5 Ways to Boost Your Rap Career

It seems like everyone and their mama wants to be a rapper these days. Not to mention that becoming a rapper has never been easier, especially with the advent of SoundCloud and Distribution Services. Many people can release music by themselves without the help of a label. Speaking of which, many people can have their own label from inside their homes.

Let’s face it the market is amazingly saturated and competition is tough. It’s hard to get ahead in this competitive and stifling industry. But do not fear because we have tips for anyone who wants to become a rapper. Here are our five ways to boost your rap career.

Brand & Image: Set the Tone

The most crucial aspect of being a rapper is your brand. You have to know who you are as well as the kind of image that you want to portray. Are you a masked-up n’ iced-up drill rapper? Are you a conscious rapper wearing wooden beads who raps over resampled beats? You must have a basic version of your brand in motion to give potential fans and business partners a better understanding of who you are.

Music Catalog: Have a Repertoire

After you have your brand sorted out, then it is time to get your music together. Odds are, you have already begun working on music at this point and have a few completed or in the work-in-progress stage. We recommend that rappers have 5 to 10 finished songs before the release of their first song. Doing this kills two birds with one stone and helps set you up for success.

Having a music repertoire allows artists to roll out releases in an orderly and timely manner. Consistency is key and keeps you in the mind of your fanbase. If you were to release five songs every two weeks, then that’s 1/5 of the year when your music will be in the minds of your fans. Active artists also have a better chance of gaining new fans.

The other important reason for having a music catalog ready is to be able to perform shows. We might be jumping the bullet, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. You don’t want to miss out on a performance opportunity early in your career because you only have one song. The average song is three minutes long, and having five songs allows for 15-minute sets.

The Professional Amateur: Be Professional

Rappers looking to get ahead of their competition must be professional. Almost every release (of significance) should have a press kit. That means your song should come with files containing information on you, information about the song, photoshoot images, the album cover, and other important media. 

You also have to have to perform send-outs/mailouts with your music and press kits to radio stations, music blogs, music curators, and fellow artists. There is a lot of writing involved with being an artist, and you must cross your t’s and dot your i’s.

The world doesn’t owe you understanding. No one cares why you have spelling and grammatical errors in your press kits and email send-outs. They only care what you do. So be sure to get a manager or friend to assist you. There are also tools such as Grammarly, and Google Docs to help clean up your work.

Be punctual and on time for events, meet & greets, and shows. Professionalism builds rapport and a good reputation. Concerted effort to put these qualities will help with networking and building your brand.

Last but not least, get a website or hub for your brand. Nothing says I’m more serious about what I do than a website in this modern age. Use a website, Websites are usually bundled with email addresses, and these vanity emails usually perform better than Gmail or Yahoo email addresses. You will stand out from the crowd by doing these things. Gmail address do work fine, and SoundCloud, YouTube, Linktree operate fine as all in one hubs.

Style & Fashion: Look the Part

This segment falls back into the “Brand” section, but you must have a consistent or signature look. You won’t ever see Yeat without his Ski-masks. You’ll be hard-pressed to find Kendrick wearing a multitude of iced-out chains. Plus, if you see Lil Nas X in something non-eccentric then it was on Rapcentre first.

Your style should be reflective of you and your brand. Invest in your look for social media, photoshoots, press shots, and performances. A good pair of sneakers, a pair of (black) jeans, and a nice (white) tee will keep you straight. Also, almost every urban neighborhood has shops that sell good-looking streetwear for cheap. Shop at those stores to diversify your look.

 Some commercial jewelers provide affordable costume jewelry such as Hello Ice, GLD, and King Ice if you need jewelry. Don’t stress about “faking it” because it’s early in your career. You have time to connect with a jeweler and receive better deals on jewelry if that’s your thing.

Balling on a Budget: Invest in Yourself & Brand

Everything previously mentioned requires investment in time along with money. “Scared money don’t make money”, so be prepared to spend in order to get ahead. Many music blogs, like ourselves, require payments for articles. Music distribution services aren’t free and vary in cost. Studio time is relatively expensive and having your own studio can run up the bills.

It is imperative to have and follow a budget, as well as spend money to grow as an artist. Here are some expenses to consider for a project’s release:

1. Studio Time
2. Album Cover
3. Music Video & Music Videographer
4. Photoshoots & Photographers
5. Promotions (Blog articles, Playlisters, Curators)
6. Ad Spend (Advertising on Social Media)
7. Music Distribution

Be sure to spend, but spend what is necessary as well as what is in your means. Use your networks such as friends, families, and acquaintances to find people who can provide you with discounted services or even help. If you work hard to invest in yourself then others will be more inclined to help you out.

Those are our 5 Ways to Boost Your Rap Career. We hope those who read this article find success by applying these principles. Stay tuned for there will be more articles on how to succeed in the music industry.