Before the money or anything, number one, it was just to put out

“Before the money or anything, number one, it was just to put out real music, real stuff with a passion, real art.” Thus spoke Lil B, a voice of the streets yet also a seeker of truth, whose words resound with a wisdom older than kingdoms. In this saying he strips away the illusions of the world—wealth, fame, applause—and returns to the sacred beginning of every true artist: the desire to create something real, something born not of vanity, but of passion and the unyielding call of the soul.

The origin of this teaching lies in the eternal struggle between purity and corruption. From the dawn of time, men and women who create have stood at a crossroads: to serve truth, or to serve gain. The merchant demands profit, the crowd demands fashion, but the heart of the true artist demands only to give birth to art that breathes life. Lil B reminds us that the highest calling of music is not measured in coins or crowns, but in the authenticity of its spirit. Real music cannot be bought, nor faked—it must pour forth like water from the depths of the heart.

History bears witness to this truth. Consider the story of Vincent van Gogh, who sold almost no paintings in his lifetime. He lived in poverty, mocked by many, yet he painted with ferocious passion. His colors were flames of the soul, his brushstrokes cries of longing, his art pure and untainted by profit. He died with nothing, but his legacy endures beyond empires. His life testifies that real art, though ignored by the world, carries an eternal weight. Lil B echoes this ancient lesson: before money, before applause, there must be truth.

Or recall the path of Johann Sebastian Bach, who wrote not for worldly fame but for the glory of God and the joy of creation. He labored faithfully in obscurity, composing works of such depth and passion that centuries later they still move the hearts of men and women. He did not chase numbers or status; he pursued the divine beauty of music itself. His example, like Lil B’s words, reveals that the greatness of art lies not in its market, but in its soul.

Yet the danger is always near: when money and fame come, the temptation is to bend, to compromise, to give the world what it demands instead of what is true. Many fall, becoming echoes of themselves, their art hollow and their legacy fleeting. But those who hold fast to real passion and real art rise above time. Their work may be misunderstood, even scorned, but in the end, truth reveals itself, and the flame they carried continues to burn.

The lesson is clear: do not begin with wealth, nor with applause. Begin with truth. Whatever your craft may be—song, word, invention, labor—let it be born from sincerity, not from greed. Pour your whole spirit into it, even if the world does not notice. For when you live with passion, when you create what is real, you join the company of those whose work endures beyond their lives.

Therefore, let each person act with courage. Ask yourself: what is my art, my calling, my truth? And when you find it, guard it against the pressures of money and the noise of opinion. Create as if no one watches, yet as if eternity listens. Work not for reward, but for authenticity. For in the end, the gold of the world fades, but the gold of the soul remains.

So let Lil B’s words echo like an anthem: “Before the money or anything, number one, it was just to put out real music, real stuff with a passion, real art.” Take them not only as the creed of a musician, but as a guide for all who labor. Build your life upon truth, and let passion guide your hand. For what is real endures, and what is born of love becomes immortal.