Rapper Russ on Building His Brand Independently + Navigating Controversy | IDEA GENERATION Ep. 1

Turn your ideas into a reality with Shopify: bit.ly/3odiv6T
Rapper, singer and producer Russ walks us through the creative impulses and strategic decisions that propelled him to multi-platinum success. Since the age of 14, Russ has been cultivating his musical gifts and pushing himself, against all odds, to realize his ambitions for greatness. Along the way he's made no shortage of hits... or waves. This episode offers a case study in how to build your brand independently, and how to navigate the inevitable pendulum swings that come with that success.
Subscribe to IDEA GENERATION: / @ideagenerationofficial
Check out more from IDEA GENERATION here:
/ ideageneration
/ ideageneration
Sign up for our IDEA GENERATION newsletter: www.ideageneration.com/community
/ idea-generation-276885...
Special thanks to our partners at Shopify for bringing this experience to life.
More about Shopify: bit.ly/3odiv6T
Learn how to start your own brand with Shopify: www.shopify.com/learn
Check out more from Shopify here:
/ shopify
/ shopify
/ shopify

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

LET'S RUN IT BACK. More gems on the brand new IDEA GENERATION Podcast. anchor.fm/ideageneration

[@kalonmac]

russ is honestly the only artist i’ve taken advice from. man knows his knowledge and knowledge is power

[@mylesmikieal]

There's a couple more, but he's definitely one of them

[@jalensimmons2608]

you sound so smart

[@baronredoubt8009]

u should listen to tory too

[@yaboiavery5986]

@@mylesmikieal like who?

[@darkskinwhite]

russ has taken advice from a whole bunch of artists

[@lo-rem]

I tried out Russ's strategy last year and it worked 🙏 I accumulated over 250K streams with no marketing and received multiple playlist placements on Apple Music in my first year of releasing music. Great interview, and a great artist who gives great advice. Thank you for sharing 🔥🔥🔥

[@zionherbert]

wow that's so great to hear. Congratulations

[@SGbudz]

This is dope! about to check out ur music!

[@alien-hs1zn]

Congrats bro keep working don’t take your foot off the petal it’s crazy to hear that the Russ strategy still works until this day

[@Bangastarch]

That’s sick… I’ll have to do the same .. too much backlog at this point.. might as well shell em out

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

Awesome to hear! Congrats!

[@amanitweed]

I've watched every interview of Russ out there and this is the calmest he's ever been. He cares so much about letting people know that anyone can achieve what he has achieved if they really are delusional and passionate about their work. He's giving you the blueprint you just gotta have the guts to follow it or adapt it your way. This is the first interview he shares a few things that he hasn't in other interviews as well.

[@debigdecipher2704]

Lol, honestly I was looking up his older albums, the ones he was sayin' were good and thought he was delusional. Honestly, he isn't delusional at all. Those tracks are actually damn good, but I think they just don't get the recognition because he was just starting up.

[@MotivationalMind101]

​@@debigdecipher2704no Russ not delusional of course but i think the comment makes sense. I've heard something similar. When everyone else thinks you're crazy, what matters is that you're crazy about it and crazy enough to know that constant passion and work will pay off.

[@gnarley]

“We live in a world where you get enough retweets people think it’s true” real shit Russ real shit

[@keileeza]

Russ keeps dropping gem's & Noah keeps getting the most out of every interview piece he does, iconic moments 🏆

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

thanks so much for the kind words! New episodes every Wednesday at 10AM!

[@JORDANMAC815]

Russ is a real one he definitely doesn’t deserve all the hate he gets but that’s how a world full of lies reacts to someone expressing their truth.

[@r0b]

been fucking w russ for a while . i stay getting inspired by this guy

[@daavids55]

once you get to understand him a bit more, and understand what he stands for, the songs hit different

[@KyleBeats_]

fire interview

[@caliiortega0923]

Russ the goat!! Give this man his flowers!! What he has done throughout his career is impeccable!

[@noahcallahan-bever5788]

Hey! If anyone has additional questions they want to hear Russ answer-leave them here-I'll be doing an IG live with him this afternoon.

[@m2s4n]

Are there any artists that you look up to?

[@brendenwarren1808]

What’s the biggest challenge you have faced on your come up?

[@naturalworldsounds5201]

What's the story of Alright. Love

[@francisgareau6536]

What were the first steps in order to learn mixing / making beats Were you shy to sing before ?

[@katberinguelaa]

Who inspires you the most?

[@MikeHardyMusic]

Happy I got to work with this guy on “Old Days” and hopefully continue to make more records he really a inspiration. 🙏🏾

[@GretaJaime]

Love that song ! 💙

[@b-rye223]

Probably one of my favorite interviews of Russ and I’ve seen a lot of them

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

Thanks for watching!

