What exactly is stopping you from breaking into the hip hop music industry? Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount of work it takes to make a living within this ever changing industry? While there is no clear cut way to become a big time producer, or rapper for that matter, there are definitely certain steps you can take to improve your chances of landing a big record deal or getting signed by a label. It may take a lot of hard work, consistent effort and determination but if you have the desire to make music for a living then it will all be worth it.
Work on Your Craft
The number one most important thing you can do to bust into the industry is to continue working on your craft. The more efficient, skilled and knowledgeable you are about making beats the better it will serve you in the long run. Become a master of your drum machine and sequencing. For instance, when working with my DAW of choice, DUBturbo, focus on turning that environment into your second home through repetition and consistent effort. Your virtual drum pads should be part of your dreams each night and your tracks should become part of your very being.
Set aside specific times to put into your beat making and stick to that schedule. Don’t let other people barge into your session or get distracted by phone calls, Internet videos or other controllable distractions. If you can put at least a few hours each day into working on your beats, over time you will become more productive and your skills will reach heights you never thought possible. Practice does make perfect, and it’s no different with laying down beats.
Work With Other Producers/Rappers
Just like you there are tons of other rappers and producers looking to break into the industry, and many of them have connections that you don’t have. Collaboration can prove key to your future successes and can give you and your partner the much needed exposure.
If you have a bunch of beats collecting digital dust then why not search for and find a talented rapper to work with? Put together some songs, enough for a mixtape, and create as much buzz as possible through your combined online reach and network. Utilize the numerous free hosted websites to post up your mixtape for free download. The more free music you give away now, the easier it will be to ask people to buy your album or beats in the future.
Build a Rabid Online Fan Base
If you are not building a rabid online fan base then you are missing out on the biggest opportunity to ever land at the feet of struggling producers. Never before has there been an easier and cheaper way to promote yourself and your beats. Try and picture the 1980s, when rappers and producers had to literally drive around selling mixtapes out of the back of their car trunk and hand deliver or mail a demo to radio stations and record labels. The Internet has permanently changed the hustle game, and there is no excuse for a determined and talented producer to not start making a name for himself.
Immediately open a Twitter, Facebook fan page and YouTube account. Also, find a popular online hip hop beat making forum and get involved in the conversation. If you already have a handful of beats then open up a beat selling account at Beat Swagger or Roc Battle and start selling.
However, the most important thing about building a fan base is to be yourself, because people will see right through any fakeness. Send out real messages about your life and what you are doing to make your producer dreams a reality. Give away some beats by running contests and respond to people directly to make them feel connected to you. Putting in months of building up your followers will inevitably pay off in the long run.
Start Making YouTube Videos Now
A huge portion of Internet users are now using YouTube to search for information, and beat related searches are definitely part of that. By having your own channel and putting up frequent videos you can take advantage of the huge source of traffic that YouTube offers, gain exposure, and if your videos get a lot of views you can also participate in the YouTube partners program, where you make money off ads displayed on and near your videos.
However, your main focus should be on making unique and entertaining or informative videos. Quality and quantity both come into play here, so put out at least one video a week that has something to offer the viewers. Check out some of the more popular producer channels for ideas. You don’t need a fancy camera, and video editing software comes with a Mac and is generally not that expensive.
Some ideas for videos could be “How-to” tutorials about software and beat making in general. Your recent beats with a link in the video description back to your beat selling page. Use your imagination and creativity for these videos and you will grow your subscribers exponentially.
Sell Beats Online
In addition to all of the aforementioned ways to try and burst into the rap industry you should also try and sell your existing beats online. Not only will you make some extra money but you will continue to get more exposure and create a name for yourself. if there are certain beats you feel are your best, then you might want to hang on to them to see if you can get some interest from labels, rappers or other producers.
Breaking into the music industry is not easy, and sometimes it takes a little luck. However, luck is nothing more than preparation meeting opportunity, so stay prepared and you never know when your opportunity will open up before you.
