How to Produce a Rap Music Demo

Getting noticed is Job One for any artist. For musicians, this means having a demo ready for label reps, potential sponsors or fans--and the same holds true for rappers. Technology has made producing demo tapes easier than ever before. Here’s how to produce a rap music demo.

Instructions

1. Raise the money for studio time. This is not an insurmountable task. Start some buzz on the artist by booking shows in local hip-hop clubs. Get a day job to cover the costs. If the artist is located in a large city, there are studios vying for would-be artists to request production time. Large metropolitan areas also have artists and engineers with their own studios. This is also an opportunity to connect with people in the industry who have similar goals.

2. Find established artists in the community to collaborate on a demo. A demo is much easier to produce if more than one person is coming up with brand-new material. Forming an alliance with another artist creates a network with that artist’s fan base. Producing a demo is one part music and one part advertising. This move kills two birds with one stone.

3. Devise some truly unique beats. Rappers are quite prevalent on the current music scene, so your demo needs to be creative and buzz-worthy. Some rappers may choose to rap about issues that are not part of the mainstream landscape in order to get noticed. This is a good move, but any new message needs to be supported by new music. There’s always a young producer with a unique style that will perk up the ears of listeners. Rappers should seek out up-and-coming beat makers to make their demo stand out.

4. Add a singer and a good hook to at least one song on the demo. Mainstream rap often has a hook that makes it catchy and simple for listeners to pick up on. Even if the rapper wants to do more underground hip-hop, it makes sense to include an accessible tune that shows his capabilities. Marry a strong singer to that catchy hook to complement the lyrics. This combination will complete a well-produced demo.

Resources

• Showcase Your Demo