« Em Dub's Guide To Getting Buzz On The Internet (The Right Way) (Part 2) (Article) »

This is my advice for all those artists out there who want to get their music heard, but don't know the best way to do it. For those who don't know who I am, I go by Em Dub and I'm the founder and editor in chief of Thizzler On The Roof, the spot you need to be at if you want the latest Bay Area hip-hop/rap songs, videos, mixtapes, etc. I've been running the site for a year and a half now (10 months seriously) and I've seen all aspects of the online game from a blogger's perspective and from a promoter's perspective (from promoting the Under The Bay episodes we do every week). Don't worry, this isn't a Bay Area specific guide: if you follow these steps you should be able to have some success anywhere (unless your music sucks).

I'm gunna break it down into 2 parts, because at different stages in your career you'll need to use different approaches. And this is just for getting your music buzzing online; there's a whole other set of tactics for getting a fanbase in the streets that I'm not going to get into right now.

So, with that said, part 2:

Artists with some buzz

Now you're getting somewhere. You get posted on blogs in your area consistently if you send them your music, and when you put up a new music video you get a couple hundred views within a day. But it's not enough…so what do you do? Here are some steps you can take (depending on your situation):

1. Surround yourself with a good team. I think any major artist will tell you this is crucial. Having talented and dependable people around you to talk to venues, mix and master your music, get you placements in movies, and schedule your interviews is undeniably important. Even if you want to stay independent forever, remember that you're just an artist. Yes, it is possible to do all of those things yourself; however, if you want to have time to go to the studio and make your dope music and still get the best results business-wise, you need professionals to handle it for you. Now, as for the online aspect, this could include someone who's only job is to manage your twitter, your facebook, run your website, talk to bloggers, and find new websites to send music to. Like I said, this may not be the right move for you. But having someone there to take this responsibility off your shoulders can save you a lot of time that could be better spent in the studio or by doing anything else. 

2. Be consistent. Always put out a quality product, and put them out regularly. You don't want people saying, "Yeah that song was cool, but that other song was hella weak" or even "Yeah his last track was dope but that was 6 months ago!" Now, some people have this rule twizzlered 180 degrees. You need to pace yourself; give people a chance to digest your last song or video before you put out the next one. My recommendation is 1 song per month at a minimum, but not more than 2 a week. If you have a project coming up, putting out a song or two every week for the month before it comes out works well. Obviously not everyone has the same budget or the same grind, but at least one song a month is critical for staying relevant. For videos, if you can put out one once a month, you'll be in good shape, but one every 2-3 months is acceptable. Same goes for mixtapes. The most important thing to remember with this rule is DON'T OVERDO IT. Putting out a track a day or every other day is TOO MUCH. People can't process it that fast, even bloggers that like you don't want their blogs to be filled with you, and your music will end up being overlooked and ignored. Pace yourself and plan ahead and you should be able to keep your buzz going and growing without doing too much extra. Remember, it's better to grind smart than hard, but if you can, do both. 

3. Collaborate with artists with more buzz than you. I know some folks hate to think about this one, but I think it's a necessary evil. The state of hip-hop today is that there are too many artists, not enough time to listen to all of them. People who are browsing the internet are a thousand times more like to click when they see the name of an artist they like instead of an artist they've never heard of. So, do what you gotta do, and get collaborations with anyone you can that is "bigger" than you. My advice is start locally (in the Bay, that might mean San Quinn, The Jacka, anyone from Hiero, etc.) and move up to artists who are known globally. Every time you are mentioned in the same breath as someone bigger than you it's a good thing, just make sure you don't look weak next to them. This can mean buying a verse from them, getting on a mixtape that has tracks from them, having them host your mixtape, or doing a show with them. Even videos of you being in the studio with them can give you a boost.

So there you have it. If you missed part 1, you can peep it here.