Rap Record Deal
ByRap Record Deal
My article title “Need a Record Deal” explains the misguided and misunderstood process associated with signing a record deal. The rap genre takes things to a whole other level. Hip Hop culture is very aggressive. And the rap element of the Hip Hop culture is no exception. The sad part is the ridiculous advice I see on the web. And that’s exactly why I created BIZ4DaSoul.
For Example this is an excerpt of some poor advice someone offered on eHow.com on how to get a rap record deal: “Record a demo. Put your best songs on there first. Most record labels will only listening to the beginning parts of a CD since they go through so many. Also, find out who you need to send the record to. If you send your demo in the attention of a particular person, it will most likely get heard than if you just sent it to the company’s address and end up in a huge heap of other demos. “
A complete waste of your time I guarantee you! Major labels are only signing acts with a name for themselves and who have leverage. Also I used to work for Universal and DefJam and we used to have a box called garbage. Most of the music went there (many were never heard). And the people who were signed back then? They were offered the most screw you over horrendous deals! Even prostitutes walking the track for pimps wouldn’t sign these so called record deals. And that was 10+ years ago. With the 360 record deals today you might as well be on a plantation. Record companies want all of your earning. That means that a 360 deal will get a piece of your touring, merchandise, endorsements as well as record sales. Read my article in detail about how these 360 deals enslave you.
As of June 2008 over a billion dollars in music was sold on the internet and that’s just in digital downloads. Why with access to billions are you trying to do business with the dinosaur major labels? Here are just a few of the possibilities.
Create your own website, business model, product line and follow the tenets of email and post marketing. This is much easier than you think if you have someone instructing you. Do this and you could have an armada of customers paying you via the web almost every day. It’s not simple and it truthfully takes time. But if you dedicate yourself you could be making some serious money online. I can’t of course guarantee this because each of your efforts and work level vary. Some will “get it” and make serious money. Others will be looking for the shortcut and get their feeling hurt when they realize that there are no shortcuts. I am talking about hard work but serious results from your work.
I remember when you had both Public Enemy and NWA marketing their records respectively in the streets. The irony back then was that Public Enemy was on DefJam the most famous rap label ever. And NWA who the media coined the phrase “gangsta rap” was on an independent label. NWA was the first rap act to sell a million copies without commercial airplay. But where NWA founders Dr. Dre and Ice Cube really started making money was when they went independent.
Like other record deals there is no need for a rap record deal. The opportunity to sell to millions online offers a much more lucrative opportunity vs. being a record company’s shelf project/slave. Imagine if Dre, Cube, Snoop, Chuck D and Public Enemy had the internet when their careers started? In fact Chuck and PE were one of the first major acts to drop their DefJam deal to go independent. They sold 200,000 copies independently worldwide via the internet back in the late 90’s.
Do you have the courage to step up to the plate and create wealth for yourself? Again it thought it is easy it wont be a walk in the park . It will take work, trial and error. But if you really want it and have your music/MP3’s and are ready to go then BIZ4DaSoul is waiting.
Darren Scott Monroe
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Darren Scott Monroe is an entrepreneur, web marketer, and consultant with 15 years experience in the music business. He has worked for companies like Universal, Motown, DreamWorks, MCA, Interscope, Island DefJam, Verve, and Clear Channel Radio. His latest website, “BIZ4DaSoul” is an exclusive membership site that teaches artist how to make more money online with less work. Visit BIZ4DaSoul at:
