How Did I Get Here: 25 year old Artist/ iHeart Account Executive
Corbin Butler
Twitter & Instagram: @CorbinButler
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/corbin-butler
Hometown: Chino Hills, CA
Age: 25
Occupation: Account Executive for iHeartRadio
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It’s about Family…With a father who was a DJ in the 80’s and a god-brother as a producer, Corbin Butler might have had a leg up on the rest of us. “I had access to tons of Vinyl in the house and my brother exposed me to the production of music in the 3rd or 4th grade”.. Not sure if any of you still use Fruity Loops, but it was the program many musical talents started on and Corbin is no different. While the love for music was brewing, an innate performer was already inside of him. As he stated, “I felt like I was entertainer since I was just a kid”.Showcasing his talent to anyone that would lend an ear was how Corbin honed in on his craft and found a love for his own creative art.
Coming from Where I'm From… Inland Empire. Chino Hills. 909 to some but to Corbin and Prime Life, this is home. Not very many people are aware of this hidden gem in California, but with the amount of talent surfacing the world will soon have to take notice. But why is there so much talent in such a small place? Corbin credits this to the wide variety of culture, music and backgrounds surrounding you everyday. “Chino Hills is like a big Social Experiment, where you have inner city parents who moved to start a better life for their kids. Now those kids grow up in a home that resembles a big city like Los Angeles but interact with peers from the suburbs”. Holding on to those inner city roots, but being exposed to so much more created a blend that cannot be reproduced. Its organic, its unique, its authentic and it is what Corbin is made of. “I appreciate where I come from and how it has guided me musically.” He is proud of where he comes from and wants everyone to recognize the talent that resides in his hometown of Chino Hills.
Creativity and Originality… Critics may see the current state of Hip-Hop as homogenous, where many artists are started to sound alike. However, Corbin has a different take on the Hip-Hop game. “The current state of Hip-Hop is how you look at it. I find new dope artists all the time who are different but you have to be willing to search for it.” He explained that the internet has given us the ability to find music from artists we may have never heard of a few years ago. If you don’t like what you hear on the radio, go to soundcloud, spotify or even blog sites to find hidden gems that spark your creative juices. The most beautiful part about life is that you are born original. “I admire some aspects of the trends that are out but I remain true to myself.” We guarantee you that you will not hear music like Corbin’s because he is a true creative that has stayed true to his originality. If you can continue to find ways to remain yourself in whatever you do, then there will always be an audience for you. Corbin is living proof.
Inspiration is Everywhere…No matter where you live, what kind of lifestyle you lead or what genre of music you listen to, there is inspiration everywhere. Corbin finds inspiration from his roots, his family, his hometown and music he listens to. But he also finds it in culture, conversation, clothing and art. “Music has power. Spiritually, politically, feelings etc. Music is everything.. Its life. And if music encompases life, then the possibilities for it’s creation are endless.” Individuals who have inspired Corbin musically are Pharrell, NERD, Timberland, Jermaine Dupri, Missy Elliot and DJ Quick just to name a few. It is a broad array of music, but it is what creates the sound that is true to him. He wants to work with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi and Madlib, but even more importantly he wants to work with you. As he stated “If you want to make dope art, let's do it.”
Monetize your Passion...Too often we find young adults questioning themselves for a purpose, or constantly asking themselves what they should do. Sure, it is a valid question but Corbin says it is much simpler than we make it out to be. “Figure out your passion and monetize it. Don’t stop doing your hustle but put an LLC behind it and make real money from it.” By passion he means, the one thing that gets you up in the morning. The thing that you do not go one day without doing. That is your passion, and with the internet you can learn to monetize it. It will require networking and a lot of hard work but you can do it. In the meantime, make sure you get your education. Corbin credits much of his success to his degree from Howard University and advises all of the youth to get a college degree even if they are following a passion. “Find a way to get money and find a way to get educated. No matter what, get educated.” Corbin proves to us all that we can multifaceted. We can have inner-city parents, a suburban hometown, musical talents, a college degree, and still make dope art. Why can’t you?