I've been in the music scene for about 10 years as music producer. Prior to producing I was a rapper going by the name of (DONT LAUGH) Chedda (ok, you can stop laughing now,lol) Seriously tho, Im giving you my history to show that I have experience on both sides of the vocal booth. After speaking to a lot of my fellow producers I realized that there is a problem that most artist today are not aware of. The problem is that you guys are sabotaging yourselves form making connections and moving into good positions. After a long winded convo with my producer buddies i compiled a list of where artist are going wrong and what you can do to help yourselves reach maximum potential in this tough market.
#5_Too Visible
So, you've made the choice to become a rapper, you've got tracks recorded so now its time to promote yourself. What I see most artist doing is constantly battling anywhere they can. You sign up for competitions at clubs, your at the bus stop, your doing it on youtube. Most people would think that this is a good thing and to some degree it is, but heres why its not. The idea is good but the execution is horrible. When your at the club your making your presence too known in a negative way. Your dancing with the females and trying to talk to them, most of the time getting shot down. On top of that, I've seen gang signs getting thrown around and just being way to loud trying to get attention. This type of behavior screams "Hey, I need attention" If your a boss, you don't need to call attention, it should just be automatic. On top of that, if your at the club every week, no ones going to take you serious when you try to sell them a mixtape. This is especially true when your trying to sell to the same female you tried to holler at last week and got shot down by.I used to see guys always at the mall battling and getting kicked out by security... I would know because I used to be a flashlight cop (Stop Laughing) Again, your making your self to seen. No one who is about business has the time to be at the mall every weekend battling, talking to females and getting kicked out.
#4_Bad approach
This ties in with #5. When your trying to sell your product, ask your self "Am I presenting myself in the best fashion possible"? I've known people to buy mixtapes just because they got tired of being harassed each time they go in or come out of a store. You screaming out "Yo, shorty, yo my my man....I got that crack for you, 19 tracks of that piff...for 5 dollars I'll bless you wit it." I've actually been approached like that. You have to look from the consumers perspective. I remember feeling like, "Dang man, why are you bothering me...get a Job." No one wants to spend their hard earned cash on someone who they think has nothing to rap about just based off their sales pitch. You would never see Micheal Jordan on tv trying to slick talk someone into a purchase. When your trying to sell something you have to show its value. I know its hard to do so in the 30 seconds that someone might humor you, but its doable. You just have to find a way to sell your personality to make them a fan of you and then your music.. Crack a joke, shoot, make a ballon animal and give it to their child, open up a door for them. Any of those things will at least not make them annoyed to see you the next time you come around.
#3_Bad networking
The internet has become a huge source of promotion and networking within the last 10 years. Now more than ever deals are being offered and money is being made just off of internet presence. What I'm seeing is guys on twitter in one tweet talking about who they smashed or what they smoke, and then in the next sentence trying to promote their song. I understand those are factors in your life, but when people see those type of post, they automatically label you as a "Sh*t talker" I personally always try to cater my tweets to something positive. Your smoking subject matter may cause somebody to be like "Man, forget yo cd, I finna go get me something to choke on" You always want to do your part to keep peoples mind on the greater aspects of life to leave them more open to making a impulse buy. Another big problem is how your approaching people in emails and forums. Again remember to keep the negative talk way. This includes your wording and your sales pitch. I've gotten emailing starting with "Sup my______,I only been rapping for a year but I got that fire. Gone head and download a copy of my mixtape, you'll see I got skills for only just started." The problem with that is your highlighting the negative aspects. You started off using a derogatory term in your greeting and then you started pointing out everything wrong with you. "i only been rapping a year, I got skills to just started." All the reader sees is, "yea, he aint got no experience and their not worth my time or money." Also, try to get in good with some Dj's. Online D.j's, club, dj''s, video jockies, club promoters, producers...any one who is in a position to spread your word for you and possibly put you on. In addition, your leaving bad taste in peoples heads. If a producer doesn't want to give you free beats, don't tell them their beats suck anyway. You dont know what type of connects that producer has that he could've brought your way weather you bought a beat or not. You cant go around cussing out Dj's who wont play your record, its just not a good idea.
