Rap Hustle - Hustling Hip Hop

A Look At Hustling In The Rap Game...

Ok put your thinking doo rags on and look around. What do you see?

You don't have to be a keen observer to spot a rap hustle...50 Cent pushing bottled water, Mos Def advertising Hummers, or [insert preferred rappers name here] plugging his/her new clothing line or record label.

But not every rap hustle is incoherent, sleazy, or overdone. In fact, not every rap hustle even involves famous hip hop figures. As a matter of fact a lot of hip hop hustling is 100% legal!...and if you're getting yours legally, no matter how sleazy, I commend you. That's capitalism right there, shoot that's the American Dream! And if you're not in America...I welcome you to make money here anyway (with the help of this new age of technology and globalization). God knows America makes enough money off of the rest of the world's sweat.

But back to husling hip-hop. As far as hustling in the rap game, you'd be hard pressed to find somebody NOT doing it. You have your bootleggers hustling the the new Kanye West album before the release-date. You have the hip hop honeys trying to build a portfolio through hip hop video gigs. You have big name movie directors repackaging a stereotype of the culture and mass marketing it under the guise of film. You have radio personalities admittedly "raping" hip hop...all for the bottom line = money.
But before you start to hate, wait...you too can get in on this!

Now, in some cases the culture itself is being pimped...in others its those who subscribe to the cultures norms and values who get the short end. However, this section is NOT about the "rights or wrongs" of hustling hip-hop. In fact, I encourage hustling.

What this section is here for is to make you aware of all the ways the world hustles rap nowadays, so that you may better understand how you (and your rap hustle) must fit in to the big picture.

In reading this it may seem to some of you that it is easier to push a product or service that perpetuates the ideas of sexism, ignorance, and materialism present in hip-hop today, after all...that is what sells. But it does go deeper than that. Simply put, (and this applies to any hustle) you need to focus on a need that some group of people have that is not being satisfied, then do your best to satisfy it - honestly (no rip-offs). But as with solving any problem, there are multiple ways to satisfy a "need" or "demand" as well. Some work, some don't...read on to see how many people around the world are successfully hustling rap, hustling hip hop, hustling the music industry, etc. and just making money hand over fist.

Remember, the game is to be sold!

For all of you out there trying to further a career in hip-hop, this section is a must read.

PS - You may also want to consider this option if you're interested in joining the ranks of other successful hip-hop hustlers.

TSOHH Exclusive Articles on Hustling Hip Hop and The Music Industry
If you are interstested in helping to write articles for TSOHH please email Openings@TheStateofHipHop.com
1) "Rap for the bitches, do not rap for the niggas..." - As you have likely already noticed, TSOHH does not shy away from controversial topics, hence the title of this artcle. In fact, let me begin by saying that this quote came from the late great Tupac...

2) The Star and Bucwild Empire: A Recipe for Hustling Hip-Hop - A must read article for anyone interested in learning about hustling the media industry. Magazines, Radio, TV, Star has done it all, then one day he went too far...

3) Tupac Shakur: Charisma as a Tool - A thorough analysis of Tupac Shakur and his legacy. Unfortunately much of today's youth has forgotten the significance of this cultural icon. This article will attempt to revive the importance of this uncomparable MC.

4) Crossing Over to The Mainstream - Whether it be the Shop Boys partying like rock stars, or Ludacris and R. Kelly jumping on the bandwagon, we'll attempt to dissect the essence of going "Mainstream" and how you too can achieve this if you so wish.

5) Hustling as a Ghostwriter - Do ghostwriters and songwriters in general really get that much money?...Yes. This article will describe how so many rappers/song writers are not cashing in on their potential and what they can do about it.

6) Hustling in the Drug Game - We had to include this. Like it or not drugs are a big part of the hip-hop community. Before anyone tries to be the next Scarface, this article will break down the real paths to making money in this shady industry. You decide if it's worth it.

7) Hustling From a PC: How to Create a Successful Website - This article will break down in simple terms the basic elements to making money online through a website. It will also provide helpful advice on how to create your website and get content even if you don't know a thing about computers.