Attention rappers and Producers

[50cal]

I was thinking about something the other day. Since i know there are plenty of aspiring rappers and producers I have this question for you.

For rappers how much are you willing to pay for a beat? In answering this question as a rapper what are you going to do with this beat..will it be on an album, or mixtape, will you record in a professional studio, or home, and are you going to give away the album or sell the album, and if you sell it what do you project your sales to be?

For producers what do you think is a fair price for a beat. What influences your price. Time, effort and talent, costs of obtaining equipment, and getting newest sounds, electricity and personal costs.

I know there are variables but try and answer freely. Once there is some good feedback I will see if it matches a certain formula i was workin in my head.

 

[I-ROCC]

I can only speak for me...I don't pay much for beats at all...not becuz I won't tho..producers work wit me becuz I actually put albums out and they like the music...I've figured out when they charge between 300$ -1000$ for a beat they usually NEVER hear the songs again and 1 thing about producers they are also fans of rap so when u come tryin to buy a beat and they kno ur not going to do anything wit the song they tend to tax....and if a producer gives me a beat c.d..we use ALL of em!!!! LOL....keak da sneak advice

My 2 cents

 

[50cal]

Thanks, I think you are an exception to my formula because as you stated you have a name and put out albums so I can understand where a producer would give a more then fair price because they may be trying to build a name as well as work with an artist they are a fan to.

 

[d-rough]

Any beat I am willing to pay for will go on my album, but some producers prices are steep as fukk.they try to hit u over the head like you automatically a signed artist and u have a big budget to work with.and its like after u get that 1 beat if u decide to go thru with it ur budget to work with other producers drops tramendously.on the other hand other producers do work with emcees to get a name out so its kinda split.it just depends who u goin too.the big name daygo producers can take it either way too.they'll work with u or give u a beat that they been tryin to get odd dor a while for the low.but any beat that I'm payin outta pocket for will go on my album.it only makes sense.that's what I've been seein.

 

[J-FUNKTION]

If I really have to have a certain the beat, Ill pay for what the producer is asking. It aint hard to find quality shit though at around the 500$ mark. But still Im a regualr dude with no backing or anything, so after I calculate the everyday living expenses and such, I could only afford a beat every so often. And at that rate its kind of discouraging. If I ever get around to completeing anything, it will most likely be given away. I do it for the love and if I get respect from dudes, thats my personal satisfaction right there. One of my boys is planning on dropping his shit next summer, and hes trying to get it in stores only on a local level. To me thats cool, but since no one is checking these days, especially for unknown cats, at what cost is this good for you? Sure you have an album in stores, but how many other people coulkd you have reached in the first place by exposing them to your shit, the easiest way possible, for free. I know alot will disagree, but you asked, and Im just spittin my thoughts.

 

[50cal]

D-Rough, and J-function you got some good points but what are your projected sales?
(does not have to be accurate..just optimistic)

D-Rough these producers who you speak of should they give a discount because your not financially fit to buy their beats? I mean if i want lobster and i cant afford it, I have to hit Mc Donalds, its not like Im gonna walk in a nice restraunt and explain my situation and they gonna be...well if this what you workin with we can give you an 80% discount. Wouldnt it make sense to just save for each beat..it aint like you putting an album out every year, or my question is how many have you ever put out..not counting mixtapes. I aint tryin to single you out Im just tryin to figure out where everyones heads at.

and J-Function...I think buying quality beats over a longer period of time is the best idea..especially when the average artists aint putting an album out every year. My thought is why even make an album unless you stand behind every song 100%. So a great song here and here pieced over a few years wouldnt that be the best thing?

 

[-LICWIT-]

Wouldnt it make sense to just save for each beat..it aint like you putting an album out every year

...I think buying quality beats over a longer period of time is the best idea..especially when the average artists aint putting an album out every year. My thought is why even make an album unless you stand behind every song 100%.

i think that about sums it up....

 

[d-rough]

I would only charge like $5 being that I'm considered unknown.and refering to the beats producers have told me they got some old beats that they have goin for the low, and on the other hand other producers want like 2g's fo full rights.and I'm like yall I'd have to by quality beats over a long period of time and that will further prolong a project from comin out.then agen maybe that's why its takin so long for daygo heads to drop??

 

[Kayo K]

Being a producer first and a rapper off the strength I kan spit and sell my own product I usually don't pay for beats. If I hear something I want, I'll buy it tho. That is usually to circulate the doe. I can make any beat for myself and then wit homies like Mass and a couple other producers I've encountered across the map, I'm good.

However, if the producer has promotion value like a beat from that producer sells albums, I'll spend wit em. To this date I have moved over 6k units of 100 percent hustle so units get moved.

I have purchased production from Dave Moss because I want him featured on my album and I was doin really well at the time so I put the doe in his pocket. I also bought the I'm bout money beat from a cat in houston, tx for 100.

As far as selling traxx, it depends on the beat. I'll sit down wit an artist and make them a beat on the spot for 100. But not all my traxx go for that price. I got shit in the vault that I'm asking thousands for.

It all boils down to hustle. If I kno someone is gonna do sumthin wit my track, I'll work wit em. If not, they get taxed and only get a lease on the track...

