SELL-FIE PERFECT: TOP 4 WAYS TO DEVELOP A UNIQUE ARTIST IMAGE 

Indie artists of the 21st generation have made astonishing impact on the conventional ways of thinking about music. More specifically, their influence has changed the way we look at artists in general. Rather than basing opinions on how talented they are, frequently music fans, and especially those of hip-hop, are weighing the morality of their support around an artist's "image". As times have changed since the days of our parents, it's hard to say what a spitting image is anymore. In the context of the music industry, this is most important for branding purposes. For that reasonwe will be discussing the 4 best ways to develop a unique artist image.

1. Know yourself.

There is nothing more essential to developing your image than identifying yourself as a musician. Helpful things to consider when you are figuring out what best defines your image is to rule out what doesn't define you and work harder on what does. For example, if you are confident in your skills in songwriting but know you can't sit and write a 100 page autobiography to save your life, leave the "hard" stuff to bite the dust. In other words, take your songwriting skills and see how you can apply it to different areas of your career. Weather that means writing for another artist or challenging yourself to write 10 songs a day, focus on the positive aspects of your abilities and capitalize on them. Quickly you will realize just how much more you are capable of and hence will be able to realize who you were truly meant to be. Speaking outside of music, simply acknowledging your reliable intuitive traits can not only gain you self-confidence but greatly improves your work ethic. This website will give you all the tools for discovering your strengths. Of course, there are less taxing ways to pinpoint positive aspects of yourself so don't feel pressured to buy into anything unnecessary. The benefits to reaching any level of individual understanding offers personal proceeds unlike anything else! Showcasing your truest, most outstanding self is completely fool-proof against all odds. Real fans will respect and support your music no matter what you claim your strengths to be anyway. Bottom line, understand and trust yourself knowing that the bag (and your music career) is secured.

2. Invest in all aspects of self.

Contrary to the information you digested in our know-yourself-spill, making the financial sacrifice to better yourself for a future not fully realized yet might seem extremely intimidating, however, it's the next priority runner up in our ever important list of top ways to develop an artist image. Have you noticed how some musicians seem to have similar styles to each other? This is due to multiple factors but the point of mentioning it is that there is always a hunger for individuality in the music industry. Someone always tends to associate a certain sound with another therefore, in order to relinquish one's self from these creative limitations, it's recommended to buy into materials or services catered to optimizing elements of your artistry. Anything from promoting a project to paying for beats comes at a rightful cost when considering ways to manage a unique artist image. These costs will vary due to whatever your brand is; With that being said, the main objective when making a musically affiliated decision is to emphasize your brand in a positive light across all platforms. Make sure the investments you make feel right to your gut. If they don't, take a step back and maybe ask for outside help. However, be cautious of who you let direct your creative elements. Sometimes their motives can bring you down rather than up. 

3. Practice on yourself.

Listening to your gut instinct is probably easier said than done. It gets easier though the more you dedicate time and practice to what it takes to be one of the dopest artists out there. Working on your stage presence is exactly the kind of thing to focus on in terms of developing your image. A couple tips we've gathered from experience and other sources is practicing in the mirror, video taping a performance, and choreography. Does this mean take every dance class known to man and Prince-Beyonce it out at every concert? To be practical, no. Unless your brand image is tied in with songs invoking dance adrenaline, you'll only need to know the basics; Meaning every movement on stage should be planned out and intentional. If you are in a group band, it's detrimental to orchestrate exactly how and what your performance operates as. Keeping in mind the audience at all times, deliver an experience to your viewers because they are the fore-front of your show. It's not enough to have mastered every song to every beat. Analyze your engagement on stage through video and look at where you can do better and as mentioned in point #1, recognize your strengths. Confidence is like a muscle. Pump it up as much as you can. Practicing in a mirror is effective in this way and can give you a sense of security while performing. 