#2_What are you selling
This one is partially dedicated to the females. Why are you having half naked pics of yourself on the web talking bout cop my cd. No, dudes are not trying to buy anything from you, they just want to try to negotiate a way that they can hook up with you. Dudes are going to look at your pics and keep it pushing. Even in the case of Nicky Minaj, if you check out her days of being on the come up...yeah she had on nice clothing, but it was never sluty. She has carried her self with dignity with just a lil hint of her sexuality from a visual sense. Now she talked all she wanted to talk about sex but her physical upkeep gave a nice little contrast to make her respected. So ladies just keep in mind, selling sex is not going to get you a deal or sales, its going to get you a stalker. Now to all the rappers, no what your brand is. Be contentious of how you speak to people about your music. Try to be unified in all that you do. If your a comical rapper and you make funny raps then thats your brand. Stop trying to be all tough on the streets and in the club. Let your demeanor reflect who you are as a person and an artist. If my brand was comedy raps I would open up a show for a real comedian and pass out flyers that represents your brand of music. No body would buy into a christian rapper who was always in the clubs not even half way doing Gods work.
#1_Bad material
Almost all these other issues, 5-2 could be over looked if you had a solid leg to stand on. I'm constantly downloading cd's to where the songs are garbage. Bad beats, sucky flows, lyrics and horrible mixing. I've also seen hot beats with descent flow, and horrible mixes, or any combination of the 3. I think in order to gain respect for your product you must have a good product and it starts with what your willing to put into it. I cant tell you how many times I get contacted for free beats a day. I understand every one needs a break, but man... why am I seeing you on youtube riding on 26's if you aint got no cake for beats. What happens is your downloading the same "free' beat that 300 other people done rapped over but you call your self trying to use it for your album. Doing something like that automatically takes away your uniqueness to the masses. Also, your not taking the time to perfect your lyrics, or your delivery its just all coming out sloppy. Now this doesn't apply to every rapper. Some of you guys really got it together with the music. You spent the money on hot beats, good mixing and your flows tight, but your lacking just the small things. Proper promotion and marketing will take you a long way. A good cd means nothing if no one knows about it to hear it. Go that extra mile and create a website for your self and not just a reverb nation, myspace page. Get your self on some distribution sites, Virdiko is a good one that get you a lot of exposure. You have to take what you do serious as an artist if not then who will. Put your self in a position of success. Selling music is no different than selling cars. No one needs a BMW, but you'd be surprised what people would be willing to pay for a good name and a luxury experience.
Thanks for your time
To receive more tips like this, sign up to my mailing list at www.keymusicfactory.com
Some other helpful links for you are
www.homerecording.com
www.virdiko.com
#5_Too Visible
So, you've made the choice to become a rapper, you've got tracks recorded so now its time to promote yourself. What I see most artist doing is constantly battling anywhere they can. You sign up for competitions at clubs, your at the bus stop, your doing it on youtube. Most people would think that this is a good thing and to some degree it is, but heres why its not. The idea is good but the execution is horrible. When your at the club your making your presence too known in a negative way. Your dancing with the females and trying to talk to them, most of the time getting shot down. On top of that, I've seen gang signs getting thrown around and just being way to loud trying to get attention. This type of behavior screams "Hey, I need attention" If your a boss, you don't need to call attention, it should just be automatic. On top of that, if your at the club every week, no ones going to take you serious when you try to sell them a mixtape. This is especially true when your trying to sell to the same female you tried to holler at last week and got shot down by.I used to see guys always at the mall battling and getting kicked out by security... I would know because I used to be a flashlight cop (Stop Laughing) Again, your making your self to seen. No one who is about business has the time to be at the mall every weekend battling, talking to females and getting kicked out.
#4_Bad approach
This ties in with #5. When your trying to sell your product, ask your self "Am I presenting myself in the best fashion possible"? I've known people to buy mixtapes just because they got tired of being harassed each time they go in or come out of a store. You screaming out "Yo, shorty, yo my my man....I got that crack for you, 19 tracks of that piff...for 5 dollars I'll bless you wit it." I've actually been approached like that. You have to look from the consumers perspective. I remember feeling like, "Dang man, why are you bothering me...get a Job." No one wants to spend their hard earned cash on someone who they think has nothing to rap about just based off their sales pitch. You would never see Micheal Jordan on tv trying to slick talk someone into a purchase. When your trying to sell something you have to show its value. I know its hard to do so in the 30 seconds that someone might humor you, but its doable. You just have to find a way to sell your personality to make them a fan of you and then your music.. Crack a joke, shoot, make a ballon animal and give it to their child, open up a door for them. Any of those things will at least not make them annoyed to see you the next time you come around.
