In this episode of One Percent Better, Jay, Alex, and Jamila break down the invisible rules we’ve all been conditioned to follow — the “standards” that shape our creativity, our confidence, and the way the world sees us.

From conversations about leaving your hometown, to being labeled “corny” for choosing success, to artists losing themselves by fighting battles that aren’t theirs — this episode uncovers how much of our identity is built on expectations we never agreed to.

They talk about what it means to set your own standard instead of inheriting one from the culture, the hood, the algorithm, or the industry.

Because the truth is: most people aren’t trapped by talent — they’re trapped by perception.

The crew dives into:

• Leaving home vs. outgrowing home
• The rise of “fake motion” and performing progress
• Why the internet helps some but traps others
• Typecasting, niche-building, and protecting your creative identity
• The war between being “real” and being successful
• Hip-hop beefs, ego traps, and staying in your lane
• The danger of building your worth on praise OR criticism

This episode is all about freeing yourself from the rules that don’t serve you, fighting the battles that matter, and becoming one percent better by choosing your standard over the world’s.