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Mar 6, 2026 / 2 MIN READ

Thank you, TikTok

JAMES HYPE
James Hype — Thank you, TikTok
I hadn't even finished the song. Just something I'd been working on for 20 minutes. A few weeks later, 7,000 people had saved it.

People are probably going to hate on me for this, but I wanted to tell the story anyway.

This time last year, I didn't use TikTok at all. It was full of negativity, negative people. I didn't see how it fitted into my life or my career. So when I had a single coming out, the record label would post on my behalf.

Then halfway through this year, something switched in my head. I think I was listening to Gary Vee. I decided I was going to start using TikTok as a testing ground — to get instant feedback for new DJ transitions, new music.

One night I was in Vegas, in my old apartment, and I'd made a quick idea of a track. UK garage chords, vocals I'd written with some friends all the way back in 2016. I posted this raw clip on TikTok. I hadn't even finished the song. Just something I'd been working on for 20 minutes.

A few weeks later, I saw someone comment on one of my other posts asking about a track called B-Mine. So I went back to the post I'd made in Vegas — 7,000 people had saved it. After that, more and more people started using the sound on their TikToks. Bear in mind, I hadn't even finished the track. It was a rough idea about 30 seconds long.

I told my manager what had happened and we decided I should finish the track and release it.

So I guess I've got to say — thank you, TikTok. This is kind of a message to myself, to be open to new things and find how they work for me. B-Mine's out right now.

What this actually means

the platform you're avoiding is probably the one with the cheapest feedback. write off less, test more.

What to do today

Reading about it doesn't make you better. These do.

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