How to Become a Rapper – Five Rap Career Tips

If you dream of becoming a rap star, you are not the only one. With its trendsetting rappers and their lavish lifestyles, hip hop music has taken the world by storm. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that glamor? For many serious musicians, however, a rap career isn’t only about being perceived as cool by the public and making a lot of money, but also about creating a powerful statement artistically about the complexities of the human condition. Listen to the best rappers of all time, and you will get to hear engaging rap songs that range from the light-hearted to the deeply profound.

To become a successful rapper, you need to write and perform similarly hard-hitting songs that resonate with listeners.

Here are five tips that might help you jump-start your rap career:

1. Improve your music skills and learn about song-writing

Creating good music for your target audience should be your top priority. You want listeners to feel an emotional connection with your songs, and that can only happen if you understand the basics of music creation. Study the best rappers of all time and try to understand why their songs work so well. Learn how to write meaningful and rhythmic lyrics. Use alliteration, repetition, and various other linguistic devices to keep things entertaining and dynamic. Improve your lyric writing ability by studying poetry, literature, and different types of music.

Practice and refine your rap delivery style. While studying the best rappers of all time will help, you also want to discover your unique voice. You can experiment with rapping at different speeds and with different inflections, and with singing a capella. Find out which are the most effective places to pause for breath. Learn how to create unique beats for your songs.

2. Find your target audience

It will help to note from the start that music tastes differ widely, and your music will not appeal to everyone. You shouldn’t even try to please everyone. You will have more success if you research the demographics of your target audience—age, gender, likes, dislikes, interests, and so on—and create music that focuses on their concerns and, thereby, will have more chances of resonating with them. The more you know about your target audience, the better you will be able to establish lasting connections with them and build a loyal fanbase.

3. Create music tapes and videos for online self-promotion

After you perfect your music, name it and record it for public release. You can release a single or wait until you have seven or 15 songs to release a mixtape. For a mixtape, plan the song order in a way that creates an effective narrative or emotional arc. Create or commission eye-catching cover art for both the single and the mixtape. Make videos of you performing the songs or hire a professional video producer to create them for you, and upload them on your website, blog, social media, and various music sites for online self-promotion and online sale.

4. Learn about the music industry and music marketing

If you are serious about having a long-term career as a rap artist, get informed about how the music industry works and about music marketing and set goals to make definite progress. Learn how to network with music industry executives and other musicians, and find the right promotional opportunities. Participate in open mic events, attend rap events, take part in freestyle rap battles with other upcoming or established rappers, book live event gigs and open music events for better-known acts. Work on having a better stage presence and interacting with the crowd. Update your website, blog, and social media regularly for marketing yourself and your music.

5. Keeping making and promoting your music

Be consistent about creating and releasing new music. Try to maintain your authentic and unique style, rather than rushing to match trends. You want your fans to see you as someone genuine, not come across as desperate. Keep in mind that the best rappers of all time didn’t become successful overnight. It takes time, dedication, and patience to develop into an excellent rapper. Have faith in yourself. Good things will happen as long as you persevere.