4. Be yourself.

No matter where you go or who you're around, emanating an artist aura will shape your image in ways you can hardly imagine! Breaking out into the public owning the fact that music makes your world go 'round (and happens to pay the bills), is just the kind of energy to deliver if you wish to attract fans. Having a presence on and off stage is how to truly tie together the pieces of an artist image. This doesn't require radical changes in attitude or personality either. Just be yourself. Obviously, we are all human. No one expects you to be the same old happy person you were yesterday. We all have our bad days. Being yourself is what music is all about, really. Legacies are not born copies of who they see on TV or the internet. Make the most out of each encounter with the people you interact with daily or at random. Waitresses, mothers, the president, your dog... the list goes on. Let everyone know how passionate you are about music and specifically yours. Be proud to announce single releases or showcases like they will be your last. Act like a big deal and become a big deal. On the other hand, it might not serve you to boast about your talent to everyone. Some people are envious of success and will wish for another's downfall. Only preach to those willing and open to listen. Forcing yourself on deaf ears may cause you to become something of a "fad", for lack of a better term. In the professional world of music especially, understand the limits to which you give and receive information. Practice and research interview techniques so you won't be caught off guard. Here is some helpful information on how to get the most out of artist opportunities we think might benefit your career now and in the future. Don't be hesitant to do some research on your own either. Ask friends or business partners to interview you and record responses to be analyzed later. 

 

GRAB-A-COLLAB: PROS & CONS TO FEATURING WITH ARTISTS 

creating music is a gift thousands of people around the world appreciate and wish they were capable of to some extent. The "gift" is sometimes, or often depending on your perspective, abused by those who think the process is a walk in the park. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect so perhaps there's hope for those artists who seem to be lost in the sauce. Nothing says "I'm really new to this" like forced lyrics or cadence. When it comes to corroborating with creatives in this instance, there's always the lingering question of weather or not your time and effort will be worth spending. With that being said, for today's article, we want to describe some of the pros and cons of song features. 

Before we get in to the specifics, let's clarify a few things about what exactly a feature is to begin with. Most music enthusiasts are aware that a feature means two or more artists are on a record and one main artist is included to set the tone of the song, respectably. What people tend to overlook is the fact that there is more than one way to be featured on a track. A recent example of this phenomena can be heard on the new Childish Gambino single This Is America. If you haven't heard it already, you should. It has all the balancing elements of authenticity and controversy which makes music (to us anyway) so worth listening to. 21 Savage was actually on the single in the form of ad-libs. Would you believe that? Basically, features have room for flexibility in the form of short tones, harmonies, or even instruments! Andre 3000 released Look Ma No Hands single yesterday which was mainly instrumental and only featured him playing the clarinet. Having a deeper understanding for the complexity of featuring artists leads us to our main pro point......

Should you not have the capabilities to successfully give your best performance on the mic at the time of a collaboration studio session, improvising might be just the thing to save you. There is no need to limit yourself to completing an entire verse or pumping out the catchiest, greatest hook you've ever thought of when so many other options exist. At the time, it might seem like you're cheating yourself if all you offer on a track is a stream of dubs and libs but, look at it this way: The art of rap has taken a huge turn as this generation of artists strive to make millions off of a few hit records with hardly any substance. Playboi Carti is the perfect example of someone who relies on this recipe to fame. From reading several write ups on the project Die Lit, it's clear the artists featured on the album had more to offer than he did. Such big names featured would give the expectation of versatility and high energy. Not only did this album prove the opposite, but proved the point we are trying to make here. You can co-operate on projects all day long, however, unless you deliver to the standards of the artists you work with it really doesn't make a difference how you execute.

It's always a satisfying feeling when you finally get those vocals from your favorite mainstream or local artist who promises to take your track to a whole other universe. Except, what happens when you don't get the results you wanted? Should you drop the project altogether? Perhaps yes, in which case you'd learn a valuable lesson about who is up to your standard. Having a bar set on what fits your genre  adds value to your brand unlike any marketing tactic known in the industry today. For instance, imagine you owned a billion dollar company and decided to provide a new product to customers to enhance trust in your business. Instead of bringing in more dolla', dolla' bills, you mistakenly create a situation which sets you back up to millions. The same goes for your brand. If you collaborate with any artist in the neighborhood because you feel it will give you a larger fan base, the results may turn out poorly. On the other hand, their expression could afford you a brand new Tesla once the song has miraculously made it platinum. Either way, just be cautious of who you decide to feature with and remember having a standard doesn't make you a bad person. Inevitably you will run into people who try to judge and say you're being picky, stingy, etc. but if you have dreams as big as a billion dollar company, it's worth the sacrifice. 

