An email from !llmind

Hey Charles, Quick story.... Back in 2012, I had the incredible opportunity to work with **Kanye West** on the track **“The Morning”** for his album **Cruel Summer**. Here's the thing.. it definitely didn’t happen overnight. It was the result of **years** of consistently grinding, perfecting my craft, and **putting myself out there**. I wasn’t always in rooms with huge artists. Like most producers, I started out sending beats to anyone who would listen. But I stayed **consistent**. I kept creating. I kept learning. I wasn’t chasing every opportunity—I was simply preparing myself for when the right one would come. And then, one day, it did. My homie **Rhymefest** heard my beats, and he helped get them to Kanye. That connection came after years of **showing up** and putting my work out there without knowing if it would lead anywhere. But here’s the key: I had to let go of trying to control everything. I wasn’t sitting there stressing about when or how I’d work with a huge artist like Kanye. I just stayed ready. When the moment came, I didn’t have to scramble—I had the beats, the skills, and the confidence to seize that opportunity. That’s the **art of letting go**. It’s trusting that the work you’re putting in now, even when it feels like no one’s noticing, is setting you up for future wins. But if you’re too focused on forcing things to happen, you might miss the doors that are already opening. So to all my producers out there: **stay consistent** with your craft, and let go of the need to control the outcome. Focus on creating and being the best version of yourself. Trust that the opportunities will come when the time is right—and when they do, you’ll be ready. I appreciate every single one of you for being a part of this journey. Keep grinding, keep pushing, and remember: your moment could be just around the corner. - Illmind

#onandon