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Which path should an artist take?

jaeone	Date: January 29, 2005 @ 11:56 AM whats up guys i want to know which path i should take to becoming a rapper. i mean i know theres millions of people out there that are trying to become rappers and all that and only the best will survive and i honestly think i have what i takes. the thing is getting signed to a label is easy i mean theres millions of labels out there that will sign people, the thing about getting signed though is that you have to sell your songs to the label which i dont like. i mean yea im technically the song writer but once i sell the song then its up the label to decide whos going to perform it rite?. i was thinking about getting my name out into the music scene and then once i get some type of recognition i can start my own label and shop my label to distributors. Like camron and birdman. to get the recognition i think the fastest way is to battle (freestyle), but thats a big gamble too because if you lose in a major battle i.e. blaze battle, bet freestyle friday, etc. your career is basically done with, i mean i know shells got signed to j records after he lost to eyedea but i doubt hes gonna get really big. im quite confused in what i should do. before when i was younger all i concentrated was writing good lyrics but now that i could write i see that theres more to the industry than the song it self.
Veracohr	Date: January 29, 2005 @ 11:08 PM Take the path less traveled, it will make all the difference. I don't know anything about the rap/hip hop industry in particular, but I would say decide first exactly what you want your role in that industry to be. Do you want to be primarily a producer, or primarily a performer, or produce AND perform your own songs? When you decide, then you can find out the best way to go about it.
jaeone	Date: January 29, 2005 @ 11:24 PM songwriter/performer...hopefully ill own my own label oneday
noimportantone	Date: April 5, 2005 @ 5:55 PM RUN ....
hickryh	Date: September 21, 2005 @ 6:53 PM I've found that the best thing an artist can do is basically anything and everything you can possibly do to get your stuff out there while at the same time holding on to your integrity, which makes it hard because if you have too much of that said integrity, your not gonna be heard much. There are alot of things one has to do that everyone else is doing but it's still be best to set your own trend and style. Hell I'm still tryin to make a living at it myself.
Distilled1	Date: September 21, 2005 @ 7:10 PM Country Rap thats the path less traveld
GeneHilbert	Date: September 21, 2005 @ 7:23 PM Polka Rap......
K3VIN	Date: September 21, 2005 @ 9:23 PM come on guys.. he has a serious question.. if you dotn kno state it.. dont be smart asses..
mattbanx	Date: September 21, 2005 @ 10:25 PM I won't be a smart ass. I am trying to take the slow approach of casting down mp3's to see what people like. I have more recordings that are in the works. See what promo offers may come along. And after a couple of years time, see what kind of listener support I can gather before I would even think of selling a CD. I don't know if I could have anyone buy my crap. But I would look to build my recordings up to where I will have one smash bang of a production. I don't know how it works with rap, but I discovered before pre-internet days that I am better off letting people notice me in their own time. Not to beg people to listen to me. I got over eager at one time, especially as a teenager. Just having the basics of a homesite along with mp3 sites with forums and the proper threads to alert people to new material should be enough. If I have to ask someone to listen to me more than once, chances are they have and they can just not get in to me. Most people may not like a song, it's the few that do. That might be someone that has much power in the business for all I know. Whatever the event, it sure beats playing crap 'ala' Poison where there was no inspiration.
GeneHilbert	Date: September 21, 2005 @ 10:37 PM OK Then.... 1st. you have to be extremely talented........ Has that been established......?
evansorchid	Date: September 21, 2005 @ 11:31 PM Talent only gets you so far. It might bring a touch of longevity and possibly a few nymphomanical groupies. However, it's all who you know and how lucky you are and being in the right place at the right time. Good luck, man.
GeneHilbert	Date: September 22, 2005 @ 12:49 AM Wrong........ Although luck is a definite factor..... if you get the opportunity and can not perform....... what the fuck good is that.... Be real........ Dreaming is good..... but you better have your shit together and be able to run with the big dogs...... or your ass will remain on the curb....
evansorchid	Date: September 22, 2005 @ 1:00 PM You’re right in some respects Gene, but I guess I meant ‘talent’ in only one sense.....and, there are lots of types of talent. If you’re a talented vocalist….you might get a few people to notice. If you’re a talented songwriter…..maybe someone will play your song. If you’re a talented musician…..you might get a few calls for some studio sessions. If you’re a talent performer……..Hey, stage presence is half the battle. If you’re a talented bullshitter…..That WILL go far with the big dogs. If you have talent for marketing, regardless if the product sucks …..That will be rewarded. If you have a talent for manipulating people and being able to look someone in the eye and tell a bold faced lie to their face without flinching….They will crown you king. So you’re right, you need to have a well-rounded talented personality overall….on top of being a talented vocalist/songwriter/musician to even have a chance at some success.
GeneHilbert	Date: September 22, 2005 @ 1:34 PM I concur - You can not be speculative...... My grandmother use to say "If a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his ass". Meaning discipline, work ethic, and dedication.... will by far take you further than hoping for the best. Also I like to add……….. (imagine that). Michael, when you posted "being in the right place at the right time" You nailed it Brother ........ "Networking" getting to know people that know people. “Connections” and that's the tough one....... Having a commercially viable product and then getting it into the right hands……….. Good Luck……. Now we’ve come full circle…….. Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together……..
Snoogans775	Date: September 23, 2005 @ 2:34 AM I thought that was Tia Carrere who said that.
aflunky	Date: October 13, 2005 @ 11:31 AM To go up against competitors that have already established themselves is tough, take thing's one at a time. Find or make some beats, write some rhymes, get on the mic, and show people and ask them what they think (don't be annoying about it eather). If you just wanna write for other people, write out your rhymes and show them to inspiring rappers. Basicly, what I'm trying to say is to promote yourself. Once you've made a name for yourself locally, try and go bigger, and grow from there.

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