How many emcees want to be emcees?
December 10th, 2008 by Infinite Skillz in Making N.O.I.S.E.
So you think you want to be a rapper, eh? It’s more hard work and hustle than Hennessy and hoes. Gone is the time where you create a little buzz and then sit back and wait for a label/lottery ticket to come and rescue you from your day job. In fact, these days you might want to keep that 9 to 5 even if the majors do come calling. In order to survive, let alone thrive, as an emcee these days, you have to be more and do more than just move the crowd…
Don’t believe me? Take my life lately as I prepare to open up for Obie Trice at The Hall on December 12, 2008. I had call the promoter to make sure everything was going smoothly with little chance of any more last minute madness. What madness you say? Madness like finding out two days before the original show date (October 19th) that it was getting pushed back 2 months. Madness like having to call dozens of friends and fans to tell them thanks for aligning your entertainment calendar with mine but I’m going to need a rain check. Madness like having to get travel and hotel accommodations changed. Madness like having to set up multiple meetings so you can buy back the tickets from the people who can’t make the new date or sell them to the folks that can. Imagine coming down the home stretch of what you think is a sprint only to be told it’s a marathon? It has to feel something like this.
But let’s just assume everything is going smoothly. As a Do-IT-Yourself artist I still need to make a few promotional stops, send out e-mail newsletters, pass out flyers, and organize merchandise to be sold at the show. Then there is actual music stuff like engineering the set playlist and making copies of it so there are fewer variables with the audio engineer at the venue. Rehearsing would not be such a bad idea either.
No mention of all this work in the videos filled with shiny cars and oversized jewelry. Thankfully, I do this for the love of the mic and not the glamour or the lights, but who knew there was so much to do?
So again I ask, do you really want to be a rapper?
December 10th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Here’s to hoping that the show doesn’t get pushed back another two months. I think you woulda heard by now. Good luck at the gig. Good post
December 10th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Yes, I totally want to be a rapper. Just like Joaquin Phoenix!
http://www.tmz.com/2008/12/01/m-c-joaquin-phoenix-butchers-rap-music/
Seriously, though, having to hustle these tickets yourself is wrong. One of the worst things a promoter can do is make an artist sell their own tickets to a show. Like a straight up Girl Scout, going door-to-door.
The promoter’s job (one of them) is to have a ticketing system in place (or rely on Ticketmaster) so that people can easily buy tickets and come to the show.
If the promoter says that they want you to benefit from a cut of the sales, then I say this:
If the artist has a mailing list that they cultivate and promote to properly, then it should be obvious to everyone the night of the show how many people are there to see whom.
Otherwise, make the artists an offer (ahead of time) based on what they’re worth (or what their fee is) and if you take a loss, better luck next time.
December 10th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Real talk, If anyone knows bout the hustle of a real emcee its Infinite. He puts more work in within a week than most rappers do in a month, and his shits always organized.
Much Love Blunkle
December 10th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Real talk bro, people think what we do is all fun. HELLLLL NO!! Especially not with this saturated ass market we have now where every “Mikey Mainstream” and “Tommy Turnbuckle” who makes a myspace music page thinks they are really rappers!
Props Skillz!! holla!
December 10th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
What?! No Hennessy and hoes? That’s the only reason I’m friends with you!
I don’t want to be a rapper, but not because of the leg work, I would actually be good at that part. Those are my strengths. I, however, have never been one with the poetry. The best I can do is, there once was a man from nantucket…
December 10th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Angela: Why do you have to be so dirty?
ALL: I forgot to mention that if you’d like to WIN TICKETS TO THIS SHOW that Infinite is referring to (this Friday in Palmetto) go to the Fun & Free Page and enter!
http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/funandfreestuff
We’ll be drawing a winner tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Joran: I go with my strengths.
December 10th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
the answer to the question you posed is zero.
Nobody wants to be an MC since Hammer dropped it for the “Pumps and a Bump”
hubububububuubbbubla
Gas. Face. Given.
(on a personal note MC Scat Cat is the best hip hop act ever.)
:)
December 10th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Very true. The mind is manipulated by the flashing lights, and forgets the grease muscle intended to do the job just to succeed in this business. So yea, very true, and thanks for sharing this.
“All work and no play makes you a rich man.”
December 10th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
it amazes me how unorganized major labels are, with all of that money. i guarantee you if that money was given to an indie label, the money would be put to better use. but it was a good read. i cannot count the number of times i’ve had to start over from square one cause of studio issues.
music is a difficult bitch that is just so good at sucking dick you have to come back every time. word.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
The Man w/ never ending skillz! (WHATS GOOD BRO)!