[@alien-hs1zn]

I like when he said there’s no other you so whatever your doing is contributing to the world

[@deshaunhamilton]

Implementing his teachings now 🙏🏽 Releasing music consistently, putting out content with each release and building a fan base… things are taking off! Great interview. Thank you 🙌🏽🔥

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching!

[@stephanieo5441]

just clicked on your youtube channel and listened to part of your song and its a vibe

[@deshaunhamilton]

@@stephanieo5441 thank you!! appreciate that

[@darrenrita]

Russ = GOAT and this was one of my favorite Russ interviews to listen to front to back!

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

Thank you so much for tuning in!

[@el-chabodgharteyhanson8165]

The last part from the 31 minute really touched me. Russ 🥺❤️ u literally wasn’t on so many platforms which u would say I heard Russ on a radio n stuff But u still the best ☺️😌❤️

[@igobyxoxomusicunderaxlprks9000]

Noah has smart eyes. That dude is cerebral. You can tell that Noah, the legend, says less than 1% if what he thinks. That dude is sharp. Zeroed in!

[@DelonteOthers]

This reminds me of that Complex series they use to have called “the blueprint”. Glad it’s something to fill that void

[@parisestrella]

This was a great interview! You did very well on allowing Russ to freely speak. I enjoyed watching this interview and learning some new information! Thank you and have a great evening! ✨ 💯

[@crystalrodriguez6599]

Man... Just seen a interview you did...u said SHAKE THE GLOBE...that's exactly what my life needs NOW... u woke me up! Ty !

[@Rabit323]

I'm literally dealing with writer's block right now such a simple solution i didn't even consider i got so much respect for Russ being that I'm part Italian can't wait till i get to do interviews n help artist the same way he helped me

[@darkr70]

every time i hear russ i just want to make music honestly it feels everything is possible so my deepest ideas just start to kick in

[@Lilmantwan2003]

Amazing interview, so glad I saw today's IG live, or else I would have never known. Russ truly is an empowering person and an amazing artist. Whenever he speaks, you want to stop and listen. I cannot wait to attend my 1st Russ concert when he comes to Kansas City, MO in May, been holding on to my tickets for almost 2 years; we will be there 15 strong chilling in a suite. Thank you for conducting such an informative and authentic interview.

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

so great to hear you caught the IG Live! Thanks for tuning in!

[@SuperDrivenOne]

Thank you for blessing us with this interview Russ!

[@ariafelisha]

Third interview I’ve seen of Russ and I continue to be more in awe of his eloquent communication and impactful perception of life

[@marksweeney5329]

Tail end --- Questions about roles & responsibilities at DIEMON and then follow up Bugus commercial success compared to Russ are the Major Keys

[@GeraldineMaeCueva]

Divine timing, thank you for this content. I enjoy hearing about the journey and the tips we learn along the way. The copy in between the notes were solid. Looking forward to the next!

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

Thank you so much, really appreciate this! Hope you enjoy the episodes to come as well!

[@sevenfold089]

“He’s not offended by the success. He’s inspired by it. And that’s what makes a good friend.”

[@skccarruthers]

awesome interview! What a gem. Thank you Russ and thank you Idea Generation.

[@ericmaldin6165]

So dope! Hyped to see who's next up.

[@Fr35h]

I've did this all 2021 releasing music every friday.Now I becme inspired knowing he once took this path

[@TankTastic]

Been a Russ fan since day one. This is amazing and looking forward to the new episodes!

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

Thank you! We're back with new episodes every Wednesday at 10AM!

[@vaehanderson5937]

GROWTH GROWTH GROWTH. CHANGED MY LIFE

[@samsungm31shots89]

the way idea generation showed up russ jouney is so creative and i have watched many interviews of russ but this was unique,loved it and uk wt russ has replied my dms many times🤓

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

thank you!

[@Alec501]

Love when this man does interviews

[@harrylee8317]

As a young guy trying to make something out of himself, it’s amazing that you do this kind of content for me personally to understand what it takes to be successful

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

Thanks for watching, so great to hear! We're back with new episodes on a weekly basis. Hope they continue to inspire you on this journey!

Russ is one of those who blew me away with his wisdom from his story and his story himself. I saw his Video with Jay Shetty and was blown away by it, this one goes hand in hand in excellent quality and value - thank you very much for sharing your story with us and inspire! Greetings from Germany, Dirksón!

[@halfbreed.]

Russ has a mindset that I am currently studying.

