Indie Artist’s Hip Hop Guide.
In today’s world where every out-of-school kid wants to become an indie artist, it is easy for aspiring artists to believe that success is as easy as they see in movies. With all respect to Eminem and 50 Cent, sometimes people, especially youngsters, watch movies like 8 Mile and Get Rich Or Die Trying and assume that launching a Hip Hop career is as easy! I meet a lot of unsigned, aspiring rappers and because they know about my extensive research on the subject and the indie music industry and since Hip Hop is still a multi-billion-dollar industry, one of the most common questions I run across is- how do i get my music posted online (in hopes of launching a successful career).
Luckily, I also encounter plenty of signed artists, A&R’s, executives and producers who have established themselves within the industry. So, the following advice comes from those professionals—the professionals that aspiring rappers hope to impress and ultimately get to work with, by getting posted on various Hip Hop blogs and websites. So, we put together this list that is geared to getting your stuff online or just an overall balance of how to be successful as an independent artist trying to get signed.
It is however, just a guide and not a guaranteed way to success, because there exists no such way! I have known many people who had to make the decision between taking a pay cut and keeping the same job, or quitting their job to pursue a passion. So, I can relate to any aspiring artist with a stack of burned CDs in pursuit of their dream. Let’s start with taking the advice from the industry vets you hope to someday work with—along with some planning, hard work and some luck.
Plan Well
Moving from your grandmother’s basement to New York can be extremely difficult in this current situation of the music business. Most labels won’t take a chance on an artist—especially a rapper without any traction. When I say traction, I mean trackable data about you or your brand. This data can be in the form of broadcasts or mediabase radio spins, a huge buzz on a mixtape like thousands of online downloads, independent sales, or write ups and praise from notable publications significant views on YouTube with a music video or blogs, presence on key websites and blogs, touring, endorsement from established artists etc. Now the question arises – how can this be achieved when the competition has more money, contacts, management, etc.
Getting signed or becoming a huge independent artist takes a plan!
Drive
Your drive is the trait will keep you moving forward as doubt sets in, as you progress or as you face those lows in your career when nothing is happening. If there is an inner drive in you to just keep moving on and never let anything stop you, you are already half way through.
Creativity and Location
The ability to stand out from the rest starts from creativity. Even if you find yourself in a place clogged by others pursuing the same thing you are (producing, singing, rapping), you should nurture the ability to create something that sets you apart from everyone and will help you stand out. While there is a perpetual hunt on for talent, across the world, all the time, we all know that it is important to be noticed even for the hunters to catch you. Social media can get you a few likes and some fan following, but if you really want to “make it big” in the industry, staying in your hometown is not going to help. You need to move out to a place which has more awareness and scope for your work. Where you can run into the possibility of finding bands and publishers that might be hunting for artists.
All of us know that, to a certain extent, there is a peripheral psychological effect that comes with dressing and acting the part to which you aspire. This is true for an indie artist as well. Start acting what you aspire to be and you will eventually become that one day. as discussed in my blog Indie Artist – Success Gear, get yourself geared up for success and put 100% of your energy into every performance. Complete your performance, no matter what goes wrong, even if it’s just you and the sound guy. From the moment you walk in the door, until the last embers of the after-party die out. maintain your performance persona. The idea is to believe in yourself.
And finally, avoid shortcuts. You can’t pay your way to success. Be genuine in forming relationships with people. Attract success organically. Keep making great music. Continue to develop your art. This is really what it takes to make something happen.
