When you say you want to be an artist, you should accept one uncomfortable truth:
That your biggest dream killers might not be haters or bad managers.
It might not even be the industry gatekeepers.
Sometimes… it’s your own circle. Yeah — your “supportive” friends.
Not because they hate you. Not because they don’t want you to win. But because they love you a little too much — and that love can get in the way of your growth.
Sounds wild, right? But stick around and read to the end.
1. They Love You Too Much To Tell You The Truth
Serious about your craft? Then you should know that real growth comes from real feedback.
But your friends are emotionally invested in you. They don’t wanna hurt you. They don’t wanna be “that” person.
So they’ll hype you up even when that new song is mid. They’ll clap for that lazy freestyle you didn’t even try on. They’ll repost stuff that doesn’t deserve the post.
Because in their head — supporting you means never criticizing you.
But you know what happens?
You keep putting out work that’s not sharp enough. You stay blind to what needs fixing. You never level up because nobody’s telling you the hard stuff.
2. They Protect You From Reality (And That’s Dangerous)
A good friend wants to shield you from pain, but a smart artist knows pain is where the lessons live.
Your friends don’t want you to get embarrassed and rejected. They don’t want you to “fail.”
So they’ll say stuff like:
“Maybe don’t post that yet…”
“You should wait till everything is perfect.”
“You’re not ready for that collab yet.”
It sounds like love and feels like care. But lowkey… that’s fear talking.
Fear keeps artists stuck. It keeps songs on hard drives. And your dreams remain trapped in the group chat.
3. They See You As Who You Were — Not Who You’re Becoming
This one stings.
Your friends know the old you. The you that just-vibing-in-the-bedroom-studio.
The “freestyling-for-fun” you.
But now you’re building something bigger, stepping into an artist version of yourself they’ve never seen before.
Not everybody adjusts well to that.
Some friends will accidentally hold you hostage to the old version of you — not because they’re bad people — but because it’s comfortable for them.
But growth isn’t supposed to be comfortable, especially not for the people watching you outgrow what you used to be.
Love Them, But Lead Yourself.
This is not advice to cut your friends off. But take charge and own your own journey.
Your friends love you — but they didn’t sign up to be your A&R, your creative director, or your business coach.
That’s your job.
So love them for their heart while you stay true to your art. While you appreciate their support, trust your vision over their comfort.
Why? Because it’s your career on the line, not theirs.