#3_Bad networking
The internet has become a huge source of promotion and networking within the last 10 years. Now more than ever deals are being offered and money is being made just off of internet presence. What I'm seeing is guys on twitter in one tweet talking about who they smashed or what they smoke, and then in the next sentence trying to promote their song. I understand those are factors in your life, but when people see those type of post, they automatically label you as a "Sh*t talker" I personally always try to cater my tweets to something positive. Your smoking subject matter may cause somebody to be like "Man, forget yo cd, I finna go get me something to choke on" You always want to do your part to keep peoples mind on the greater aspects of life to leave them more open to making a impulse buy. Another big problem is how your approaching people in emails and forums. Again remember to keep the negative talk way. This includes your wording and your sales pitch. I've gotten emailing starting with "Sup my______,I only been rapping for a year but I got that fire. Gone head and download a copy of my mixtape, you'll see I got skills for only just started." The problem with that is your highlighting the negative aspects. You started off using a derogatory term in your greeting and then you started pointing out everything wrong with you. "i only been rapping a year, I got skills to just started." All the reader sees is, "yea, he aint got no experience and their not worth my time or money." Also, try to get in good with some Dj's. Online D.j's, club, dj''s, video jockies, club promoters, producers...any one who is in a position to spread your word for you and possibly put you on. In addition, your leaving bad taste in peoples heads. If a producer doesn't want to give you free beats, don't tell them their beats suck anyway. You dont know what type of connects that producer has that he could've brought your way weather you bought a beat or not. You cant go around cussing out Dj's who wont play your record, its just not a good idea.
#2_What are you selling
This one is partially dedicated to the females. Why are you having half naked pics of yourself on the web talking bout cop my cd. No, dudes are not trying to buy anything from you, they just want to try to negotiate a way that they can hook up with you. Dudes are going to look at your pics and keep it pushing. Even in the case of Nicky Minaj, if you check out her days of being on the come up...yeah she had on nice clothing, but it was never sluty. She has carried her self with dignity with just a lil hint of her sexuality from a visual sense. Now she talked all she wanted to talk about sex but her physical upkeep gave a nice little contrast to make her respected. So ladies just keep in mind, selling sex is not going to get you a deal or sales, its going to get you a stalker. Now to all the rappers, no what your brand is. Be contentious of how you speak to people about your music. Try to be unified in all that you do. If your a comical rapper and you make funny raps then thats your brand. Stop trying to be all tough on the streets and in the club. Let your demeanor reflect who you are as a person and an artist. If my brand was comedy raps I would open up a show for a real comedian and pass out flyers that represents your brand of music. No body would buy into a christian rapper who was always in the clubs not even half way doing Gods work.
#1_Bad material
Almost all these other issues, 5-2 could be over looked if you had a solid leg to stand on. I'm constantly downloading cd's to where the songs are garbage. Bad beats, sucky flows, lyrics and horrible mixing. I've also seen hot beats with descent flow, and horrible mixes, or any combination of the 3. I think in order to gain respect for your product you must have a good product and it starts with what your willing to put into it. I cant tell you how many times I get contacted for free beats a day. I understand every one needs a break, but man... why am I seeing you on youtube riding on 26's if you aint got no cake for beats. What happens is your downloading the same "free' beat that 300 other people done rapped over but you call your self trying to use it for your album. Doing something like that automatically takes away your uniqueness to the masses. Also, your not taking the time to perfect your lyrics, or your delivery its just all coming out sloppy. Now this doesn't apply to every rapper. Some of you guys really got it together with the music. You spent the money on hot beats, good mixing and your flows tight, but your lacking just the small things. Proper promotion and marketing will take you a long way. A good cd means nothing if no one knows about it to hear it. Go that extra mile and create a website for your self and not just a reverb nation, myspace page. Get your self on some distribution sites, Virdiko is a good one that get you a lot of exposure. You have to take what you do serious as an artist if not then who will. Put your self in a position of success. Selling music is no different than selling cars. No one needs a BMW, but you'd be surprised what people would be willing to pay for a good name and a luxury experience.
Thanks for your time
To receive more tips like this, sign up to my mailing list at www.keymusicfactory.com
Some other helpful links for you are
www.homerecording.com
www.virdiko.com
