As an educator in the field of learning how to rap I've picked up on many common misconceptions. And lies unchecked can become one's truth. So in my efforts to prevent you from being held back, below I've compiled the top 5 things rappers misunderstand the most about songwriting. Let's get straight to it, shall we? 1. Every Song Must Be About You We've all likely been guilty of this one. You sit down to write your next song but you are "shooting blanks". This is commonly known as "writer's block". You've already written songs about the horrible EX, why you're the best rapper in the … [Read more...] about The Top 5 Things Rappers Misunderstand About Songwriting
Artist Tips
Demystifying Marketing And Promotion For Rappers (Complete Guide)
Hopefully, all of the marketing and promotional techniques I've shared throughout this series has gotten your wheels turning on different creative techniques to build your fanbase. I've shared a lot of information in the past articles which I know can be overwhelming. Below you will find a quick recap of all the core takeaways from this series. Be sure to bookmark this article and come back when you need a refresher. LET'S GET IT! Part 1: What Is Marketing And Promotion? Read The Full Article Marketing Marketing is the act of identifying who your "target" audience is. So when you … [Read more...] about Demystifying Marketing And Promotion For Rappers (Complete Guide)
Demystifying Marketing And Promotion For Rappers – Part 4
Let's talk about subcultures. Subcultures are basically a group of people or a community that share a common similar interest. In marketing terms, we call this a "Niche". Subcultures This entire time I've been teaching you how to target a specific SubCulture. You see, Hip-Hop is a specific type of music which makes it a "Niche". But then there are "Sub-Niches" or "Subcultures" within it. This is why in the beginning I had you first define what type of artist that you are then to make a list of other artists that are similar to you. This allows you to get very specific about who you're … [Read more...] about Demystifying Marketing And Promotion For Rappers – Part 4
Demystifying Marketing And Promotion For Rappers – Part 3
S.E.O Another great promotional strategy is called "S.E.O" which stands for "Seach Engine Optimization". You actually participate in SEO all of the time. For example, if you heard about a new video game that's coming out, and you go to google or Youtube and search for the name of that game then you will see content related to that game. So when someone creates content about something that other people are searching for then they are likely going to get free traffic from it. But remember to also ask yourself "what's in it for them?". Don't create content with a misleading title … [Read more...] about Demystifying Marketing And Promotion For Rappers – Part 3
Demystifying Marketing And Promotion For Rappers – Part 2
In my previous article "Demystifying Marketing And Promotion For Rappers Part 1" I explained the difference between marketing and promotion along with how you can identify your target audience and I even shared one powerful technique on how to reach and promote to them. In this article, I'm going to share another promotional strategy that I recommend. And don't feel obligated to pick just one of these promotional strategies, but rather feel free to use as many of them as you can. If your promotional tactics are more diversified you will likely have a higher success rate in gaining … [Read more...] about Demystifying Marketing And Promotion For Rappers – Part 2
Demystifying Marketing And Promotion For Rappers – Part 1
Sadly this is where it ends with most rappers. Most rappers only want to make music but if you don't market and promote your music the likely hood of you growing a fanbase is slim to none. I discussed the reasons why most rappers don't put enough focus on marketing and promotion in my previous article "Why Wack Rappers Are Getting Famous". But just to recap, these are the main reasons. They are insecure and scared of rejection Lazy Prideful and have an entitled mindset because they think their talent means that success is owed to them They set unrealistic … [Read more...] about Demystifying Marketing And Promotion For Rappers – Part 1
A Case For Biting Rappers: Pioneers, Innovators And Thieves
Within any craft, there are three types of people; pioneers, innovators, and thieves. And sometimes the lines that divide each of them can become blurred. This same concept certainly applies to this craft we love and know as "rapping". But at times it can be difficult to pinpoint where you personally fit into all of this. Are you a pioneer, an innovator or just a thief that's bitting off of other rappers hard work? Well, after reading this you might have a slightly different perspective on all of this. Let's first take a look at each of these … [Read more...] about A Case For Biting Rappers: Pioneers, Innovators And Thieves
What You Think Freestyle Rapping Is, May Actually Be Wrong
There's a common misconception floating around about what freestyle rapping actually is. Many people think freestyle rapping is completely improvised, meaning you come up with all of your lyrics and rhymes "on the spot" or "off the top" of your head. The Freestyle Rap Dilemma In many cases, those who've adopted the above definition of Freestyle Rap view people who spit written rhymes and call it a Freestyle as fraudulent charlatans who are trying to fool the listeners into thinking everything they're rapping is being improvised live in that very moment. They often feel the need to … [Read more...] about What You Think Freestyle Rapping Is, May Actually Be Wrong
How To Improve Your Rap Freestyles With Rhyme Lists
Today I'd like to share with you a very practical way of not only improving your rap freestyles but your songwriting as well using something called Rhyme lists. As the name implies, Rhyme Lists are simply a list of rhymes. The Struggle If you're freestyling off the dome your biggest struggle is going to be coming up with rhymes quickly before your bar runs out. In fact, while you're rapping one bar you should already be thinking of the word you're going to rhyme with it on the next bar. That Guy We've all heard that guy freestyling who keeps using the same words over and over … [Read more...] about How To Improve Your Rap Freestyles With Rhyme Lists
Building Up The Confidence To Rap In Front Of Others
So you've been working hard on improving your rap skills in the privacy of your bedroom. But at what point should you step out and share your talent with the outside world? And how can you get rid of your fear of rapping in front of others before doing so? I'll be sure to cover all of that within this article so LET'S GET IT! Are You Ready? First things first. Before you start putting yourself out there you should spend some time developing your rap skills. You don't have to "master" the art of rapping first but you should at least be decent at rapping already. If you're not sure if … [Read more...] about Building Up The Confidence To Rap In Front Of Others