Features are a worthwhile endeavor for those who genuinely are looking to enhance their music or simply find inspiration for their lyrics. There are multiple ways you can feature on a record and several ways not to. During your sessions with a fellow music artist, be clear on your expectations and weigh out all your options. Staying focused on what you want while keeping open to new ideas creates opportunity for a unique song and potential Billboard hit if you play your cards right. When you or someone else reaches out about featuring on a track, always consider what your standards are to avoid any misconceptions. While we still have your attention, our blog is offering features with talented artists near you! Submit to us under our contact page and we will get back to you with more details. 

IT'S IN YOUR GENE(RE): DISCOVER YOUR MUSIC NICHE 

Hip-hop was founded in 1973 in Bronx, New York by a man named Clive Campbell AKA 'DJ Kool Herc". Unlike most legendary discoveries, Kool Herc came across the culture, which would literally alter the way we know music today, unintentionally. It started with talking over breaks in a record, which was mainly Disco oriented at first, to remixing and scratching the sound altogether. What Kool Herc found through his observations of the crowd at parties was how they reacted at what was soon to be called the breakdown. Such fine details leads up to what this article will help you learn today which is how to discover what your genre of music is and why it's so important (or not). 

The first thing that can be said about anyone who is trying to figure out what their "sound" is, should be that there really is no formula. Literally. Imagine, for example, a world filled with people with multiple personalities and a few with..... none, for the lack of a better word. In order to get a job in this society, everyone is responsible for choosing one personality they feel best describes their character. Impossible, right?! You can compare this to asking a close friend for advice on how to get past the friend zone. It's just not happening. However, there are alternatives to getting around this sort of thing. Let's take it back for a second. What if having one identifiable sound wasn't the only way to relate yourself as an artist? Even more intriguing, what if observing those sounds directed you to a whole new musical niche? As time has progressed since the age of Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow and more, hip-hop has gone under major deconstruction as far as its root definition. People who grew up with those names up until the early 90s, have a lot to say about what "real" music is. Don't let those people discourage you though, as all things tend to evolve naturally. It's okay not to be sure where your music fits in the grand scheme of things as long as you know who your audience is. 

Hold on! I still don't know what genre of music I belong to. Once you've broken down the details such as: How many genres do I fall under? Which ones do I relate to most? Who is my audience? you can begin to create a sort of mental diagram of where your music mainly lies. Again, there really is no formula to understanding this and you might want to debate weather it's worth the effort to hone down in the first place. The entertainment industry is exceedingly running at a faster rate than ever before; pumping out more songs a day than in any other generation. Getting stuck on details such as where you fit in doesn't make a difference in the grand scheme of things. To be fair, we still want to offer tools so you can gather the information for yourself. Understanding what kind of music you fall under is essential to defining what kind of artist you are. Every Noise is a great resource to utilize if you are curious about what kinds of genres of music are out there. Their page it littered with all sorts of titles that you can scan and discover! You can even look up a particular artist and see which genres they fall under to get a sense of how they work. Give this post a comment if you found this site useful and we'll post you to our Soundcloud.

Paying attention to detail when it comes to your music is a hit-or-miss topic depending on what end of the spectrum you're coming from. Anyone who's been on both sides could attest that learning to accept imperfection is all part of the creative process. Elements of music come from a source probably found way before we were ever conceived (am I giving away my age?) so be practical about what defines you as an artist. If you consider yourself mysterious with a little bit of an angry side, let the audience be the judge of that; except you shouldn't take it to heart. Unless it's your mom or something. Experiment as much as you can while independent so when anyone tries to confine you to the likes of "hip hop" or "punk rock", you can bravely combat their stance with "Hip Rock" or something to that effect. Take charge of your creative abilities by analyzing your music from an outsiders perspective. Ask questions like: How does this music make me feel? Who comes to mind when I hear it? Are my emotions clear? Afterwards, its easier to discern how relevant knowing your niche is. If you find that it's particularly important, try asking friends how they would describe your genre in 3 words. You might be surprised by their answers and realize you're the next Kool Herc. 

