As my talents as a Hip Hop/Rap recording artist and producer started to become recognized by the music industry as well as my peers I started to gain various interviews. I have spoken to radio DJs, radio personalities and journalists from all around the world about my music. One of the questions I am always asked is “do you have any advice for younger artists trying to make their way in the Hip-Hop music industry”. This is a question I can never answer thoroughly during a 15 - 30 minute interview so I have decided to start a blog series with my advice to aspiring rap artists and producers trying to make it in this business.
Personally, I don’t see myself as having “made it” to where I’d like to be yet but I have attained a solid level of success with my music and I don’t mind sharing some of the knowledge I’ve gained along the way. So here goes!
.:Have Passion:.
It is no secret the Hip-Hop/Rap music industry is very, very hard to make a mark and put yourself in a position to sell your music to a large number of rap music fans. The industry is full of cut-throat individuals willing to take you for everything you have. So my first advice to any aspiring emcee or producer is to have an undying passion for Hip-Hop and rap music! Without an undying passion for Hip-Hop and rap music you will NOT make it through the obstacles the industry will throw at you.
Opinions are like assholes, everyone has got them. So expect to be told by anyone who can write or speak that you are shit and should never rap or make a beat again. People are just like that. Everyone is a critic and I think when it comes to rap music the critics come ten fold ‘cuz people seem to think it is easy to put rhyming words together and flow them to a beat. Especially in today’s music industry climate where the majority of songs are popular due to their sheer simplicity and easy to remember qualities. Plus, let’s remember music is subjective and people like it based on their own taste. If their flavor ain’t you they will say “you suck” when in actuality, it’s just not their thing. When you get pass the point of hearing how bad your music is, you will have shady characters in the industry tell you how amazing you are and how paying them will help you get that much further in the business because they know everybody or have promoted records by Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, The Game and so on when all they really did was hand out some free records they got from Interscope or Def Jam cuz they were on the street team (lol). Then when you get past that hurdle, you will meet those who want to use you to better themselves. And the list of hurdles will go on and on until well after you have “made it”.
The business of music itself will attempt to suck all the passion you have right out of you so if you have an undying passion for Rap music and Hip-Hop culture you have already got 50% of this thing beat!
I ain’t Ludacris, Jay-Z, Nas or T.I. but remember Jair Dynast told you, have undying passion for the culture of Hip-Hop and Rap Music if you plan to have a career in it!
Peace and blessings y’all!
