Is it realistic to make a living as a northwest rap artist?

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xabiton

xabiton

Sicc OG
#21
Jun 9, 2005
469
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www.kevwestbeats.com
#21
You can do it if you keep up with the times and understand what your audience wants. The problem I see with so many northwest rappers is they don't understand demographics or they are unrealistic about them. They try to sell music to any and everyone when they should really go after a specific audience. Be it 14 year old girls from Gig Harbor or grown ass men with jobs, kids, ect. Who are you making your music for? Also stop selling cds Itunes will allow you to sell your music independantly as will Amazon.com. And do more shows and don't promo that shit 24 hours before the show. I personally love to see northwest artists at shows and I look forward to seeing them if I can see them I usually hear about shows the day of on a forum!! Then people come back to said forum bitching that they aint gettin no money and they cant get on.
 
localstar907

localstar907

Sicc OG
#22
Apr 7, 2004
2,858
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#22
xabiton said:
You can do it if you keep up with the times and understand what your audience wants. The problem I see with so many northwest rappers is they don't understand demographics or they are unrealistic about them. They try to sell music to any and everyone when they should really go after a specific audience. Be it 14 year old girls from Gig Harbor or grown ass men with jobs, kids, ect. Who are you making your music for? Also stop selling cds Itunes will allow you to sell your music independantly as will Amazon.com. And do more shows and don't promo that shit 24 hours before the show. I personally love to see northwest artists at shows and I look forward to seeing them if I can see them I usually hear about shows the day of on a forum!! Then people come back to said forum bitching that they aint gettin no money and they cant get on.
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A LOT OF CATS CORE FANS ARE THERE FRIENDS.. THERE MAKING WHAT THEY FEEL AND WHAT THEY FRIENDS FEEL. 9 TIME OUT OF 10 THOUGH YOUR FRIENDS DON'T EVEN BUMP YOUR SHIT WHEN YOUR NOT AROUND. I WOULDN'T SAY MAKE MAINSTREAM MUSIC CAUSE A LOT OF THAT SHIT SUCKS BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT A GOOD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WILL FEEL. THATS IF YOU PLAN ON MAKING A LIVING OF MUSIC. IF YOU DO IT AS A HOBBY FOR THE LOVE OF THE ART DON'T TRIP JUST DO YOU BUT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE MONEY OF RAP. YOU REALLY HAVE TO SIT BACK LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC AND BE REAL WITH YOURSELF AND ASK IF X AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HEARD THIS SHIT TODAY WOULD THEY REALLY FEEL MY SHIT AND BECOME A FAN.
 
localstar907

localstar907

Sicc OG
#23
Apr 7, 2004
2,858
28
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#23
ALSO CATS NEED TO INVEST IN THERE MUSIC AND NOT CHEAP ASS EQUIPMENT THAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK TO RECORD SHITTY SOUNDING MUSIC. SHITTY QUALITY MUSIC WILL GET YOU KNOW WHERE BUT WHERE YOU ARE NOW.. IF YOUR YOUNG OR HAVE TIME ON YOUR SIDE. I WOULD SUGGEST TRYING TO BOOK 8HRS OF STUDIO TIME A MONTH. ONCE YOU GET LIKE 20 SONGS PICK THE BEST 7. GET THOSE SEVEN MIXED AND MASTERED BY REAL ENGINEERS. THEN STACK UP YOUR CHEESE TILL YOU HAVE A FEW RACKS AND INVEST IT ALL IN PROMOTION(POSTERS,FLYERS,WEB BANNERS,INTERNET PROMOTION). THEN SET OUT TO DO SHOWS AND ONCE YOU HAVE A COO LITTLE FOLLOWING DROP YOUR EP... IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO ALL THIS YOU SHOULD TAKE THINGS SLOW INTELL YOU DO INSTED OF CUTTING CORNERS TRYING TO RUSH TO LOSE FEEL ME..
 