 

KANYE'S TWEETS & THE FIGHT FOR LOVE  

Stepping out of the box is essential to being a well renowned artist. Taking risks is the only way to find out what your limits are and how far they can take you. Today's article is practical from this stand point but far from what you might expect as suggested by the title. Before you read any further please do the following: Take a deep breath..... Relax.... We are not trying to convince you of our points of view. As per any write up on our site, all information we provide is suggestive and up to viewer discretion. Mentioning mainstream controversy is something we opt to avoid, however, this particular moment in history gives the opportunity for life lessons you can't get anywhere else! These might come as a surprise or a reminder. Either way, the knowledge you gain will be valuable so without further ado, here are some life lessons from Kanye's tweets to apply to your music career. 

 

  
That one time on the internet when Kanye spazzed on Charlamagne.... is one we will never forget. Looking back on the interview, there are clearly some contrasts to the Kanye we are seeing now. Making those connections won't be necessary at this time (although it would be interesting). The point instead is to drive home an important point about acceptance. Perhaps we can't look past certain traits about trending artists such as J Cole or Smokepurpp, but as individuals we can apply the experience to ourselves in a way that makes sense. Showing love to your community proves to be the most effective way to gain support and recognition as an entrepreneur. Weather you are hosting a charity drive festival or lending sugar to your neighbor, giving back is crucial for your overall growth physically, mentally, and spiritually. Keep in balance the fact that you have room to develop and yet, no time to waste! All falls down when you create a plan of total domination only to find out you were last on the priority lists of friends who promised to support you. If you reciprocate the love you receive, more people will be interested in supporting you as an artist.

 

 

 Taking your time on a project weather it's a song or important speech, can make or break the outcome of it. Sometimes the idea of perfection or lack thereof can get in the way of completing what you've started. It can even destroy the concept altogether. From our interpretation of this iconic tweet from Ye, we can pretty much put it straight forward: Don't overthink your art. Proof that you can make a hit song without spending days on small details is everywhere in the music industry. The rappers and artists we consider "gatekeepers" of hip-hop almost never write their songs. If you read Gucci's book The Autobiography of Gucci Mane, he wouldn't even allow producers to finish a beat before he demanded to start recording! Check out some tips we have for how to be more efficient in the studio. A good way to keep yourself motivated is to go back to that feeling you had before you started. Also, don't let the opinions of others discourage your creative process. It's nice to have people give you real-time critique, however, if you aren't confident enough in yourself those same opinions can lead you astray and left confused on what kind of artist you want to be. 

 

 

 

 A lot of you reading this article are most likely independent underground music patriots so this tweet will be relevant to you on some basic level. If not, we are still going to cover this point in hopes that you'll gain insight into the industry. As a community who strives to give you the best quality knowledge we kindly suggest that you stop asking for help. For perspective, consider people such as Chance The Rapper who is recognized as the first independent artist to ever receive a grammy. His story is an example of someone who, despite all obstacles, never accepted a handout. This means he never went out of his way looking for someone who could lend him a couple million to promote his projects and shows. His testimony is one that speaks volume to our current generation of artists who sign 360 deals and expect long term fame and fortune. The easy way out doesn't always mean the best way.  Having a manager doesn't guarantee you'll benefit enough from the relationship to achieve what you've always wanted toAlthough, if you trust someone enough to be careful about your assets and talent abilities, by all means take the risk. It might take going through a lot of bad managers to realize who you need has been looking in the mirror.

Everything you just read was written in the spirit of Kanye West's twitter rant. His concepts inspired many and turned off others. Since you can't please everyone with your point of view, the best way to take in this stream of consciousness is to simply marinate in it; live in it, and maybe question it. Per individual, we'd love if you could relate to some degree. Kanye put a fire in our hearts at least once, especially if you're a true Kanye "stan". Choosing to keep a positive outlook on yourself, your career, and even your art can have a powerful effect on your path to success. Delve into your strengths and weaknesses. Face your fears and don't give up. Love is the most prevalent message throughout Kanye's tweets which can be used to evaluate a lot of these ideals. From the perspective of an artist, loving what you do is at the core of motivation and creativity. Being confident steers the invisible artist vehicle to its final destination. Whatever that place may be, stay true to the vision even if it means sacrificing valuable items or people. Years from now, you will hardly remember what you lost in the process as everything you worked for has come back ten-fold. 

