What's your method to connect with Hip Hop Artists?

[Mr.Amokk]

Most of the time, if you are a producer (or beatmaker) you are connected to some rappers one way or the other. Those are usually average skilled or less. But you just grew up with those guys...or maybe you don't even know them...cause you just grew up around non-hip hop people.

No matter wich is the case, how do you connect with other Hip Hop artists (rappers, singers) to make music/business?

- myspace
- live shows
- clubs

...?

What's your no.1 method to make new contacts?

[Darwin James]

county jail. you'd be surprised how many "rappers" you can meet.

[MYAMS]

Originally Posted by Darwin James

county jail. you'd be surprised how many "rappers" you can meet.

great response!!!

[rilla]

Myspace usually. Even in the case where a friend of mine tells me they know this guy who's looking for beats/production, they'll usually send me their myspace and we'll network through that.

Personally I don't really like myspace. Mainly because of how cluttered most artists' pages are. That and the ridiculous amount of spam comments.

I also find that working with rappers leads to meeting more rappers lol. Usually rappers got rapper buddies too.

[Mr.Amokk]

Originally Posted by rilla

Myspace usually. Even in the case where a friend of mine tells me they know this guy who's looking for beats/production, they'll usually send me their myspace and we'll network through that.

Personally I don't really like myspace. Mainly because of how cluttered most artists' pages are. That and the ridiculous amount of spam comments.

I also find that working with rappers leads to meeting more rappers lol. Usually rappers got rapper buddies too.

Allright. Thought of myspace aswell. I think it's just f*cked up sometimes. Alotta wannabes aswell as some real people. I deleted the comments section on my profile

[MYAMS]

Originally Posted by Mr.Amokk

Allright. Thought of myspace aswell. I think it's just f*cked up sometimes. Alotta wannabes aswell as some real people. I deleted the comments section on my profile

yeah bro myspace is no good too many fools saturated it and its real hard to find talent. Perhaps describe a little bit of your situation and background, and state what type of networking you are interested in so people with similar experiences can post some knowledge.

[Alxi]

For what it's worth.

I never, ever sold an insrumental via myspace

The few customers i have are all coming from local forums dedicated to hiphop and i have met a few ones while going to shows and events

But i too would like to know how to increase my opportunities

-Alxi-

[KevWest]

I use myspace and local forums for leads then I go to shows. Word of mouth is always a good idea too. Generally if the person isn't doing shows or out in the public selling cds you don't want to deal with them. I keep my sidekick on me and just make sure that when I meet new talent to get all their info and keep in touch. Weekly texts go a long way sometimes.

[Keyflo]

my method is simple, to find rappers just do what i do, i always go around in college around the student center, rappers are always rapping in the cafe or something, They never have beats, so i always keep my laptop and my speakers in my backpack and i play the beats so they can freestyle over them, if they are loving the beat they freestyle too then i hand it off and exchange info....

I even did this in highschool, except i didnt have a laptop, i had a old ass ipod with creative speakers, I even used to bang beats on the tables for rappers....

You really have to be confident when trying to meet rappers or singers, the last thing u want to thing of is them saying its wack, I showed many rappers one track that they said they didn't like but other rappers felt it....If they dont feel your energy its either cuz you're worried to much about opinions.....

As time went by many of the local rappers i did tracks for moved or got caught up in other things, but for me, everything up to this point has been a blessing and i hope to work with many more rappers and singers....

[Keyflo]

Originally Posted by Alxi

For what it's worth.

I never, ever sold an insrumental via myspace

The few customers i have are all coming from local forums dedicated to hiphop and i have met a few ones while going to shows and events

But i too would like to know how to increase my opportunities

-Alxi-

I have sold one instrumental on myspace, and only one, most of the artist that add me as a friend are doing the you a jerk type stuff, I visit profiles form time to time to see whats hot, but my method, walking around the student center/cafe at my college is doing fine for me

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by Mr.Amokk

Most of the time, if you are a producer (or beatmaker) you are connected to some rappers one way or the other. Those are usually average skilled or less. But you just grew up with those guys...or maybe you don't even know them...cause you just grew up around non-hip hop people.

No matter wich is the case, how do you connect with other Hip Hop artists (rappers, singers) to make music/business?

- myspace
- live shows
- clubs

...?

What's your no.1 method to make new contacts?

On the post office wall and Americas Most Wanted

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

On the post office wall and Americas Most Wanted

LOL

[phillysoulman]

And maybe on a milk carton.
Check the police blotters and homeless shelters too.

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

On the post office wall and Americas Most Wanted

But all these people have no money (Hint hint!).

[Darwin James]

Originally Posted by MYAMS

great response!!!

Darwin James says...