[@jamesmarbury8272]

I've implemented a lot off Russ' philosophy in terms of the self delusional faith I have in my music, having macro patience while working at macro speed, and "willing to eat shit for 10 years if that's what it takes" because I love music. I'm currently on song 44 of 52 for the song a week method while also hoping to finish my novel in the next coming months. Shoutout one of my best friends Nehemiah for putting me onto Russ because he's changed for like forever. Second Renaissance type shit. Also, Me You is the greatest music video ever.

[@bukwildmuzik]

I’ve actually never heard Russ music, not even once; but I have tremendous respect for him as a hustler, a creator and an entrepreneur 💯

[@Bragimusic]

The knowledge, working ethic and mentality is just AMAZING. Such an inspiration Russ is for independent artist like myself. Helps me understand im not crazy ! hahaha really enjoyed it

[@fauxdauteur]

Russ' has written the blueprint on how to become a successful independent artist in the digital era, and that alone makes him a legend. Like its so crazy to think that all you need nowadays is a laptop, DAW software like FL Studio, midi keyboard, speakers, soundcloud, tunecore, and you are good to go.

[@bukwildmuzik]

You need a tremendous work ethic, too 💯 And that’s what will stop most artists from succeeding

[@tedcarr]

I've watched every Russ Interview but this one is the best! So smooth. Love all the djf cuts. Well done. Interview session almost felt like a therapy session. Interviewer is calm, which seems to keeps Russ calm lol

[@debigdecipher2704]

hey man, I dig you pryin' into Russ's mind, whenever I was interested in understanding something a little deeper with what Russ was talkin' about you asked the perfect question to make him answer what I was interested in. You a good talk show host 👌

[@bankedouttradioshow]

Dope interview, loved the breakdown and transitions along with the back stories.

[@papijuacho3871]

Brooo , Russ said : I don't really feel lucky I feel rewarded . That's real shitt

[@str1ve305]

This is THE BEST Russ interview out there, hands down.

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

Thank you so much for the kind words. Much appreciated!

[@andreacabadas2799]

I love this interview, so cool to listen to him and his story!

[@tonikakujay]

Russ always spittin' game but the way he does it is so invigorating that it helps other DIY musicians stay consistent in the independent lane. He's becoming more of a figurehead everyday and it's exciting to know that a lot of my thinking branches from both his and Bugus' model; thanks for sharing this interview with us team at IDEA GENERATION!

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

Thank you for watching!

[@Chelsealadybug]

I luv this interview. Russ has worked very hard to get to where he is right now, he deserves every ounce of success he has. Such an inspiration. And for the fake tweet situation, I remember that. BUT I remember knowing Russ would NEVER say anything like that, I even commented on a post on Facebook saying people are stupid for believing that because as a fan of his I know he would never say something like that. Only real fans like myself knew that😂 all those dumb “fans” believing that bs. I hope the people who made those fake tweets got / get their karma 🙂🙂🙂 but anyways Russ is amazing and I adore him🧡🤴🏻

[@portianikau6132]

Oh yeah a young and inspiratinal young man from childhood to now totally BLESSED BEAUTIFUL PARENTS and a very determinal attidude toward his pursuit of hard work and FAITH in what he pursui.JESUS LIVES AND LOVES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DEARLY HALEILUIA HOSSANA AROHANUI FROM NUI TIIRINI TE IKA A MAUI KIRIKIRIROA WAIKATO TAINUI 🦁🐎🐅🐆🦬🦋⚘⚘🌿🌾🌴🌲🐬🐳🦌

[@thevinyltruffle]

By Russ’ definition, I am successful. That’s dope. Because “success” is generally measured in 1 way in this world. Through your career and your money. I think success is different for everyone. 10-15-20 years ago, I was a hopeless junky. I battled with suicidal urges and attempts as well as hardcore opiate and other controlled substance addiction as well as homelessness. Everyone, including myself, wrote me off as a lost cause and just waited for that phone call. Now I’m ten years clean, have a beautiful home and wife and kids and I’m actually happy, and content. And I’ve found ways to keep that darkness and depression away from my doorstep. If I only used the traditional measure of success to analyze my position, I’d be a complete failure. But I’m not. I beat the streets, and the dope, and my shadow. I succeeded at living and finding happiness. True happiness. Many “successful” people aren’t truly happy. If you can’t be happy with who you are and what you do/how you deal w it, money won’t actually change that. It makes your life easier. Debt and poverty is a killer. And if your financial situation is the only thing keeping you unhappy, then ya, money will fix that shit. Otherwise, success is just another thing if you are still broken. And you’re gonna find a million ways to be miserable in your success and your money.

[@lovevillagerecords]

Much Love to Russ. Truly an inspiration to me. #OneLove 🙏🏽💪🏽❤️

[@churamontgomery6063]

Thank you for your encouraging, that is great when people sharing their own history.