 

[50cal]

I would only charge like $5 being that I'm considered unknown.and refering to the beats producers have told me they got some old beats that they have goin for the low, and on the other hand other producers want like 2g's fo full rights.and I'm like yall I'd have to by quality beats over a long period of time and that will further prolong a project from comin out.then agen maybe that's why its takin so long for daygo heads to drop??

So you would charge $ 5 for a beat....why even make beats..ahaha If I was a rapper my mind frame would be buy a few bangers...whatever the price cost...start building a fan base and little by little get more bangers and put the album out push as hard as you can...if it dont do nothin at least you did your best....by just makin do if shit dont go right...which Im guessin it wont... then you might sit back sayin..I shouldve done this or that..if i had some better beats Id done that.. I think it takes so long for Dago artists to drop for a few reasons...Some realize there is not a good chance at makin a livin in music ( not saying its impossible) others cant get past recording they have archives but are scared to fail..and those people no matter how talented usually do.

 

[CRHYMES]

I STARTED OFF BUYIN BEATS FROM CATS LIKE ECAY BACK IN THE DAYS.. LIKE 1999ISH. THEN OVER TIME I BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH CURTAIN PRODUCERS AND GET SHIT ON THE LOW. CUZ THEY KNOW I DO BIG SHIT WITH 'EM. ON TOP OF THAT MY PARTNER B.G. FROM THA COR MAKES A MAJORITY OF OUR BEATS, AND THEY KNOCK! BUT LIKE KAYO, IF I HEAR SUMTHING I LIKE AND I GOT THE BREAD, THEN HELL YEAH ITS GETTIN SPENT.

 

[siccness-user]

i guess it just matters on making the right deals

you can charge whatever you want as long as both of parties are satisfied

 

[RaineRizzle]

with 2 ill ass in house producers (fastlane and cap), and all the producers that just shoot me beats... i never really have to think about it. but now don't get me wrong. i will buy a beat from someone if i feel that its worth it. ima get another one from auditory for this solo album. and one from steve vicious.

Buying beats or getting features are investments. You shouldnt do it cuz you just like the beat or you wanna work with a certain artist. You do it because you feel like what your buying is gonna make you more money than what you're spending at some point.

 

[d-rough]

Not sell beats for $5 50 I meant the project.all of yall are makin valid points.getting bangers then waitin is the way to go.I'm sayin like kayo just put it perfect.if they think we aint doin nothin witit they gon tax us.y should they judge like rhat when the main reason we lookin to buy beats is so we can have a quality album and to reach out and network wit producers.everybody has in house producers but if u never work outside ur circle u miss out on some great networking.if I like a beat enough to by it and myself and the producer come to an agreement ill buy it and give proper credits on the project.I just think wats old to the producer is new to everybody else but certified bangers should be alil more then what u usually charge for beats

 

[BOOBOO619]

I'm the best 50cal, you know it. You want a Fruity Loops beat ese? $50 cabron! haha

 

[50cal]

O.K. but to make it clear I want to know what you expect to sell.....100 C.Ds..1000...5000 or Ringtones...Downloads...I want to know how many and how much.

 

[d-rough]

@ least a thou.that's what ima press and if its beneficial ill press more copies.@ $5 a pop.ppl are barely buying cds from unknown cats but if u make it accessible and affordable they might fuck witchu.cuz anybody can respect a nigga on the grind wit this music shit.a lot of niggas don't have the hustle in em to get out and rally grind.

 

[Kayo K]

True that... In this recession I found that only three things are selling consistantly, and one of them is musik. If ya shit look good, you present it well, and you stay hungry, you gone eat off this musik shit. And trust me, 1,000 CD's aint enough.....

 

[Black Cotton]

We have an in house producer , but like alot of producers he makes a certain style beat . Example Kanye - heavy sampling , Dr. Dre - westcoast classic ": You get the picture" So, for some of our harder shit we spit and write we did 3 mixtapes to sharpen the skills, and get out what we needed to get out..., Now currently working on the second album iv'e found that because of our small radio play, big buzz on the internet ,and the shit we do around the city alot of producers are just sliding us beats. And its because they now we will actually put it out... So its kinda scratch my back I scratch yours . we (producer and rapper) are both in the pit tryin to climb our way out. So they help us, we help them . One gentleman said " one hand wash the other , then both hands wash the face" It comes down to networking. Theres hella unheard of producers and rappers waiting to show the nation what they can do. Now if I wanted a beat from say ecay, cricket , or any other well know and respected producer then I know Im gonna pay ... But the truth is, its not that im paying them because they make better beats, but rather you have a better chance to get heard locally, or nationally because of the association and the name the producer carrys. So 50 in there lies your answer, I gott give the neptunes 500 thousand for a beat, because i take that to the radio they spin me regardless what the actual song sounds like. I hit the video , shows , get signed ect... If they didnt sell the beat for that much theyd short change themselves. But If I take a local producers beat shoot the video get signed big contract, tour the world, Then guess what ever one wants to know " Who did the beat?". So now that producer is on deck with a procuction deal, hella clientel ect. ect.... Thats why it's hard to pay a local producer with no rep 500 - 1000 for a beat , because its not for sure it can further what my eventual goal is, and that is to get heard by someone with signing power ya dig...