I think the local hip-hop scene overall is trending in a positive direction. It is way more visible now than it was just a few years ago. Venues that never booked hip-hop are doing it now on a regular basis.
Advice-wise, just generally speaking. I’ve talked to the boys in Rhodium about this, and Kaizer. I think a lot of local hip-hop artists could benefit greatly by being more calculated about the moves they make.
For example, instead of making as much noise as possible about each individual release, I think it is better to have each release, show, and everything you do be just one piece of an ever-evolving puzzle.
If you have a solid song, use it as a vehicle for promoting your career, and start a chain reaction. The song can be the driving force behind getting people to show up at your concert, and you can use it to roll the momentum forward after the show to release a music video, which you promote for several weeks with a series of photos or stills from the video.
I see a lot of spontaneity in the hip-hop community, which I really think has a lot of value in its own way. But looking for sustainable growth, and creating an overarching story that surrounds yourself as an artist, is the way to truly make an impact.