[@tavishsharmamusic]

Love him or hate him - one thing you can not do is ignore him. A real gem!

[@brice5244]

I loved the Blueprint Series on Complex so I'm glad Noah is back with new content. Great work and amazing conversation.

[@noahcallahan-bever5788]

Thanks so much!

[@edwardbrown1288]

Great questions. Superb interviewer with a great skill towards creating the architecture for the creative/business process.

[@jimmyskoog]

This is awesome. I’m so inspired by Russ as a business man and influencer. 🔥

[@JamesDeCastro]

Love & Respect Russ 4 Life!

[@iEKNOWS_]

Love what you're doing with this series.

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

Thank you for being here!

[@yilakasefa860]

This is the most transparent interview I've ever seen. Dope.

[@thaexception3406]

Always ready to get his insight!

[@AlbertDeSisto203]

keep up the videos fam they give me life as an artist workng toward being heard worldwide, thank you hopefully we meet one day

[@katiewhite7356]

Omg I can't wait till you over in London next year 2022 I cant wait to see you 😍

[@CHAN414]

If you haven’t read his book, do it!! Super amazing book and great advice

[@callmespitz]

Russ reminds me so much of myself.

[@flowforrhythmsonics]

All I need is a song with a Russ and I´m set for life :D What a legend. Great interview

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

Thank you!

[@rorschachmanhattan9612]

Love the info he always gives grateful for him

[@JakeAdams27]

Fantastic interview, thank you both.

[@snapchatsnacks3154]

I don't even listen to Russ I watch his interviews for tips on brand building.

[@imaghosthbu]

Bruh best 30 mins I took away from making music my dudes!! Back to making music y’all seem chill af keep living your dreams and enjoying ya lives!! 🙏🙏🙏

[@angUnique_]

So inspiring and from New Jersey woah woah!!! 🤩

[@SGbudz]

Russ is the goat. Started Posting Music Every Week This time last year and now im almost at 100k streams and ive been doing shows every month!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼 Music Videos Help Out Alot Too!

[@churamontgomery6063]

Thank you for sharing your Idea, also your history, that is good to know.

[@MysticAlankar]

This is so inspiring and insightful, loved it!

[@Juing327]

More 🐺Talk👏🏽😌😏✔💥

[@kingMarcus619]

Real shit💪🏿 respect 👑

[@AkhilaBeatstv]

every interview with russ is fireeee

[@dartparker]

Here before 1mm views

[@jasonatkins8705]

I gained a new found respect for Russ and his story…

[@ask_danielle]

Excellent interview, thank you both

[@ask_danielle]

22:50 lol

[@randomrandy3059]

I relate to Russ so much. I just didn’t have that plan he did.

[@elonnelson5024]

🔥🔥🔥 I enjoyed this interview 💪🏾📈

[@otnielaponte9283]

“I may lose myself in this, but I’ll always be a winner. Feeling stronger then this Jin, this is something for your liver. Confidence mix with Ambition, everything will fall in place, what I think about I bring about, I never have to chase” That bar freed me from Dogma & gave me the push to pursue my dreams. I owe a lot of my success to Russ and to the Great #BlackMamba gone, but never forgotten. Your spirit and ambition lives on through the Greats. We will carry your will and continue to be the best possible versions of ourselves. #ChampTalk

[@Katmassive]

Loved it

[@Ed117Beatz]

Hella Fire and A lot of Gems Too!!

[@SC-hu5pz]

RUSS #1!!!! PROUD OF THIS MAN!!!

[@Coronaboii88]

Say word Noah done started his own thing? One of the best interviewers in the game. Subbed!

[@noahcallahan-bever5788]

🏁🏁🏁

[@IndigoMuzz]

The gems really work

[@KingJulian_111]

Legend! GOAT!🔥💯

[@SiddharthPandey2452]

Russ is the way!

[@ChentheInfj]

I'm trying out Russ's Strategy Now, Lets see where it goes!!!

[@marisolj24]

Great interview!

[@carlanthony332]

Thank you for the game homie..

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

Thanks for watching!

[@sashamagician]

LOVED IT

[@user-dm7eo9pj1v]

KEEP DOING THESE TYPE OF INTERVIEWS THERE SO FUCKING INSPIRATIONAL

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

YES! new episodes every Wednesday at 10AM!

[@justinjames9100]

Dope interview guys 🔥

[@igobyxoxomusicunderaxlprks9000]

Facts

[@IDEAGENERATIONOFFICIAL]

Thank you so much!

[@3xEStudios]

A real game spitta. 💪🏾

[@rex1533]

Russ is a top tier artist all around

[@dryiceVEVO]

*Russ* Has My Respect Because Of *Hustle* 📈