We were lucky to catch up with Erik Paid recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Erik, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned the craft from my father, he was heavily into music and also recorded himself. Being close with him and just being a sponge taught me everything I know now musically. Being at radio stations, studio sessions, watching the trial and error seeing all that early as a kid taught me a-lot. I’ve always been a sponge and a avid learner everything i’ve learned in my journey/process I wouldn’t speed it up or slow things down in my learning process i was fortunate enough to have someone in my life to show me how things can go early on I feel as if things happen the perfect time, I’m just Blessed to be able to go through it all the ups and downs and showcase my talents. So many essential skills you need in the process. I would say the most essential skills are simple you need to be consistent, believe in yourself, and accept criticism with those three skills you can achieve anything. The obstacles that stood in my way was really me you go through hardships in life mentally and that can take part in being in your way if not thinking properly but its up to you to overcome it, once you snap out of those phases it does wonders for your craft because you learn from the obstacles and then apply them Im grateful for it, its all apart of the game.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Erik Paid is the name I was born and raised in Muskegon, MI. Erik Paid was given to me by peers. Erik is my first name. And Paid comes from my love for money and being paid, who doesn’t love to get paid? I got into the industry kind born into it as I touched on in a previous question my father was a musician so just being around him early made me always love music and creating. Far as my older years getting into music fully was pushed on me by my friends because of my lifestyle and the type of person I am. I’ve always been into fashion and someone with influence, very witty, calculated and mysterious. All of my close friends would always tell me “E man you need to rap you fit right in” eventually I took initiative and now I’m here. I started really recording on my own with my brother Archie we pride ourselves on being real guys and staying fly at all times so we put that into our music, so with that being said when you hear my music thats what I aim for the listeners to feel as well, staying fly and just being a good and real individual all with topics you can relate and learn from. Im very proud of how things our going with my art/music, the love and response I get from all over the world. Its crazy to think I have fans from California all the way to Russia and Spain. Im even more proud that I can reach the world with my words and my life story.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect is just seeing yourself grow with your craft looking back on older projects then seeing yourself in the present also it’s pretty rewarding knowing there’s people out there that actually enjoy your craft just as much as you or even more that’s what its all about

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’ve been doubted so much in my life, from old friends, family members, random people I don’t know etc. With being a artist you see and receive a-lot of fake love people pretending to listen to your work and not really listening, people pretending they like it in your face then talk behind you back, all because you may not be a “bigger name”. Im driven by tons of pain and trauma it fuels me, that drives me everyday to get better and better at the craft its a mission I’m willing to go the fullest extent to complete.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: ERIKPAID
• Twitter: ERIKPAID
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/gPapzEaP_gU?si=8b9-YUs_gtpWhR-f