NEW AGE HIP-HOP: HOW ARTISTS GAIN POPULARITY IN 2018 

 

 

 

Few artists in the music industry weather they are independent or mainstream, all have one thing in common: a formula they follow in order to ensure their music reaches its fullest potential. This does not imply, however, that they all follow the same recipe. Sometimes (and really all the time) artists will struggle for as many as 5+ years just to figure out what aspects of their career are causing them to struggle. As times have changed, so has the mountain high climb to the top of the music game. In this week's article, we will be discussing 5 major tips to get your music heard on a massive scale. 

The first key to understanding how to get your music heard is to understand why you should do so in the first place. What may come to mind is financial revenue. If you don't know already, attention = currency these days. Social media platforms have become outlets for average people to capitalize off their abilities by sharing with thousands of visionaries around the world. In music, it's no different. Your plays are a factor into how much money you make in your career so why not make the most of it? Another thing is that music inspires people which means you inspire. Sure, you don't think about it now but the impact your music has/will have on generations is no small feat. It's important to recognize your art as a gift to the world which has potential to change lives. The more people hear it, the more lives you might save! Of course not every artist out there is aiming to be a so-called "savior" to their fans. We'd like to thank Yeezus for that. Inevitably someone out there is probably betting their last dollar on the success of your art simply because of how it's made them feel. Not all super heroes wear capes. 

Now that we've covered why optimizing your music is so important, it's time to get down to the real  business: How in the world can a small independent artist gain loyal listeners?

1. Blogs 

A music blog is probably the most accessible and effective way to promote your music to a wide range of listeners. For example, our blog provides opportunities for artists to showcase their music through our submissions page.  Not every blog is worth it or trustworthy so be sure to do your research on which blogs are guaranteed to get you some plays for your music. A good way to ensure a blog will accept your submission or even consider it is to have some kind of template that requires you to post everything most promotions ask for. Quality is everything at the end of the day so try to be as professional as possible and don't come off as desperate because in reality, you're the reason the blog exists to begin with. Set the price for your product and sell, sell, sell!

2. Social Media 
As mentioned before, attention becomes currency once you reach a certain level of reputability or what some may call "clout". The objective of gaining followers on social media takes on a different meaning as an artist. You want people to follow you to get a better understanding of the kind of person you are behind the scenes. Having a good reputation along with interesting quality content can go a long way; especially if you find yourself having a contradiction between your music and Instagram posts.  While you can't exactly monetize your social media per-say, you can definitely use it to your full advantage by posting at optimum times of the day for more interactive posts. Check out your own sources as well if you feel the need to market a specific outlet.

 

3. Team Effort 

This is a hit-or-miss detail but our research suggests collaborating together in groups of 2 or more betters your chances of working at an efficient and quality pace. Don't slack and expect people to pick up all of the dirty work for you. Instead share the load amongst trusted colleagues who you know have no intentions outside of business gratification to work with you. This way you won't have to second guess their intentions and create with ease.Time is money so the less of it you spend trying to catch up on all the minuscule details of what goes into your craft, the more you have to enjoy what you do while still reaping the benefits of financial gain or other necessities. 

4. Playlists 

This may or may not come by surprise but all your favorite music streaming outlets posses a powerful tool to help you maximize your viewers listening lists. Yes. We are talking about playlists. If you have ever met, known, or been a DJ/MC common knowledge to you would be to curate a meaningful playlist to celebrate (or not) the moment of your day. Spotify users in particular are aware of the vital reasons to have a settling playlist for everyday enjoyment. Search 3 of your favorite artists and look at what playlists they're under. More music you enjoy might happen to appear under that genre. Pay attention to which playlists are popular on any music streaming service to begin working your way into gaining a large number or listeners simply because of relatable taste. Spark The Dope has a special curated playlist for worldwide dope artists.  Take a listen then consider submitting your music to be included!

