Clout vs. Culture: Are We Creating or Just Performing?

Let me start by saying this: Art ain’t dead. But some of y’all are definitely just out here doing cosplay.

And before you clutch your pearls and start writing a slam piece about my audacity, let’s be real and honest for a second.

I come from Chicago, where the art ain’t just for show, it’s survival, it’s storytelling, it’s the griot work our ancestors passed down in the middle of struggle. I am not bullshitting when I say art saved my life. If it was not for the Austin Town Hall Cultural center, in the middle of my hood, Austin, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods on the planet, let alone the nation, or city, I would probably be dead. If not dead at least in jail, or destroyed in some way. Dope parents and grandmama aside, the hood be grabbing people and shaking them dafuq up. Art grabbed me instead, and I am forever changed and grateful.

That said, I’ve seen poets shake a room full of people to silence, seen murals speak louder than a thousand protest signs, seen art literally shift the culture. But lately? I feel like some of y’all are more worried about going viral than going deep. More pressed about clout than craft.

I’m watching these open mics turn into performance art for Instagram, with more concern about getting the perfect TikTok clip than actually saying some shit that matters. Don’t get me wrong, performance is part of the package, and a strong delivery can turn a good poem into a gut punch. But when did we start writing for the algorithm instead of the audience? When did the goal become "I need this clip to hit 10K views" instead of "I need this piece to touch somebody’s soul"?

The Art Hustle vs. The Art Clout

I am not naive. I know for many, art is a hustle. And I’m not mad at anybody getting their bag. Hell, I charge for my work because exposure don’t pay bills, and the ComEd don’t give a damn about my “passion for the arts.”

But there’s a difference between making a living from your art and selling your soul for a brand recognition or a deal.

I see it all the time, people showing up not to add to the culture, but to extract from it. The “community” arts organizations getting grants off the backs of real artists but never cutting the check for the people actually putting in the work. The influencers slapping on a Black fist emoji and a Malcolm X quote to market their $50 writing workshop that don’t actually teach nobody shit.

This ain’t me being bitter, by the way, I’m solid in my lane. This is me being frustrated because I see raw, brilliant artists getting pushed aside because they don’t play the "look at me" social media game the right way. And I say this as someone who plays the game well.

If I am honest, the art scene can be fake as hell sometimes. People supporting who’s hot, not who’s dope.

So Where Do We Go From Here?

Look, I ain’t saying burn the system down (yet). What I am saying is, check yourself. This is me checking myself for sure. If you’re an artist, ask yourself:

👉🏾 Am I writing/creating for the culture, or just for the clout?

👉🏾 Am I feeding my community, or just feeding the algorithm?

👉🏾 Am I playing the game, or is the game playing me?

Because at the end of the day, art is power. And if you ain’t using yours for something real, then what the hell are you even doing?

Let’s Talk About It.

Do you feel like art in Chicago is becoming too performative and less authentic? 

Do we prioritize hype over impact? 

Drop your thoughts below but if you’re mad at this post, that probably means I hit a nerve.

#CloutVsCulture #KeepArtReal #ChicagoArtists #SpokenWord #PaddedRoom #SlamLife #ArtForThePeople #TheCollectiveArts #TheCollective6