So you ask…..
Do I really want to be a rapper?
I’m not sure that I necesarily want to be a rapper…My problem is I have this nagging addiction to create music & write lyrics in the form of hip hop.
Do I think I will ever make it to a level where I am performing @ the “Garden,” accepting awards for my music, or even signing to a major & having the opportunity to drop a dope album or even flop a not so dope album?
Naww..I’m not holding my breath – you know what I mean…I’m going to think like a “big kid” now (when I was 18 I had stars in my eyes, until I heard more & more raw talent…that I personally thought was doper than I…and watched as they also went nowhere…like “damn..I thought for sure they’d blow up.)
So I wised up…got more serious about my 9-5 (which keeps the bills “somewhat” paid & my family a float).
BUT…
Nothing can fill the hunger void that music & emceeing fills…I mean my God fills many voids, my family fills many voids, but when it comes to a heart-paliping, adrenaline rush, stay up for dayz on end creating hunger…that is filled by creating music.
So do I want to be a rapper….
I have to be to avoid falling into a world of deep depression!
But because of this I end up having to travel roads that have a hell of alot more obstacles, potholes, construction, traffic jams, & a longer route traveled, to avoid traveling straight to the end of my dreams & giving up.
I may never have it..where when my name is spoken…even grama’s know who I am.
But if I can stay connected with fellow artists (ex. Infinite Skillz) who are holding this passion we call hip hop together from the bottom, from the core, from the underground…And make waves (be a positive example, someone who encourages others to keep-on-keepin’-on) in a community of people who are just like me…struggle to survive but are addicted to their passion (to the point they stretch a bill out longer, to put some change down on a beat…or down on engineering time…or to save up for equipment)…If I can be a part of & find respect in this true community of artists & make the most out of all our blessings by putting our heads together & makin’ shit happen ourselves….Then hell yeah…I will look back at the end of my life and say…..I’m glad I was a rapper!
Thanks for inspiring the mind w/ this question Infinite.
And as a matter of fact…to those of you who are reading my response…and are like “damn…dude is right, I would like to be involved in the core of hip hop & make waves with other cats who are feeding their addiction just like me.”
Then you should deffinatly join the illest community of underground emcees, producers, groupies, & fans! http://www.SPREADTHEILLNESS.COM
And Please…check out my page:
http://www.spreadtheillness.com/profile/ShaZo
Keep Creating,
Sha Zo
December 10th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Although situations like this seem overwhelming and discouraging it still doesn’t take away your love for the music. Which is the reason you’re in that position in the first place. I agree that some people out there are totally ignorant to the true hustle of making it to the next level and want everything handed to them. I’ve had similar problems in the past that really got me down and made me question continuing thru with making music. To MAKE IT is a lot more business than it is flow and some are clueless to this fact. Because of the problems I’ve encountered it has always brought me back to square one. And until this previous mishap that fall normally discouraged me. This time it really rekindled my love affair with making music and I couldn’t be happier. So yeah I’m back at square one which is nothing but grindstone and sweat over hot beats on a microhpone. Because of the intensity and love I have for my music I will always attempt in making moves towards the next level. When I get knocked down I always get back up. Its not that I want to be an emcee. I want to be me. And me just so happens comes with that title. Good write up homey.
December 11th, 2008 at 2:22 am
^^This man knows what he is talking about. I say this shit all the time.
These days especially, it is WAY more about the hustle, the networking, the marketing, the promotion (all the biz shit) than it is about the talent (unfortunately). And if you cant handle it all, you need a team in place who can. For a while tho, ur gonna have to be able to be a one man team. If not, might as well move to the sidelines now where u can bitch about the Soulja boi’s and shit who actually put in work that got ahead of you soley on that alone (cuz it obviously wasnt talent. right? haha) dont knock the hustle tho, gotta respect it.
So better start reading and schoolin yourself on the biz kids. Luckily, those of you on http://www.SpreadTheiLLNESS.com know you can always ask me for advice or ask questions or whatever (doesn’t mean I’ll answer them…I kid, I kid, well kinda.)
And LMAO at Sha’s comment being WAY longer than Infinite’s article! hahaha
SPREAD THE iLLNESS!!!!
http://www.SpreadTheiLLNESS.com
December 11th, 2008 at 2:29 am
ok, maybe not way longer…