5. Word To Mouth 

There's nothing like raw connection with friends and other supporters of your music. Showing love to the ones who accept you unconditionally could be the beginning of a legendary story left behind for others to share for years to come. Otherwise as mentioned before, it's best to reduce the stress of reaching out to the world by your own terms. Certainly if you have the means, seriously recognize the value of each relationship you have and continue to expand it as you deem comfortable. Eventually, all efforts will naturally become worthy once you realize how practically overwhelming yet nourishing  it is to have so many people love your music because of who you are behind the scenes. Showcase yourself in a positive light frequently to attract positive interaction on a consistent basis! Most importantly, love what you do. 

For specific instructions on how to submit to our Spotify playlist "Dope Discovery", email us at sparkthedope@gmail.com.

TYPE BEATS VS ORIGINAL BEATS (WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?) 

 


Producers from all walks of life at one point in time or another have all came across the same revolutionary contradiction when it comes to working with artists: how do I sell my beats and for what price? This inquiry may come about simply because the creator has been working diligently for a surplus amount of time and expects a return on their investment. Other than that, the need for money is a result of chasing after doing what you love for a living. Most people in this industry would agree so in this article, not only will we be giving pointers about how you can "make it rain" in the studio, but we will be discussing key reasons why working with and supporting producers is the best decision for your music career. 

Youtube made its mark on the internet in 2005 and the art of making music has never been the same since. Weather you aspire to be a world class chef or the next Timbaland, Youtube has videos to teach literally anyone no matter what their skill level is. You could even go as far as to say that colleges are competing with the ever-growing platform. There are pro and cons about it but the bottom line is that no one has an excuse to not learn how to do what they love, even if it means they are only average. The difference between one artist and another really comes down to how much time they put into their craft. This is the first and most important reason producers should get more credit than they're given. The amount of time it takes to make a beat can vary from 10 minutes to 3 days! In retrospect, the beat-making process can appear to be effortless, however, the tools needed and patience necessary to develop a sound true to yourself takes a special kind of individual. To put it metaphorically, think of how long it takes to make a plate of food at a restaurant. You place an order, the server communicates to the chef, you wait 20 minutes, and BOOM!  your food is there. After you finish the meal, you are required to pay for it. The same applies to beats depending on who the producer is. You might have a request for a certain sound that you can deliver the best on. After the producer "cooks up" the sound, you're ready to record and might have made your first hit single! To be a chef, you have to have the right technical skills and tools to produce the right product and then be paid accordingly.

Of course we can't assume that all chefs are worth the amount of money they're asking for so how can you trust that the exchange is worth it? Let's refer back to our chef metaphor. If you place an order, the chef is going to assume whatever you asked for is your acquired taste. If you walk into a Chinese restaurant and order pasta, the employee will probably look at you like you just fell out of the sky. The chef will only be skilled in whatever that restaurant offers so dining with them when you have a craving for Italian probably won't be your best bet. Working with producers is the same way. Some may reach out to you on a first name basis because they know what kind of genre you cater to while others might shove their beat tags and snippets down your throat. (Click here to learn 6 best websites to sell your beats online.) Not everyone will be out for your best interest, of course, so finding the right producer to work with might be a matter of trial and error. On the other end of the spectrum, producers should be advised that the best way to sell your beats is having face to face interactions with clients. A gathering at your studio solely for the purpose of showcasing your beat-making skills is one of the most effective ways to sell your beats genuinely and with purpose. As not every beat works for one artist, not every artist is worth a producer's time. Make sure whoever you are trying to work with is serious about what you are offering and has plans in mind to take their music to the next level (whatever that may be). 

Having access to producers online is the quickest way to get a song put out. All you have to do is either reach out to the producer or pay through the website where you found the track to be able to record on it. These days, the process is even more simplified with downloadable beats. You know those videos with the big font title stating "FREE BEAT FOR DOWNLOAD" on Youtube videos? Yeah. We've all been there. This isn't meant to be shade at those people who decide to go that route, however, over time you will find that you're really not the only one hopping on those instrumentals. Most beats with those titles have a bunch of tags either throughout the song or at the beginning and end. Recording songs with beat tags is definitely not a bad thing especially if it's done tastefully. There's plenty of ways to create your own beat tag to help identify your beats more readily. In the case of music artists, this has the potential to make or break the quality of your music. Be mindful of how the producer represents themselves on a beat or when they interact with you. If you find how they do business is unprofessional or careless, you should probably reconsider working with them. On the other hand, if they are talented and enthusiastic about not only what they do but what you do, the chemistry in the music will show considerably. This will also determine weather or not the price they are charging for their music is really reasonable. The average price for a lease could run anywhere from $30-$100 and exclusives $150-$50,000  (yes, seriously). Understanding quality in music production is the key to knowing what your comfort level is when it comes to working with others and where your skill level is at this point in your career. 

