We recently connected with Terrance Foster and have shared our conversation below.

Terrance, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

In order to be successful, it takes grit, determination and fearlessness. When it comes to being a musician you have to live in a state of delusion as J. Cole once said. Convinced you are the special chosen one and spending the rest of your time trying to convince the world to see you through your own eyes. This may come with the side effects of public scrutiny, losing family and friends, financial troubles, risk assessment, self-doubt, trust issues, a chip on your shoulder, and romantic turmoil. Those that honor, respect, research, and love the craft will eventually breakthrough. You have to come to terms with where you’re at in life and use it as fuel to be triumphant. Be comfortable not making much money from music in the beginning. Love for the craft, true family and friends keep me motivated everyday.

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?

Afro Dope the brand started out as releasing music on Facebook about 15 years ago. As a teenage musician you learn an important lesson: Once you graduate from high school or college the fanbase tends to shrink. As the mind matures, people grow, and things change you realize you’re out there on your own in adulthood. You are expected to make it against all odds.

I provide a various number of services including creative direction, songwriting, project management, executive producing, audio engineering, videography, photography, graphic design, VFx and more.

What sets me apart from the rest is the diversity in my sound. Production can range from hyperpop, EDM, pop, indie, alternative, soft rock, R&B, hip hop, country and more. Another detail that differentiates Afro Dope the artist from everyone else is the fact I do not use curse words in my music. It started over a decade and a half ago when I desired my parents’ approval for me to do music, so I decided to refrain from profanity to have a better shot at getting familial support.

A big accomplishment I am proud of is the ascension of my YouTube channel. From less than 200 subscribers to over 800 subscribers in the matter of a few months! Also, I have received over 550,000 views on my content this year alone. Providing content creation and social media strategy is my specialty so feel free to reach out if you need a consultation or assistance.

What I want you all to know about my work is it’s honest, genuine and unrestrained. I want to give you a sneak peek at what it looks like to master your craft and exude maximum aura simultaneously.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes, dealing with the struggles of being an independent musician you have no choice but to pivot if you want any money. A few years ago, I had to pivot from pursuing music full time so I could create a lucrative career path. I’m not the artist who’s going to have lyrics about never having to work in my life. Coming from a middle-class family you aren’t fed from a silver spoon you have to go out and make a way for yourself because no one else will. Being a minority, you have to define the standard of excellence to be considered for any major opportunities. Once I was able to secure my place in society, I began to invest in high quality recording equipment from Neumann & Apollo.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is having the ability to create music you love. When you’re in a recording session and you’re listening back to a song for the first time that you know has the potential to blow up with the right marketing.

Another extremely rewarding aspect of being an artist is the feedback from fans via social media, live performances or 1-on-1 conversations. Being able to change someone else’s life is more important than the ability to change my own. I desire to touch as many people as possible with my creative abilities. That’s what it’s all about providing that support to people without it. Because growing up music kept me safe, calm and focused. I want to continue the cycle and tradition of music comfort.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/afrodope1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afrodope1/
• Twitter: https://x.com/afrodope
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtGIdiTg43bJ7Mt19rkfu3w
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/afrodope

Image Credits

Afro Dope

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