Industry This Is How Hip Hop Producers Can Be Successful in the Music Industry

The music industry is a tricky game - one that many of us are trying to win at but only a few that really succeed. Many producers, beatmakers, rappers, and everyone in between work very hard to achieve that success without even questioning why they haven't gotten it yet.

I believe that hard work and dedication will most likely get you to where you want to go, but there has to be something else. Something that separates the few from the rest.

What is it? What holds some back and not others?

I think I have the solution.

Networking in the Music Industry

"It's all about who you know, not what you know", is a phrase I have heard many times, and yet, to this day it's still true. When I was flipping through some old Hip Hop videos on YouTube, I just happen to stumble onto this:



"Lapdance" by N.E.R.D. was a big hit years ago, and as of this writing, that video has close to 3 million views.

But why was that song so popular? Why was N.E.R.D. considered one of the best at the time? Of course, this song along with many others from their album "In Search Of" is what paved the way for Pharrell Williams to become one of the top Hip Hop producers, as well as a popular recording artist.

However, this song is not all that. Matter of fact, I never liked any of N.E.R.D.'s music at all. I knew that they were onto something but I just wasn't a fan.

Networking is one of the reasons why groups like this end up being so popular. We all know that if you knock on enough doors, you will eventually find someone that will want to give you money and promote your album (record labels), and that is what happens even today with pretty much all Hip Hop artists.

To be successful in the music industry, you must network enough so that you know a lot of people, but also the right people. You will never get ahead in the industry if all you do is local shows and post your music online for only a few people to see and hear. It requires that you hook up with people that can help you get exposure, but unfortunately many of the artists that do this are just not that good.

So why am I saying all of this?

Because I have heard many beats from just IllMuzik members alone that are much better than "Lapdance".

With all of the great beats that I have heard, why is it that N.E.R.D. gets a big hit but not a member of IllMuzik?

Getting Lucky in the Music Industry

There are many factors that go into catching a break, but sometimes it just comes down to pure luck. It could be an artist just happens to meet someone that knows someone at a record label, and after one thing leads to another - a record deal is signed.

When I listen to "Lapdance" and then I also read the reviews, it just blows my mind that so many people like it. Sure, it's got a certain vibe and I can see how some people will like it, but I just don't hear anything special. And it's a shame, because with all the great beats I've heard from our members, it's too bad that most people don't get to hear the quality of music they're producing.

But they will hear something from N.E.R.D. and instantly, their heads explode in excitement.

I believe that if there was a record label that featured nothing but IllMuzik members, the quality of the production on every track produced would be top notch, even better than most of the biggest names in the industry.

This is the reason why the music industry is a tricky business. It's not about talent (okay, maybe to a certain degree), but it's about what kind of connections you have and what kind of sacrifices you want to make.

I have heard many underground groups that got airplay back in the day, and they were terrible, but why did they get airplay? Because of who they knew. They would talk to someone that knew someone and the next thing you know - their music is being played on a local Hip Hop show, which leads to them opening up for a big name rapper later on.

In Closing

So what can you take away from this?

It's quite simple - get known. Posting your beats online is great, but you can't stop there. Your beats, your brand, your face, and your persona have to be everywhere. This is the only way that you will get recognized and have many more people hear your music.

And to do all of this, you have to do like the rest - network and get lucky.

Oh, and your beats can't suck!

Further Reading Related to the Music Industry

• Make Money with Your Beats
• The Ultimate Guide on How to Make Beats
  
• Create, Innovate, and Keep It Real
  
• 5 Reasons Why You Are Not Successful in the Music Industry
  
• What Is the Best Way to Market Your Beats?
  
• The Hip Hop Music Industry Is Oversaturated
  
• 6 Tips That Any Beat Maker Can Use with Social Media

 

[NuNu]

Good article. As far as the idea on the table, I would contribute as well.

 

[Mike Free Music]

Good insight.

 

[BeatMaker80]

Whoa, this topic hits so close to home. I've been in the music business for about 25 years now (not consecutively...had to do the life/job/family thing). I have some fairly notable placements with underground artists such as Rapper Big Pooh formerly of Little Brother, Chandon of the J.U.S.T.I.C.E league, Skyzoo, Boog Brown, top 4 finalists in the hnhh.com Phryme Remix contest, and a fairly popular web series TV placement on blacknsexytv.net to name a few.

Although I am extremely grateful for these opportunities, none of them were profitable. Also another thing I should note and perhaps some of you can identify with this too... I wasn't in a position to leverage these opportunities at the time they were presented. Ever heard of the saying "You gotta strike while the iron's hot"? Well, that saying is true as hell! See, it's one thing to produce a "product" that is good, well packaged, in demand and able to be marketed. It is an entirely different animal to know you have a basket of sweet fruit that people at the market will buy but have no way to get it there. That's the proverbial position that I was in. I had a small buzz going but I didn't follow through the way that I should've because I couldn't be all the places that I needed to be, when I needed to be there. You have to be able to deliver on demand and my creation process is not one that yields an endless supply of beats. I take a more personalized approach with production so the rate of songs I produce may be a lot less than other producers that have catalogs with hundreds or even thousands of beats. If you wanna get in the game, you gotta be ready to play and although I had a cool little buzz, I simply wasn't ready. See a lot of people want success but actually being ready for success is a whole different story. I had a full time career in IT that paid my bills and took care of my son at the time. I couldn't just take off work, hop on a plane to go to another state just to meet with an artist/label/company to discuss something that potentially may or may not happen with my music. In my mind I couldn't justify jeopardizing my full time career in which my money was virtually guaranteed for the "lucky break" or "potential" of the big pay off in music.

I don't think people hear this side of the story often enough and I feel that if more artists were able to overcome some of these issues that I just mentioned that many more would see the success that their music deserves.

Peace.

Facts!!!