Some names, like Drake or Sarah Palin, show up everywhere because there’s a publicist making $20,000 a week to make phone calls, all day long.  Some names show up everywhere because the artist behind the name is totally committed to their career.  TAIS is a perfect specimen of the DIY CEO: running every aspect of his career and embracing every challenge that comes his way.  I caught up with him while he was traveling to New York to sprint around the city for a week promoting his new single, Too Complex.  He’s a highly energetic and focused dude with a lot to say…

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After writing The Template: Planning Your First Album, I’ve been re-thinking it ever since.  I’d like to introduce you to Oddisee, the DMV renaissance man, who’s got a system that’s proven to work and gives us some real numbers to work with.  Diamond District’s debut album, In the Ruff, is more than just one of the best hip hop albums that’s come out this year.  It’s also a perfect case study of how to make everything that’s “wrong” with the industry today work for you.

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It’s 2009, and people are still repeating this question like idiot lemmings.  “Is Hip Hop Dead?” Considering Nas dropped that album in 2006, I’d have to say this is the single greatest marketing campaign in hip hop history.  Not only did it “go viral,” it’s still causing bar fights three years later.  This article is a look behind the curtains at Def Jam, and into the marketing mastermind of Nasir Jones. 

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I’m writing this because I have divergent opinions. Everyone is trying to hype up their websites, and for the most part, everyone is lying. (This is pretty much the same in every other industry, too.) Audible Hype is written for smart kids, nerds who have (or at least want) actual lives and abundant free time to be outside.

Social media can be fun. However, promoting music on social media is only “fun” if you are literally and legally retarded.  My list of tools reflects that opinion. 

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Krukid is dope. He’s a natural performer, and he writes powerful verses: check out his track Invisible Children, from AFRiCAN.  I’m psyched to drop this interview because Krukid has been hustling hard for a long time and he’s got a lot of experience to share.  This interview is the first of two parts: here, we’re talking about songwriting, staying organized and planning your next album. 

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Willie Green found his way to my headphones with his recent instrumental album ...Of Heroes and Villains, a Backwoodz Studioz release.  When I got in touch with him for an interview, I found out he was also an experienced professional, and he was working an a short documentary video about the making of his album.  Willie Green puts in work and here we’re talking organization, no-budget promotion, and how the market for instrumental hip hop is looking in 2009. 

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This is an expansion on the first article in the series, Year of the Glut—which painted a depressing picture and probably moved too fast.  Here, I’m staying strictly focused on numbers, trends and facts.  The discussion here is based around a recent NPD Group report claiming that iTunes represents a full 25% of the entire music business...obviously, that’s a claim I’m going to be questioning.  Can we find numbers we can trust in 2009? Dig in…

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The excellent blog The Smoking Section put up a rant blaming internet hip hop fans for the “failure” of the Slaughterhouse album, which “only” moved 18,000 units.  The conversation they sparked has been a fascinating look at all the factors that make the music biz such a complex and confusing place in 2009.  Rather than just co-signing or debunking, though, this article is an exploration of internet promotion, the importance of live shows, the changing face of hip hop, and the behind the scenes moves that can make or break an album.

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My apologies to Phillipdrummond—he did this interview quite awhile ago, and it’s taken me way too long to publish it. The topic is huge.  We’re discussing the roots of the Fresh Coast battle scene, and Phillipdrummond has been involved as an organizer, manager, promoter, producer, cameraman, archivist and web guy over the years. 

This is a cat who’s used to juggling 10,000 details as a way of life.  He’s going into making albums, herding emcees, putting on quality events, and building a global network.

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Protoman is dope. He’s also an independent hip hop, DIY hustle role model, and this interview pretty much kicks ass.  Working hard, unifying his local scene, and learning how to make Teh Internets work right and make money—that’s pretty much the checklist in 2009, right?  Check out his latest project and get ready to take notes—this is the Florida version of What Works.

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