The Nigerian
The Realest Member of TheColi
Some poster hit me up yesterday for marketing and publicity advice.
I was able to get back with him this morning and I was left aghast at how some people think PR and marketing works.
This dude said that he wanted to blow up like Chance. I happen to be affiliated with some of his people and dude wanted some info on what was up.
He said he:
- Has a mixtape that's "80% finished" and will be released "Sometime in the next 3 months"
-$15k in cash to blow
-Been "seriously rapping" for 9 months.
First, I told him not to touch that money, and if he does, only spend $5k max to start, with the aim of generating a self sustaining return before having to dig deeper into his war chest. I gave him some tips on where to spend a few dollars (Protip: Facebook ads are SUPER EFFECTIVE for online marketing) and on some super effective marketing materials and techniques to get him and his work in people's faces.
Then we discussed different rappers and their approach to growing a fan base and what it took to do it. I focused on Troy Ave and Young Lean. Troy, because I think he's an excellent case study of how to build a buzz from grass roots to corporate sponsorships organically. Lean, because he's a great example of leveraging social media presence and offering something other than just raps for fans to embrace.
Turns out that this guy really thought that people like Chance and Travis $cott got where they're at with "no material out."
When I asked him about what a press release about him would be about he said something like "New hot artist out of Maryland!"
As if being yet another rapper (with no material) is worth putting in a publication. Unless your boy is the EDITOR (I know a few) you won't be getting in any publication of note with that "Old man yells at cloud" caliber story.
It's like, people out here really believe all that troll nonsense about Artist XYZ being a plant with "zero material out." As if that's like, a real situation.
I asked him about his web presence. He has none.
Asked to listen to some music on Soundcloud. Nothing.
Asked him to spit a hot 16. Nada.
At that point he got SUPER upset and hung up the phone.
All he wanted to know was who he had to give his $15k to in order to blow up.
He then sent a bunch of super angry PMs about how he's seen me online for over 10 years and how I have haters.
The truth is that there are A LOT of people that are willing to take him for every last red cent. But the reality is none of those guys will get him what he wants, especially if he doesn't have any material to push.
I pointed out to him that Kreyashawn's rap career was dashed after it became apparent that she can't rap. All he did was huff and puff.
I mean, I could give him the number to my PR guy and have him take his money but that would be a sh!tty thing to do.
*sigh* I dunno, that whole exchange left me feeling really sad out there for all the people out there setting themselves up to get robbed.
If you're an aspiring rapper just stick with the basics first. Get some material, build an online apparatus and find a revenue stream. Use that revenue steam to finance the marketing necessary to build your buzz.
I was able to get back with him this morning and I was left aghast at how some people think PR and marketing works.
This dude said that he wanted to blow up like Chance. I happen to be affiliated with some of his people and dude wanted some info on what was up.
He said he:
- Has a mixtape that's "80% finished" and will be released "Sometime in the next 3 months"
-$15k in cash to blow
-Been "seriously rapping" for 9 months.
First, I told him not to touch that money, and if he does, only spend $5k max to start, with the aim of generating a self sustaining return before having to dig deeper into his war chest. I gave him some tips on where to spend a few dollars (Protip: Facebook ads are SUPER EFFECTIVE for online marketing) and on some super effective marketing materials and techniques to get him and his work in people's faces.
Then we discussed different rappers and their approach to growing a fan base and what it took to do it. I focused on Troy Ave and Young Lean. Troy, because I think he's an excellent case study of how to build a buzz from grass roots to corporate sponsorships organically. Lean, because he's a great example of leveraging social media presence and offering something other than just raps for fans to embrace.
Turns out that this guy really thought that people like Chance and Travis $cott got where they're at with "no material out."
When I asked him about what a press release about him would be about he said something like "New hot artist out of Maryland!"
As if being yet another rapper (with no material) is worth putting in a publication. Unless your boy is the EDITOR (I know a few) you won't be getting in any publication of note with that "Old man yells at cloud" caliber story.
It's like, people out here really believe all that troll nonsense about Artist XYZ being a plant with "zero material out." As if that's like, a real situation.
I asked him about his web presence. He has none.
Asked to listen to some music on Soundcloud. Nothing.
Asked him to spit a hot 16. Nada.
At that point he got SUPER upset and hung up the phone.
All he wanted to know was who he had to give his $15k to in order to blow up.
He then sent a bunch of super angry PMs about how he's seen me online for over 10 years and how I have haters.
The truth is that there are A LOT of people that are willing to take him for every last red cent. But the reality is none of those guys will get him what he wants, especially if he doesn't have any material to push.
I pointed out to him that Kreyashawn's rap career was dashed after it became apparent that she can't rap. All he did was huff and puff.
I mean, I could give him the number to my PR guy and have him take his money but that would be a sh!tty thing to do.
*sigh* I dunno, that whole exchange left me feeling really sad out there for all the people out there setting themselves up to get robbed.
If you're an aspiring rapper just stick with the basics first. Get some material, build an online apparatus and find a revenue stream. Use that revenue steam to finance the marketing necessary to build your buzz.
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