WHY YOU MIGHT NEED A SONGWRITER 

Music in this generation is arguably at its most controversial time in the history of entertainment. The artists we once considered the gatekeepers of hip hop or prodigies of R&B are slowly but surely losing their stamina in the eyes of the ever developing younger generation. With that being said, our conclusions are based on a collective order of opinions from people ages 13-28 (roughly). If you're new to our forum, be advised that nothing we say holds any value but is still worth considering. All of the information being shared today should make you critically think about the kind of artist you want to be because that's what Spark The Dope is here for. We want to help you take your artistry to the next level so here are some reasons why you should consider having a songwriter. 

Jay-Z won songwriter hall of fame in 2017 according to Billboard and other sources. Most people recognize Jay-Z for his legendary rap status and beat production so to some hearing songwriters credit for the first time, this might come as a surprise. Actually, most major artists get their songs written for them. It's not a matter of being lazy or they just don't feel like it. In fact, many music artists will probably admit that they'd much rather write their own songs especially if they're involved with a record label. But since we're not here to educate you on the crazy lifestyle of celebrities, we can start off with the first reason to consider having a songwriter. Time. Think about how long it took you to put out your first album (if you have ever). Not only did you spend hours at a time coming up with lyrics, but you had to gather a team of people who were excited enough about your craft to even produce it in the first place! This is easier said than done. Money goes into it as you have to pay for studio time, beats, promotion, and more. The writing process is different for each individual, but for the sake of perspective, Genius has an article thread about the average time it takes to write a song. One person claimed to have done 1,000 songs, recorded 50, and only released 16! With this in mind, having a songwriter in this case would probably cut the time it takes to put out a song in half. On top of that, you could probably save yourself a fair amount of money for studio time since you'd know exactly what to record by the time you go there.

"Time is money. Okay. What else?" Money is all part of the music industry game. The more of it you have, the better your chances of getting where you want to be. While it's not guaranteed you'll be the hottest artist out or most popular, you are sure to gain yourself enough fan base to support your music for the long term. This is the same as if you were to utilize a songwriter. Even if you have doubts the song will be a hit because you didn't have full creative control, there's a higher chance you will be considered more than "just another rapper/singer". The reason being is that you are going to appeal to a different audience. Your core fans are the ones who will rock with you no matter what music you put out because they know what you're capable of. If you put out something unexpected, they are more likely to tell others about your work because they see you as multi-faceted. Being an indie artist makes this favorable for your career because people will be able to see your growth and you get to call the shots. A misunderstanding about songwriters is that they often write entire songs for artists based on what they think the artists' niche is. While the latter is true, the reality of co-songwriting is a more complex process than it's given credit for. You have to copy wright your work with a service such as BMI  to earn royalties, keep up with the latest upcoming artists and popular genres, and go through paperwork to decide who gets credit for what. These things sound easy but it gets complicated if you include a co-writer. This means while you might have came up with a cool hook and melody, the versus or part of them might have been done by someone else. 

At this point, you are probably still not sure weather or not having a songwriter is worth all the trouble. It's okay. As mentioned before, each individual artist is unique and their journey different. Maybe having a songwriter does not appeal to you because you have room to grow and want to see what you can do. On the other hand, if you are often told that your music "sounds the same" or your lyrics "are repetitive", it might not be such a bad thing to consider. Either way, the music making process has a lot of creative hands involved. Recognizing that it the first step to achieving your full potential as an artist. Because you stuck around to the end, Spark The Dope wants to offer you a chance to work with a talented songwriter! Her name is Dream Rayne. You'll find her music and external pages below. If you are interested in a co-songwriter or even beats with a hook/vocals, feel free to e-mail us: sparkthedope@gmail.com.