Philosophical Ideas Creative Process and the Existential Lens
The first of the three philosophical ideas that changed my creative process is existentialism. This concept, championed by thinkers like Sartre and Camus, stresses that we are the authors of our own meaning. In the creative process, this has huge implications. As a rapper, a producer, or a hybrid of both, you will often be told what your work should sound like or whom it should serve. Existentialism reminds us that our music philosophy has no meaning until we give it one. This liberation can be uncomfortable but it is the most honest form of creation. Your art is valid because you made it, not because it meets a checklist.
For me, this meant letting go of people and relationships I didn’t truly resonate with. It meant sitting in the discomfort of not knowing if my choices would work commercially but trusting that the creative process itself was my reward. Whether I was creating beats or writing verses, existential thinking taught me that ownership of your music begins with ownership of your choices. When no one else believes in the path you’re carving, this mindset is the fire that keeps your vision alive.
At its heart, existentialism is a philosophical idea that teaches us that we are the authors of our own lives. There’s no cosmic rulebook dictating what a creative life should look like. For rappers, producers, and hybrid artists, this idea is more than theoretical it’s urgent. You may not have the biggest following or industry co-signs. Existentialism reminds us that this moment matters. It’s yours. Not tomorrow not when you blow up. Right now.
In my experience, existentialism liberated me from waiting for permission. I stopped chasing the wind and started seeking out meaning. Meaning doesn’t have to be grand sometimes it’s making a 40-second beat because that loop healed something in me. Or rapping two verses not because they’ll chart, but because they told the truth. When you internalize this, you realize: your catalog is your fingerprint. Even obscurity is sacred, because it means you’re free to define success on your own terms something many mainstream artists lose when the machine takes over.
Embracing Uncertainty Through Pragmatism
The second of the philosophical ideas that changed my creative process comes from the school of pragmatism. This American-born philosophy, pushed forward by William James and John Dewey. It teaches that truth is what works. In other words, what matters in your creative process is not whether it sounds good to everyone. But whether it truthfully moves the needle for your artistic goals. This is particularly freeing for anyone stuck in perfectionism or comparison. It invites you to test your ideas before you release them. While trusting your decision that move you intentionally in the direction of growth and increase.
When I stopped choosing to focus on making a perfect mix or delivering the most profound bars and instead focused on consistent creation and improvement, things changed. I learned to measure progress through results rather than opinions. Even perceived failures and fallouts taught me what not to repeat. The creative process stopped being about one masterpiece and became a series of valuable experiments. Pragmatism is what keeps your music in motion rather than trapped in your hard drive forever.
Absurdism and the Power of Creating Anyway
The final of the three philosophical ideas that changed my creative process is absurdism. This idea, associated with Albert Camus, explores the conflict between our desire for meaning and the chaos of the world. In creative work, this shows up when you pour months into a song that gets less than 42 views. When you compare your 10-hour production day to a 15-second viral clip someone else made in five minutes. Absurdism says create anyway. Lean into the joy of making something in a world that doesn’t promise fairness.
Once I gained a fuller understanding of these philosophical ideas. I stopped looking for any rationale to justify my creative expression or process. I started to share more. I got better, faster. I wrote hooks knowing they might be heard by 100 or 100,000 people. The result a sort of freedom. Absurdism doesn’t tell you to give up. It tells you to let go of the illusion that success will ever feel predictable or fair. It brings peace to the creative process because it removes the pressure of certainty.
And in that space beyond expectation, beyond fairness you’ll find a type of artistic clarity that isn’t dependent on outcomes. You create for the act of creation. That’s where some of the best art comes from.
Final Thoughts Philosophical Ideas Aren’t Just for Thinkers
When we talk about philosophical ideas that changed my creative process, we’re not just engaging in intellectual exercises. These ideas ground us when our motivation is fragile, when our projects flop, and when our path feels misunderstood. Philosophy helps us craft not just music, but meaning. When you apply existential ownership, pragmatic experimentation, and absurdist perseverance to your work as a rapper, producer, or hybrid artist you are no longer just making music. You are establishing your worldview.
So much of music today is shaped by trends and tech. But the creative process is ancient. And it’s still powered by deep questions, bold decisions, and the willingness to wrestle with the unknown. These three philosophical ideas didn’t just change how I create they changed who I am while creating.
Justin David
