A lot of people are getting into hip hop and rap in South Africa, a lot of them just don’t make it. You can be an upcoming promising artist for years in South Africa and never really blow up. You can be famous in your hood, have many fans but statistically speaking most rappers aren’t going to make it big time. Not because they don’t have talent, not because the industry is cruel but because they don’t understand a few fundamental things about the music industry and being a rapper. This is a guide on how to be a rapper in South Africa.
1) Produce good music
This is the most basic requirement; you have to at least produce good music. What I have observed is that most rappers don’t put an effort into producing good music, they focus mostly on bars. The most important part in any song is the chorus (hook), it’s cool to have hot bars but if the chorus sucks then the song won’t make it far. You would be surprised to know how many people really listen to the lyrics the first time around when hearing a song.
Most people didn’t know the lyrics to Bad and Boujee, they only heard the chorus and were hooked. They learned the lyrics later on; people don’t have time to listen attentively to your song to figure out what you are saying. As an artist you should make it a point to produce the best chorus possible for your song, together with a good beat. Don’t just focus on hot bars and make a crappy chorus. Invest in your music, produce good music and that will contribute toward making you a successful rapper in South Africa.
This is probably the best advice for people who don’t have a lot of financial muscle to promote their music. Your music will promote itself if it’s good.
2) Know your target market
Music is business, and in every business you should know your target market. You can’t really make music for everybody, even in the rap game. Produce music that is directly inline with your target market, remember when you are starting out you don’t have any fans. At this point your focus can’t be on producing music for your fans but for your target market.
3) Marketing your music
This where most artists fail, a lot of artists don’t have skills to market (statistically). Marketing your music is the most crucial thing, you won’t make it in the industry if you don’t know how to promote your music. That’s why you find rappers that don’t have any talent being on top of the game, it’s because they know how to market their music.
You have to take charge of your destiny, you can’t be hoping for luck, put in the work in promoting your music. A lot of artists just go on Facebook and leave spam links on everybody’s wall. That method doesn’t work, you get an artist that tags around 80 people on Facebook with their Audiomack link and only find that the song has been played 35 times. Did you know how cheap digital marketing is, you can get your song to be played by over 5 000 people from only paying R1 000, now that’s a good return on investment. Here is a complete guide on how to market your music in South Africa.
Just for emphasis sake, this is the most important thing and this is where you should spend most of your money. You have to be willing to throw money into promoting your music, you can promote it on YouTube, Blogs, Radio and paid ads. Your focus should be on promoting your music online and that’s how to be a rapper in South Africa. You don’t really need a manager to promote you, you can do it yourself. Don’t focus on getting gigs but on making sure that more people hear your music.
4) The success: how to be a rapper in South Africa
If you have done the above steps then you are well on your way to success as a rapper in South Africa. J molley started promoting his music on YouTube long before he became famous. Most rappers find it hard to make it without a record label, if you invest enough into marketing your music then you will find a label or success at some point. Instead of buying that expensive phone or clothing, use the money to promote your music.
Akhona Mthitsibane
12 Sep 2020I’m a underground rapper in Eastern Cape S.A
My stage name is Aiko
Ayanda
22 Sep 2020My name is Ayanda from gauteng I’m an independent rapper I just speak my mind on paper and I’m really moved by music there’s nothing else I rather be doing and ma stage name is young x
Joel Ndara
3 Jan 2022I’m Joël from Cape town I really need help to make my music go viral
Simpiwe
25 Mar 2021Thanks Akho i am GVC i dont care i want to be millionaire with rap name get rich whern i like to drive my car with rap songs and build the futer of mine in RAP south and all over the world if you can , i am here khayelitsha around western cape
i am ganstar rap
http://www.unsigned.com/ghettovibe
Tiisetso Mphahlele (Jerome's Code)
29 Sep 2020My Name Is Tiisetso Mphahlele. My Stage Name Is Jerome’s Code Inspired By Jermaine Cole. I Grew Up Listening To J. Cole Alot And That Made Me Realise That There’s More To Music Than Just Rapping Bout Money, Fancy Cars And Liqour… Like Rapping About What Women Experience/GoThrough In Our Country. Thats What I Wanna Change Through Music.
I’m A Hip Hop Artist And I’m Based In Protea Glen Soweto.
YoungFeeda
24 Feb 2021My name is Mondli A.K.A Young Feeda I feel pumped up after reading this.I’ve been doing somethings wrong,wasting time and I there are somethings I just realised I gat access to that I thought I don’t Thanks alot for this
sibabalwe
24 Feb 2021It’s a pleasure, good luck.
Anele
4 Jun 2021My name is intelligent blac a rapper from Durban , I found this article very interesting , in my journey of making music I’m learning a lot about marketing but still haven’t found that good marketing strategy , i have recently released a new EP titled Lonely World it addresses mental issues and conquering your demons .
It’s available on https://soundcloud.com/user-915454240
Molemo seipotlane
13 Jun 2021Yeah I just want to be a rapper that’s what my talent is referring to
Playboi Greezy
21 Jul 2021Thanks for the tips!!!
sibabalwe
22 Jul 2021One time 🙂
kat
27 Jul 2021young x i like your spirit good thing your not underground
Sphephelo Ndlovu(BLACKOUT
1 Sep 2021I am an underground rapper unsigned??from KZN in Pietermaritzburg
sibabalwe
1 Sep 2021Good luck with your career Sphe
Blake
25 Nov 2021Thanks
Linda Lewack
31 Dec 2021I cant wait to become a rapper
Linda Lewack
31 Dec 2021I can’t wait to become a rapper I’m going to make my friends prat
sibabalwe
7 Jan 2022Good luck Linda 🙂
Kgmasty
12 Jan 2022I wanna become a famous rapper because it improves my talent ? so if u want a new just call me
T-NICE Brandon
22 Apr 2022Yoh wassup thanks for the advice I really appreciate it cause I also needed help to make my music viral
And I am T-NICE Brandon