Being a rapper on his grind, over the years I have come to realize the value of relationships and the value of networking. When I started rapping I was hungry to get on and I would hit all the local shows and events just networking and meeting people in “the industry”. Through all of this I met a lot of people who were in charge of putting on these events and I was able to pass on my demo CD and eventually get involved in a lot of shows and events going forward once they heard my music. When I started out I wasn’t the most out going cat so meeting people and networking was often a very tiring task for me. But with the help of other more out going members of my crew I quickly overcame all of that and was so focused on hustling my talents we ended up as far as Atlanta handing out Vinyl and selling CDs.

My networking also brought me to meet a lot of other rappers and producers. Through those relationships I formed common alliances and furthered my knowledge of my local industry and the politics that govern it. Unfortunately, politics never seems to go in my favor so I had to hustle to earn every opportunity that came my way. Lucky for me my talent helped me get over the lack of political favor. I’m talking having to audition for show slots where I shouldn’t have had to etc.

Moving forward many of my lasting relationships have pointed me in the right direction when it came to getting a team behind me, a label behind my team, and fans behind my music. So network your ass of and build lasting relationships. These relationships will be key to your long lasting career in the Rap/Hip Hop industry.