The music industry is always on the lookout for the next rising star, and almost anyone can become a rapper with the right course of action. A hip-hop music career requires more than rapping talent; a rap artist must have knowledge, confidence, determination and style. If you want to become a rapper, it pays to understand the people who run the rap music industry and how the business works.
The rap music genre began to take hold in dance clubs as early as the 1970s in New York City. At the time, a form of rhythmic music from Jamaica called “dub music” was being introduced by emcees (MCs) and disk jockeys (DJs). This early form of rap music used samples from other recordings interspersed with percussive drum sounds. Young hip-hop artists soon learned to speak in poetic rhythm to the musical beats, and the musical style of rapping was born.
Professional rap singers make it look easy, but rapping is an art that takes a great deal of practice to master. The best rappers will spend several hours daily honing their rhyming skills and developing their vocal abilities. The rap artist must have a unique musical style and a confident stage presence that cannot be duplicated. It also helps to be a good dancer.
Live rap competitions can be a great way to practice rapping and prepare for a musical career. In hip-hop clubs, amateur rappers are often pitted against one another like prizefighters, sparring with musical skills rather than fists. One-on-one rapping competitions require quick wits and an ability to slay opponents with verbal barbs. Audiences can be brutal in their assessment of a rapper’s abilities and will quickly dismiss a contender with weak verbal skills or little sense of style. If you are a skillful rapper, however, you may be chosen to perform professionally.
Once you have gained some professional stage experience, you can increase your chance to become a rapper by broadcasting your songs online. Internet radio stations are a good place to submit audio of your songs, especially the hip-hop stations. Additionally, you can promote yourself on social websites, where your audio can be uploaded for visitors to sample. The boldest move would be to mail a press release about yourself and a CD to several professional music producers, along with free tickets to your next show.
Getting a job as a rapper means you will interact with club owners, producers, and talent agents who will expect professional behavior. The greatest talent cannot overcome a rap artist who consistently wastes time, is belligerent, or disrespects the wisdom and power of industry leaders. Although it is accepted for rappers to have a public reputation for being scofflaws, you are more likely to become a rapper if you exhibit good character in all your business dealings.
