It appears to be widely recognized to take every approach to establish a solid fan base but unfortunately some artists don’t take advantage of it. While it’s no surprise that having a strong internet presence is very important for an independent artist, it doesn’t promise that you’ll be a hit. You have to go the extra mile to get the word out. For Kid Ink, his internet game is so impressive, with over 300 thousand Facebook followers and more than 5 million YouTube views (and counting); it gives the presumption that he is romancing major labels. However, his offline Read the rest of this entry »

Undeniably posting videos online won’t guarantee that they will go viral. But having a smart marketing campaign can reap considerable results and bring you closer to your objective. To illustrate, Azealia Banks racked up a hefty fan base using YouTube and Tumblr. Often compared to Nikki Minaj and Lauren Hill because of her versatility, this Harlem MC is on a fast come up since releasing ‘212’ on YouTube. The fact that the video has over 12 million views confirms that it is well executed by means of creativity and budget. Equally important, she connects with her fans via Tumblr which keeps them updated on mundane things from her hair color to sexually explicit images. Azealia’s online success is a reminder that thinking outside of the box generally works. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re just recently hearing the name French Montana, understand this, opposed to some, French Montana is no overnight success. He paid his dues in the game by way of street DVD’s called ‘Cocaine City’. If you are not familiar with the Cocaine City DVD’s, imagine them being equivalent to YouTube in 2002. No stranger to hustle, French Montana has released 17 mixtapes in the last 5 years; which has undoubtedly fueled his buzz and led to being romanced by several Read the rest of this entry »

The hard truth is that with so many aspiring rappers out there, some just won’t make it. Not because they don’t have the talent but because being in this industry isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes a lot more than skill to carry on when the going gets tough. On your road to success there are sure to be times when you’ll have to check your ego at the door and ask yourself if you can persevere after years of trying. Of course for Danny Brown, being in the game nearly 10 years he should be a veteran by now. But he encountered obstacles that could end any artist’s career; from being rejected by two well known hip hop labels (G-Unit and Roc-A-Fella) and serving a long jail stint. However in spite of that he continued to make music and 8 years later his clever Read the rest of this entry »

The old paradigm for making it as a rap artist was that you had talent and you were found by someone who already established themselves somewhere in the industry. Then you were signed to a label and began working with studios and producers that were selected for you.  While the old standard still exists in some ways, part of the new standard is that you can take your career in your own hands before being signed. For Action Bronson, this is building relationships with producers. As a rapper, you already know how important the perfect beat is to your rhymes. So why not connect with the best producers you know? Action Bronson’s ability to Read the rest of this entry »

Perhaps the saying ‘made it’ should be redefined; because Black Cobain may not be extremely well known just yet, but through his lyrical skills and his connection with Wale, he came up from a struggling member of a rap group to the first rapper to be signed to Wale’s independent label ‘The Board of Administration’. Repping the DMV with his controversial name, Black Cobain’s story of come up possibly begins when he decided to quit his job at The Boys and Girls Club and pursue rapping full time. But it wasn’t until his manager, and marketing executive Le’Greg O Harrison, who happened to be Wale’s road manager, unintentionally got Wale’s attention by listening to his music around Wale. Conceivably, the wisdom here could be that Black Cobain beginnings stresses the Read the rest of this entry »

Despite the fact that Hopsin has been in the game for awhile, his success didn’t begin until he learned how to turn his adversities into opportunities. Although he was signed to Ruthless Records (founded by Eazy E.), it turned out to be the one thing that was holding him back. His dissatisfaction with the label caused him to leave and start his own independent label with Dame Ritter called Funk Volume. Hopsin also ran across another obstacle in his career, he noticed that no one remembered his face after he performed. So he created an image that would set him apart from other rappers. His scary contact lenses not only made him different, it was just the push he needed to gain more fans. His video ‘Sag My Pants’ Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re an artist and you’re trying to get to a place where people are paying money to see you perform where ever you go, let’s face it, you have to give them something worth paying for. A rapper can tweet all day about being in the studio recording his album but at the end of the day, if there is a lack of fans to buy your record, then being in the studio means nothing; because after all, that’s who you are making your music for. What does this have to do with Machine Gun Kelly? It has everything to do with him because Machine Gun Kelly, also known as MGK, is a great example of knowing how to put on a good show can be the difference between followers and fans. Besides his incredible lyrics, you won’t see him standing there with his crew behind him rapping. He connects with his fans. So much so that he can trust them enough to hold him up when he dives off the stage or when they tattoo his motto ‘Lace Up’ on themselves, he gets the same tattoo also. Although Read the rest of this entry »

If someone were to Google you as a rap artist, how many results would come up before getting to your website, YouTube videos, or Facebook page? As an artist, it is smart to consider SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to maximize your marketing efforts. Doing so will allow more visitors to your websites and bolster your fan base. To illustrate, Roscoe Dash didn’t used to be Roscoe Dash. His stage name was previously ATL. But he understood that the name ATL is synonymous with so many things in Atlanta that it would be hard for fans to find him online, hence the name change. Whether or not you can appreciate Roscoe Dash’s music, one thing is for sure, he knows the business of music. He understands that in order to succeed in the game, you must grasp the concept of being marketable. Equally important, he is a well rounded artist who not only raps, but he sings and writes Read the rest of this entry »

On the path to hip hop success there are bound to be some obstacles. Such as not being able to finish your album for numerous reasons, not reaching enough fans, or perhaps not having the proper resources to maintain an online presence. Whatever the obstacle, sometimes it might just be the perception of what success and failure really is. For example, Schoolboy Q named his album ‘Setbacks’ due to the limitations he experienced before releasing his album to critical acclaim. But contrary to that, he’s had some tremendous success along the way; including releasing two mixtapes that built a reputable following, being a member of the group Black Hippy, and being Read the rest of this entry »