Two approaches to success

The year is 2006. Myspace is the hottest social media site in the world. I upload beats to my music page and cold DM anyone and everyone who is in the music business to see whether I can get their attention.

I spent hours, days, and months doing this—eventually, I got the attention of a few key people who would end up being catalysts in my career. I was invited to come link up in the studio in LA, so I saved up the few pennies I had at the time by working odd jobs here and there and took a plane from Canada to the US. I stayed at a hostel in West Hollywood called the “Banana Bungalow,” an odd place that was filled with eccentrics and tourists. It was a party spot at night, with a dorm feel during the day—but it was $20 a night and I had a place to sleep while I set up meetings with my Myspace contacts.

One thing led to another, and I spent the next two weeks in different studios all around LA, which gave me the opportunity...