Yea im being completely serious too, that's the funny part. Out of a pod of 100 inmates, 40 to 50 will be rappers and/or know someone who can "hook you up". Regardless of race.

[MYAMS]

Originally Posted by Darwin James

Darwin James says...

Yea im being completely serious too, that's the funny part. Out of a pod of 100 inmates, 40 to 50 will be rappers and/or know someone who can "hook you up". Regardless of race.

lol I never doubted

[Synthy08]

Originally Posted by Darwin James

Darwin James says...

Yea im being completely serious too, that's the funny part. Out of a pod of 100 inmates, 40 to 50 will be rappers and/or know someone who can "hook you up". Regardless of race.

That may be prison jargon.

[ramil]

I don't have myspace but what I do is just contacting with more popular local rappers and doing some stuff to them for free. Then people listen and start talking about the producer. Then somebody contacts me and ask make to make a beat for them too and finally comes money :]

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by ramil

I don't have myspace but what I do is just contacting with more popular local rappers and doing some stuff to them for free. Then people listen and start talking about the producer. Then somebody contacts me and ask make to make a beat for them too and finally comes money :]

It's ok when you start, but yeah, nobody will take you seriously if you keep working for free, and you will less likely get paid for future work, because you established your self worth... Meaning nothing (that's what you'd be worth to them).

[Mr.Amokk]

Originally Posted by MYAMS

yeah bro myspace is no good too many fools saturated it and its real hard to find talent. Perhaps describe a little bit of your situation and background, and state what type of networking you are interested in so people with similar experiences can post some knowledge.

- I'm from europe
- I don't have any releases yet
- I'm selfconfident enough to believe in my tracks
- I need work

Has somebody had the same "profile" before...?

[MYAMS]

Originally Posted by Mr.Amokk

- I'm from europe
- I don't have any releases yet
- I'm selfconfident enough to believe in my tracks
- I need work

Has somebody had the same "profile" before...?

nice bro, what are you looking to get out of it? Is this a past time? Career? What are your expectations and goals...

[Mr.Amokk]

Originally Posted by MYAMS

nice bro, what are you looking to get out of it? Is this a past time? Career? What are your expectations and goals...

Past time? No this is the current situation.
My expectations are that it's gonna be a long, long way to go, with a lotta things trying to hold me back.
I don't/can't/won't care though, cause I def wanna go that way.
My long time goal is to make a living out of this.
Ever since I wasn't born rich, money does matter.
But personally I'm more about success...cause that gives you a reason...and where's a reason, there is also happiness.
You dig...?

I wanna create something, that somebody else can enjoy.
I think this is what life is about if you are a creative/artistic person.

[MYAMS]

Originally Posted by Mr.Amokk

Past time? No this is the current situation.
My expectations are that it's gonna be a long, long way to go, with a lotta things trying to hold me back.
I don't/can't/won't care though, cause I def wanna go that way.
My long time goal is to make a living out of this.
Ever since I wasn't born rich, money does matter.
But personally I'm more about success...cause that gives you a reason...and where's a reason, there is also happiness.
You dig...?

I wanna create something, that somebody else can enjoy.
I think this is what life is about if you are a creative/artistic person.

im not exactly sure what you mean. You want to be rich? Rappers at almost any level won't get you there. I am assuming you want to work with major pop/hip-hop artists? Myspace and pmp and stuff isn't really the route to go you should move out to the US and get "in" with people in the industry, like going to industry events and such. Also, make sure your "product" is above and beyond anything on the radio. All the big artists here have a ton of homies with "mediocre" tracks to use that will get that placement before you.

Your in germany correct? Why not start there. From what I know there is a big hip-hop scene, why not get in with the hip-hop artists and labels up there. If you are dubbed the "future of hip hop" out there, take a shot at getting things going over here.

[Mr.Amokk]

Originally Posted by MYAMS

im not exactly sure what you mean. You want to be rich? Rappers at almost any level won't get you there. I am assuming you want to work with major pop/hip-hop artists? Myspace and pmp and stuff isn't really the route to go you should move out to the US and get "in" with people in the industry, like going to industry events and such. Also, make sure your "product" is above and beyond anything on the radio. All the big artists here have a ton of homies with "mediocre" tracks to use that will get that placement before you.

Your in germany correct? Why not start there. From what I know there is a big hip-hop scene, why not get in with the hip-hop artists and labels up there. If you are dubbed the "future of hip hop" out there, take a shot at getting things going over here.

Excuse me if I couldn't explain myself right in the last post. That has to be a lack of translation. I meant that money is a topic for me, because I will have to get some food on the table with whatever job I'm doin in life ( I was NOT born rich). But becoming rich is not the goal here. Just doin' a livin from making music would be fine.
I can't move to the US in near future, so I will have to use "online oppertunities" for now.