F

f31roger

Sicc OG
#24
Jul 29, 2008
3,400
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#24
xabiton said:
You can do it if you keep up with the times and understand what your audience wants. The problem I see with so many northwest rappers is they don't understand demographics or they are unrealistic about them. They try to sell music to any and everyone when they should really go after a specific audience. Be it 14 year old girls from Gig Harbor or grown ass men with jobs, kids, ect. Who are you making your music for? Also stop selling cds Itunes will allow you to sell your music independantly as will Amazon.com. And do more shows and don't promo that shit 24 hours before the show. I personally love to see northwest artists at shows and I look forward to seeing them if I can see them I usually hear about shows the day of on a forum!! Then people come back to said forum bitching that they aint gettin no money and they cant get on.
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i agree wid the demographics. Its a huge issue. I grew up on G shit in the NW.. so its what I looked for.. but when ever someone was at the mall and it looked like something I can fuck with, I'd get it.. hence getting POT.

having cds out in the streets is good too. while itunes is heading that way... you can get your music/name out when handing out cds.
 
B

BAMMER

Siccness Gray Hair
#25
Apr 25, 2002
5,828
479
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Auburn Wa
www.dawgman.com
#25
I think it would be kinda easy to make a living off of rap,really.I don't mean bmw's and town homes in Medina though.if you were WORKING,yes..WORKING 30-40 hours a week(I work 40 to 48 which is the norm)I think you could make 40 g'z(not great,but livin)a year.I agree with Syko,you better have a strong internet knowledge though.Just look at all the artists on here who don't even promote their own music in their sig??its comedy to me...I guess they wanna work 4-8 hrs a week..I don't really understand it,but I was maybe the same way in my 20's...but I had to work,I enjoy money.
 
B

BAMMER

Siccness Gray Hair
#26
Apr 25, 2002
5,828
479
83
47
Auburn Wa
www.dawgman.com
#26
I also think its wise to get started financially outside of rap,be it sellin dope,or workin a legit job..save up some bread to get started,have structure.I believe it would be a better way to start,rather then save for studio time,be broke...save for production..be broke,save for mixing..etc.
 
L

Leon Phelps

Fresh
#27
Mar 13, 2010
14
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#27
BAMMER said:
I also think its wise to get started financially outside of rap,be it sellin dope,or workin a legit job..save up some bread to get started,have structure.I believe it would be a better way to start,rather then save for studio time,be broke...save for production..be broke,save for mixing..etc.
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Agreed.

I don't necessarily agree with everyone's view that we need to come together to blow the NW up, though. Too many egos for me...I aint payin' a dime for a feature out of my backyard, for one. I'll do a song with anyone who asks and won't expect a dime in return. If you aint gonna help sell my album with your name, why would I pay???

On the other hand, I see the argument in the sense that doing shows and collaborating that way would help the NW scene.

I dunno...it seems like I've watched the NW stay right where it is since I came around back in 2002.
 
basment-music

basment-music

Sicc OG
#28
Jun 24, 2006
1,259
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#28
1God said:
This isn't something that's restricted to just the Northwest; it's a worldwide factor. Why buy when you can download, right? Downloading will be the only source of getting music soon, which means that we'll have to pay for everything, just like buying a CD from a store. I guess what I'm trying to say is.... download all the shit you can get your hands on while you still have the chance.
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Piracy of music will never stop but a new trend is starting where the number of files downloaded via p2p or filesharing sites is decreasing and the number of purchased downloads is increasing. Compact disc and vinyl have a long time before they are obsolete if that day ever comes. So yes you can, you just have to market correctly and utilize your opportunities. Just making good music ain't gonna do shit if no one can hear it.
 
D'struction

D'struction

Sicc OG
#29
Apr 14, 2003
6,415
154
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#29
shit if you can make $500 a show and do 5 shows a month(not all in one city) i think you might be sittin alright. thats for a solo artist tho. add in album sales. is everyone here registered on ASCAP??
 
I AM

I AM

Some Random Asshole
#30
Apr 25, 2002
21,002
86
48
#30
D'struction said:
. Rappers makin noise need to fuck wit eachother on a music level an also just on some kick it shit sometimes too. show these people out here what it is.
ultimate goal in makin it is to gain fans aint it?
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One word....

Egos.

That is why the NW isn't going where it could be.
 
T

TRMNDUS

Sicc OG
#33
May 4, 2002
1,423
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#33
.....

