How To Be A Famous Rapper

So you want to become a famous rapper? Breaking into the hip-hop industry is not easy. This article explains several ways you can make a name yourself in the current market.

Steps

1
Ensure your music is professional quality. Before you even consider trying to break into the hip-hop industry, you have to make sure your music is high quality. Even the most skilled rapper will never be noticed if his songs do not sound high quality. Learn how to properly mix your voice with the music.In addition, your microphone selection will have a large impact on the quality of your music. Dynamic microphones should generally be avoided for vocal recording, while studio condenser mics are the best.

2
Improve your lyrical content and flow. Your lyrics have a major impact on the listener’s overall impression of you. Examining what it successful in the rap industry, you can see that people want to hear the rapper talk about their real life. It’s as if they can sense the emotion in the lyrics and better relate to the words. Rap about what you know! Although lyrics are extremely important, people seem to value flow even more. Improve your flow by listening to rappers with notoriously good flows such as Nicki Minaj, Drake, Nas, Biggie, Andre 3k, Tupac, etc. Make sure your rhyme schemes make sense and each line rhymes more than one syllable.

3
Market yourself! Define your target market, solidify your brand, and expose yourself. Social media, forums, and other websites can help you gain a fanbase, leading to eventual recognition by a record label. Marketing is one of the most important things you can do as an artist. The correct marketing techniques can be invaluable to your success. If you don’t know how to market yourself and you don’t have anyone to do it for you, you will never get exposed. For more information on marketing your music and becoming a famous rapper, you can utilize various educational sources. See the “tips” section for recommended links.

Tips

Persistence is key–never give up!
Productivity will get you everywhere.
Feel the music in yourself and understand it.
Keep it real, no one wants to listen to some guy (or girl) who is always talking about just money or girls.

How To Become A Music Producer

Music producers are really the heart and soul of any recording. They’re the great, unsung artists working behind the scenes. Bad production can make a great song sound terrible, while great production can elevate songwriting. Becoming a music producer and spending all day working on music in the studio may be your life-long dream. If so, here are some pointers.

Instructions
1

Start at the bottom. Most producers start off as engineers, or even setting up mics around a drum set – not actually giving a lot of input on an actual recording. In this capacity, you might be able to be an apprentice to a top-flight producer.

2

Get a degree in music production. A music production degree is not necessarily a prerequisite for getting a job in a studio, but it helps. It also helps to know about the different technologies – both analog and digital – that you’ll learn about in a degree program. But “street knowledge” – actual recordings – can be just as good as a degree.

3

Set up your own studio. If money’s an issue, you can record using software rather than buying up a bunch of rack mounts. You may start recording your friends’ bands first and work up from there. You might have to charge a low fee or even charge nothing to bring in new bands. The more equipment you have, the better. One band might only want to use vintage equipment, so if possible it’s a good idea to have it on hand.

4

Network. Once you’ve got some recordings under your belt, you need to network. Create a mixed CD of a number of different kinds of recordings so listeners can get a sense of your range. That is, unless you want to create a niche for yourself – like being the top metal producer in the area. It depends on what you enjoy doing most of all. Recording a wider number of genres is a good idea because it will bring in more business. Don’t be a snob about certain types of music. Work will improve your resume, bring in money and you’ll likely learn something new.

5

Make a website for your services. Go to social networking sites, forums or blogs to get the word out. Always have business cards and even CDs on hand. This also means networking with musicians who might play on a recording in the future. It’s not always easy to find an oboe player on short notice. Also very important – network with A&R people, managers and publishers so they’ll hire you in the future.

Kanye West Serenades Kim Kardashian at Concert

Her hip hop Romeo!

Kanye West entertained a crowd of thousands for a solo concert at Revel Resort in Atlantic City on Friday night — but the Grammy winner, 35, only had eyes for girlfriend Kim Kardashian, watching the show in the VIP box with BFF Jonathan Cheban.

VIDEO: Kanye tells Kim how to dress

The reality star, 31, joyously sang and danced along during her man’s raved-about concert (his first solo appearance in over a year).  And when West performed one of his newer songs, “Way Too Cold” (formerly known as “Theraflu”), the rapper serenaded his love directly.

PHOTOS: Kimye’s cutest moments

In the instantly famous track, which first leaked back in April and helped confirm the Kardashian-West romance, West raps “I admit I fell in love with Kim.”

At another point during the show, West bellowed to the crowd: “If you love someone tonight..hold on real tight!” Kardashian hugged Cheban and then herself jokingly.

PHOTOS: Kim, Kanye, Jay and Beyonce at the BET Awards

Last weekend, the couple had a double date of sorts with West’s recent touring partner and collaborator Jay-Z and his wife, Beyonce — with the high-profile foursome sitting in the front row at the BET Awards.

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Aww! Kanye West Serenades Kim Kardashian at Concert

Rihanna: Best-Selling Digital Artist of All Time

James Devaney, WireImage Rihanna is starting off 2012 on the right foot. She got rid of a damaged house and scored $5 million for it and she’s already looking to release the third single off her sixth album, ‘Talk That Talk,’ by asking the fans to choose their favorite track. With those goodies squared away, now she can revel in her latest accomplishment, as she was named the best-selling digital artist of all time by Nielsen SoundScan.
The 23-year-old pop icon has totaled more than 47.5 million in sales, which was released in a report that tracked numbers throughout Jan. 1, 2012. RiRi’s sales totals were based on digital track sales from July 4, 2004 through Jan. 1 of this year.
While the ‘We Found Love’ songstress came in at the No. 1 spot, there were hip-hop and R&B acts that came in close behind her. The Black Eyed Peas landed at the second tier with $42 million and Eminem scored No. 3 with $42 million.
In the top 10 slot, Lil Wayne settled in at No. 7, earning $36.7 million, Beyonce warranted a No. 8 placement with $30 million and Kanye West hit ninth place with $30 million digital sales sold.