From my point of view the german hip-hop scene is very difficult. Probably alot more than the one in the US. We got ONE top selling artist and everybody else (like 10 guys max) can make a good living. Unfortunately those 10 guys are likely the same, that started the german Hip-Hop scene like 15 years ago. That means that the scene almost stood the same over the past decade. It had a big boost like 5 years ago, but other than that, it's the same artist being successfull eversince. Those artist use to work with indies or small divisions of majors. In both cases they got their own little studio and their own small circle of producers with whom they are working, since day one. It's way different from what's going on in the US.

For example the most successfull german indie-rap lable "Aggro Berlin" was retirering with the words "we just archieved everythig we wanted. Therefore we will shut down".

I think something like that wouldn't happen on the US-market.
It's just crazy...to me at least.

[MYAMS]

Originally Posted by Mr.Amokk

Excuse me if I couldn't explain myself right in the last post. That has to be a lack of translation. I meant that money is a topic for me, because I will have to get some food on the table with whatever job I'm doin in life ( I was NOT born rich). But becoming rich is not the goal here. Just doin' a livin from making music would be fine.
I can't move to the US in near future, so I will have to use "online oppertunities" for now.

From my point of view the german hip-hop scene is very difficult. Probably alot more than the one in the US. We got ONE top selling artist and everybody else (like 10 guys max) can make a good living. Unfortunately those 10 guys are likely the same, that started the german Hip-Hop scene like 15 years ago. That means that the scene almost stood the same over the past decade. It had a big boost like 5 years ago, but other than that, it's the same artist being successfull eversince. Those artist use to work with indies or small divisions of majors. In both cases they got their own little studio and their own small circle of producers with whom they are working, since day one. It's way different from what's going on in the US.

For example the most successfull german indie-rap lable "Aggro Berlin" was retirering with the words "we just archieved everythig we wanted. Therefore we will shut down".

I think something like that wouldn't happen on the US-market.
It's just crazy...to me at least.

Rappers here also have small circles of producers and I garantee its harder to get in with major hip-hop artists over here. Are they really that hard to reach out to? You don't know a single person that has some sort of connection to them?

Your kinda digging urself in a whole by not wanted to move to the US, get an internship, go to industry events, etc as well as not try to work with german artists. There are many opportunities online but you really ereally have to have top notch product to get noticed through all the mediocrity. Try posting tracks on GS or whatever see what happens lot of people who would purchase from you visit here. Other than that its either sheer luck or really being that "next dude" that will get you anywhere online.

[E.rOk.stA]

Yeah, it's really about makin' waves where you're at. You just gotta get out to the local events and meet folks. Don't even put yourself out there as a beatmaker. Just try to kick it with cats that rap. Establish yourself as a cool person to be around, then mention in passing that you make beats. Play it down. If your beats are that hot, it will speak volumes if you play it down. I love it when I meet humble cats that are just sick at what they do. It makes them so much better.

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by the Set Surgeon

Yeah, it's really about makin' waves where you're at. You just gotta get out to the local events and meet folks. Don't even put yourself out there as a beatmaker. Just try to kick it with cats that rap. Establish yourself as a cool person to be around, then mention in passing that you make beats. Play it down. If your beats are that hot, it will speak volumes if you play it down. I love it when I meet humble cats that are just sick at what they do. It makes them so much better.

thats a rarity in the game though.
Humility is not prerequisite in the world of hip hop.

[bobsandifer]

Originally Posted by chrislago

But all these people have no money.

Neither do most of the regular rap clients you can get.
I usually just hang out down the street from the local weed dealer then hand them a card when they come out. Its really odd. Most of the time they drop to the ground with their hands on their head when I walk up.

Seriously
Word of mouth, clubs and shows. My business card is plastic like a credit card and I find that potential clients hang on to them. I also pay for referrals if I let them book time.

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by rsandifer

Neither do most of the regular rap clients you can get.
I usually just hang out down the street from the local weed dealer then hand them a card when they come out. Its really odd. Most of the time they drop to the ground with their hands on their head when I walk up.

Seriously
Word of mouth, clubs and shows. My business card is plastic like a credit card and I find that potential clients hang on to them. I also pay for referrals if I let them book time.

Regarding your sig:

Man to doctor: Doc,I cant remember from one second to the next.
Doctor: When did it start?
Man: When did what start?

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by rsandifer

Neither do most of the regular rap clients you can get.
I usually just hang out down the street from the local weed dealer then hand them a card when they come out. Its really odd. Most of the time they drop to the ground with their hands on their head when I walk up.

Seriously
Word of mouth, clubs and shows. My business card is plastic like a credit card and I find that potential clients hang on to them. I also pay for referrals if I let them book time.

I pay for referrals, but I don't produce any rappers somehow... For some really really odd reasons