money to last. Why keep working? Why keep touring and making/writing songs? Why are you investing in new ventures like a clothing line and cologne/candles?  Drake Article
I’ll tell you why because: 1. Drake wants to keep fueling his spending. 2. Drake does want to grow his Net Worth.

Don’t get me wrong I am not hating on him and I do feel he is a talented artist, but do not release reckless lyrics trying to make your fans like sheep by influencing them to spend like you say you do. In reality we will never see Drake in the stores or with all those expensive receipts of all the things he is consuming so how do we really know if its true? I have come to a conclusion that it is all for show.

Financial influence is everywhere and sometimes it is delivered in a negative context! Better yourself and strive for a new mentality of preserving what you have and growing it everyday.

 My motto – Watch your Money!

OK by now you know that I’m about finding your money that was once lost due to the thousand or so reasons / excuses that life can throw your way. But do not overlook the fact that money is right in front of us everyday with some form of monitoring or budgeting of our current income. Monetary influencers seep from every angle of our lives, even in music. Just listen from time to time instead of singing all by your lonesome, lol.

Jay – Z the most famous rap artist talks about money every chance he gets. Recently I heard some of his lyrics and he states in clear proper English aka an easily deciphered phrase- Anticipation for precipitation stack chips for a rainy day. What does this mean? It means to save money for emergencies that may arise from time to time. Wow what an eye opening, simply put phrase that struck a nerve within me. Yes he talks about spending on diamonds and fancy cars all the time, but I would bet a few of my pennies that he saves / invests a hell of a lot more money than he spends. I also witnessed his Forbes magazine cover with the most respected investor of our times Mr. Warren Buffet. In addition to his status as a business man, investor and respect in our times he has even been quoted as an investor of the Euro as a way to diversify his current cash portfolio.

In Conclusion we might not make the kind of money Jay-Z makes, but saving it should be relative to what we make for our incomes. It all boils down to saving some of it before it’s too late, and believe me you will never regret the fact that you saved some extra money for your future.

Even in music you can find ways to watch your money.

*Image is the cover of a recent Forbes magazine.