Every region has its egos which are just as big or bigger but at least they have talent that is getting outside their region. No one should be asking for money from this region unless you are offering a legit service like studio time, production, mastering, graphics, something of that nature. Unity is needed in some sense I mean we dont all have to buddies or anything but work together in the sense of helping each other further our carrers. Its like in a business when you are given a project that needs to be done, you work as a team to get the project done. You may not hang out with the person after work but the common goal is to get it done so every one looks good. When no one works together guess what? We all look bad and guess what the northwest looks bad because we have no unity.
 
1God

1God

Sicc OG
#34
Feb 9, 2010
881
2
0
#34
It's all about taking every opportunity you've got, no matter where you are. Always be hustling and promoting your shit, around malls and on the streets. You'd make a living as a rapper longer if you stay Underground, than you would if you went commercial. Commercial rappers only last a few years, and that's because, in the words of R.A. The Rugged Man, "all record labels suck dick".
 
Calm 1 NPK 503

Calm 1 NPK 503

Sicc OG
#35
Feb 21, 2003
3,397
55
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www.myspace.com
#35
IMHO this nailed it...

TRMNDUS said:
Every region has its egos which are just as big or bigger but at least they have talent that is getting outside their region. No one should be asking for money from this region unless you are offering a legit service like studio time, production, mastering, graphics, something of that nature. Unity is needed in some sense I mean we dont all have to buddies or anything but work together in the sense of helping each other further our carrers. Its like in a business when you are given a project that needs to be done, you work as a team to get the project done. You may not hang out with the person after work but the common goal is to get it done so every one looks good. When no one works together guess what? We all look bad and guess what the northwest looks bad because we have no unity.
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^^Real talk!!!
 
xabiton

xabiton

Sicc OG
#39
Jun 9, 2005
469
3
0
41
www.kevwestbeats.com
#39
360_541 said:
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers

its like copywrite type shit.
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Ascap and copyrights are totally different. Ascap gets you paid for radio plays and shows. Copyrights keep niggas from jacking your shit. Ascap and BMI are the major royalty companies in the US. Im a member of BMI have been for years and its free. If you get any kind of radio play and your paperwork is all in order ect you can get mad money off radio play. And the industry is workin on shit like youtube and myspace so u can get bread off of those plays too but its tough to track
 
xabiton

xabiton

Sicc OG
#40
Jun 9, 2005
469
3
0
41
www.kevwestbeats.com
#40
localstar907 said:
A LOT OF CATS CORE FANS ARE THERE FRIENDS.. THERE MAKING WHAT THEY FEEL AND WHAT THEY FRIENDS FEEL. 9 TIME OUT OF 10 THOUGH YOUR FRIENDS DON'T EVEN BUMP YOUR SHIT WHEN YOUR NOT AROUND. I WOULDN'T SAY MAKE MAINSTREAM MUSIC CAUSE A LOT OF THAT SHIT SUCKS BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT A GOOD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WILL FEEL. THATS IF YOU PLAN ON MAKING A LIVING OF MUSIC. IF YOU DO IT AS A HOBBY FOR THE LOVE OF THE ART DON'T TRIP JUST DO YOU BUT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE MONEY OF RAP. YOU REALLY HAVE TO SIT BACK LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC AND BE REAL WITH YOURSELF AND ASK IF X AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HEARD THIS SHIT TODAY WOULD THEY REALLY FEEL MY SHIT AND BECOME A FAN.
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exactly and you named a couple huge reasons why most NW niggas will never get on in anyway shape or form. To an extent you should make music you and your people fuck with. Dont sell out or do something you dont want to do. On the otherside people forget the business side of this music shit. They are trying to sell something that nobody wants. Niggas might as well go around selling bottles of aids or swine flu or something. Find a real target audience and make something that is widely liked not just by your 10-20 yes men that tell you that your shit is hot. That dont mean go and bite T Pain or make some electro hip hop if you know in your heart its garbage. It means if you really fuck with G Funk hard cool find other people who fuck with G Funk and sell it to them. If you do boom bap find other people who fuck with boom bap and target them. Theres an audience for everything its your job to find someone who actually wants it
 
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