5 WAYS TO GAIN SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

As an upcoming artist it is important to be accessible online. Most urban music listeners rely on technology to research and listen to music. The easier these listeners can find an artist’s content the more likely they are to listen to it. Connecting with fans through social media such as Twitter and Facebook engages fans and creates loyalty to the brand/artist.

How can an unsigned artist gain social media presence?

[[1]] Make sure all handles are the same or very similar. It’s important for people to be able to search and find social media accounts…try to keep it simple.

[[2]] Maintain a brand image across the board, in every aspect. Pictures, posts, profile images, logos, etc. should be consistent with the image being created.

[[3]] Be active! Post daily to Twitter and Instagram and a few times a week on a Facebook & Soundcloud to keep fans up-to-date. Find ways to create hype and engage followers. Show appreciation to industry related contacts by retweeting, liking, +1, commenting, or following back.

[[4]] Use online analytics to better understand followers so that posts can be tailored to reach a wider audience. (There are free tools such as Google Analytics, Twitter Analytics or the Insight tab on Facebook pages).

[[5]] Invest. Pay to get a properly designed website, professional photos, a direct URL, increased SEO (search engine optimization), and content & copywriting to improve website traffic. 

HIP-HOP AINT DEAD IT LIVES IN THE NORTH

Long gone is the buzz around battle rapping created by Eminem’s hit movie “8 mile”. The movement however continues to thrive in the city. Nowhere is this more evident than with KOTD (King of the Dot) who’s most recent event Blackout 5, was huge a success. The event kicked off this past weekend with an announcement that KOTD and hip-hop mega star Drake would be teaming up. The news that Toronto’s (or October’s) very own is now on board is huge and is a testament to a growing popularity in the industry. When Drake was asked about battling at KOTD in the future his response…. “It’s a tough thing you know but, I think one day I might do it.”

  And Drake is not the only industry elite to co-sign with the battle-rap industry lately, events like Eminem’s “Total Slaughter” and Snoop Dogg’s “Gladiator School” have had varying results. 

THE MAN BEHIND KOTD 

- Organik -

Hate it or love it KOTD has come a long way since its 2008 debut in a downtown alley in Toronto. Events have evolved from an audience of 30 to 2400, real quick. Organik and his team have made strategic business moves that have landed them the credibility and endorsements they need to stimulate this urban market. Just days before the battle the team launched just over 200 New Era hats to endorse their KOTD brand. Check out the interview with Organik here…

For more interviews and battles click this link to subscribe to KOTD's YouTube page

THIS IS RAE SREMMURD

♫ Hit Singles ♫

 “No Type”

“No Flex Zone”

“Throw Sum Mo”

“Up Like Trump”

Slim Jimmy and Sway Lee (20 and 19 years of age) are brothers from Mississippi. Mike Will Made It signed the duo to his label EarDrummers, flipped the name backward and created Rae Sremmurd (pronounced rae schrimmer).

This was in 2014… and they’re already topping charts & making headlines!

Their urban style and unique swag sets them apart from competition. The brothers bring the lyrical component and Mike Will Made It uses his production expertise to turn it into a hit. These guys are appealing to a younger crowd; their videos are usually showcasing a feel good vibe or party scene that keeps these tracks spinning at clubs and parties.

Their debut album, SremmLife, was released January 6, 2015 & sold 34,000 copies in the first week!

Check out WHAT'S SPINNING for more Rae Sremmurd

HIP HOP ON WHEELS

Cars have a huge role in hip hop. There are customized and luxurious cars in almost every hip hop video out there. Different styles of cars are used to promote certain hip hop movements across America. 

The car has become a vehicle of musical expression. 

SLABs (see below for definition) are a staple to the hip hop scene in the south. Some homage must be paid here to DJ Screw – he pushed the whole movement in Texas with his crew “Screwed Up Clique”. He’s known for his chopped and screwed DJ technique that infiltrated the south. 

The guide below gives some history to this:

#onesandtwos

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

   

    Featuring…

          CadillacJay 

                   of “Classic City Customs” (a custom auto restoration shop)

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CadillacJay's #topthree

Cars: 

-77 Chevy Caprice Convertible 

-74 Cadillac El Dorado 

-86 Monte Carlo

Artists: 

-Pimp C 

-Paul Wall 

-Big K.R.I.T

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CadillacJay in the #spotlight

In 2007 he helped build two 1964 CHEVY IMPALAs for Jerome Williams, a famous NBA player. He now owns “Classic City Customs”

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Visit our Facebook & Instagram accounts for more photos!

Check out WHATS SPINNING for Paul Wall's "My Lac On Vogues"

DIVAS OF HIP HOP

Whether it may be offense or entertaining... hip hop's divas are being noticed. These women are putting their careers and girlfriends 1st, and their love life 2nd. Sexuality is commonly used to promote their image and social media has become the perfect vehicle.

Featuring... Rihanna, Amber Rose, and Nicki Minaj.

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Last week Rihanna posted this video to her Instagram page…

A video posted by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Jan 16, 2015 at 5:36pm PST

As photos of her and her female friends flip by, a snipit from the TV series “Sex and the City” plays in the background. Men have become secondary to their friendship; something unheard of 50 years ago. Female artists promoting feminism is becoming the norm. Rihanna supports this movement and she wants all of her 14.3 million followers to recognize that.

CHECK IT OUT: RiRi’s R8 Album coming soon! (Rumored track listings have been found floating around the net.)

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Amber Rose just posted a clip via her Instagram page from the Wendy Williams show referring to Amber’s scandalous string bikini photos she posted last week...

Yaaaas Auntie @wendyshow u Betta Live for Muva 💋

A video posted by Amber Rose (@amberrose) on Jan 19, 2015 at 6:31pm PST

Sebastian's mom has got it going on! Media icon, newly single, mother of one… Is Amber sending the wrong message? 

CHECK IT OUT: Her recently separated husband, Wiz Khalifa supports Amber’s recent photos.

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Nicki Minaj, notorious hip hop diva, has set some high standards in the female rap game. An idol to many girls and women, and eye candy to many men; Nicki puts in hard work to dominate the market. On the forefront she is known for her voluptuous body and provocative style…

Look at yall 👀

A photo posted by Nicki Minaj (@nickiminaj) on Jan 15, 2015 at 2:20pm PST

Want to get behind the scene access to the real Nicki?

CHECK IT OUT: Nicki Minaj – My Time AGAIN – an hour long documentary aired on MTV that follows the star as she gets ready to release “The Pink Print” (her latest album). Click HERE to watch it now!

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