Written by Adam Oakes, June 16, 2016, at 5:22 p.m.
While I am huge fan of the rap game, and an amateur rapper songwriter in my own right, I have often been concerned about the imagery that the music industry spits out to my fellow youth. They say the life of the hustler is a thing of greatness and something that should be aspired to.
So, real talk, I decided to do a quick fact check on the dope game to see if it’s really a viable career path you. No bullshitting. I did the hard work so you don’t have to.
While getting your money up is imperative to one’s well-being, it isn’t more valuable than human life and bloodshed should never occur over obtaining it. And yet, while most people opt to earn their money legally – such as working for a business/company on the books – there still remains to be a large percentage of those whose choice it is to obtain their pay through illegal/criminal practices. Even though Bernie Madoff proved you could steal millions without a gun, so maybe more criminal minded motherfuckers should start working a legit gig after all, but I digress. Bolstered by popular music and movies, the dealing and distribution of illegal drugs happens to be the most common.
The reason drug dealing is so prevalent in the underworld is because drugs are always high in demand. These mind-altering substances don’t just allow for a vacation from reality, they are also extremely physically and psychologically addictive. Often times, clients are forced to continue using because their bodies and minds have become dependent on the substance. While selling drugs may come off as an efficient way to make money on paper, when put into actuality, the fantasy crumples comically.
Top Ten Reasons the Dope Game is Whack
1. What makes being a hustler so laughable is that those involved are essentially risking their lives day in day out, only to earn minimum paper.
2. To add insult to injury, the little money you accumulate cannot be spent – must be laundered – because the feds will question how an unemployed person is able to afford an Audi i8.
3. Logistically, one would be more prosperous starting up a Halal food cart than peddling drugs, as they would profit more and it would be a legal gig.
4. Economic researchers report that the average independent dealer makes a mere $20,000-$30,000 a year. That’s right, the average drug dealer makes roughly just as little as the teenager running your order in McDonald’s. Now imagine that, having to constantly watch your back, living in paranoia and fear, only to throw chump change on the table.
5. Furthermore, as a hustler, you have to watch your back double. One must constantly be on the lookout for both rival gang members and law enforcement.
6. As if street thugs weren’t enough, the Police and FBI have Government consent to “tap” your phone, “bug” your homes, and ultimately destroy your fourth amendment, right to privacy. As an independent dealer, there is no way you can defeat these opposing forces. In the unlikely event you do manage to make a decent amount of money, that will make you a problem to authorities, and if you become a problem the feds are sure to nab you given enough time.
7. Nine times out of ten, the feds have already found you, they are just allowing you to continue to incriminate yourself in order to build a stronger case against you.
8. For most people, the game only ends in one of two places, 6 feet under, or behind bars.
9. But enough about the woes of a dealer, drugs also claim the lives of thousands annually and ravage family life. If you have any sort of moral compass or even a sliver of rationality, you wouldn’t choose this lifestyle. Hustling is a very destructive path, not only for yourself but for those around you. Do not be fooled by the Hollywood glamour and rambunctious music, most of that stuff is strictly entertainment written by writers to make you think that it is real. In real life, a bullet will damage you. Think thoroughly before you choose this lifestyle.
10. To keep it ultra-real, if you’re not going to be on the level of Walter White, or Gustavo Fring, don’t think about stepping foot in the dope game. Real life is nothing like Breaking Bad, here, the wolves will be upon you within moments. You’ll quickly realize that you are “not bout that life,” and that there are actually people who are ready to take your life in order to preserve there’s. And spoilers, I recall neither Gus or Walter made it out of the game alive.
There are plenty of ways to make honest money without risking your livelihood, destroying families, and getting yourself life behind bars. You can start by getting a College degree, or even taking out a loan to start your own small business.