Mike Zombie. (Image via musictrainonline.com)
If you're a rapper or hip-hop artist who thinks all you can do to get noticed is throw your mixes on SoundCloud for free and hope for the best, keep reading. There are other opportunities – and more hopeful ones – out there for those willing to work to find them. Fortunately, you have access to the wisdom of those who made it before you so you can learn and access those opportunities more quickly.
Since starting his career at the young age of 14, rapper and record producer Mike Zombie has made massive moves. Now 23, he's already been named one of BET's "10 Young Producers on the Rise," produced songs for mainstream sensations like DJ Khaled, and dropped his debut album this past January. This October, he'll be performing at the A3C Hip Hop Festival, the massive Atlanta event that serves as a platform for artists, academics, and organizations within the industry to come together to talk about hip-hop's place in music, film, fashion, and culture as a whole.
In a #SonicbidsChat on August 12, we asked Mike Zombie questions on getting started in the industry, staying motivated, pitfalls to avoid, and much more. Check out the great advice he gave below.
What's your biggest tip for breaking into the hip-hop industry?
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat My Biggest Tip For Breaking In The Music Industry Would Have To Be Utilizing You're Connections To The Best Of
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat You're Ability And Getting Your Material Out For The World To Hear.
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat I Believe In The Rule Of Thirds When It Comes To Connections And That Is That The Person You Want To Get To Is
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat Always 3 People Away.
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
What are some tips for staying motivated when nothing seems to be working out?
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat When Things Aren't Working Out I Look Towards The The Things That Mean Most To Me. Like My Daughter, Family And
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat Friends. Also That Some Of The Greats Even Got A Late Start For Example Jay-Z. The Morivation Has To Come With
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat A Burning Desire, No Want Can Want It As Bad As You Want It For Yourself.
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
You worked from the bottom up – what did you learn along the way?
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat What I Learned Is That You Have To Be Fully Committed To This Music Life And That Also It Doesn't Stop. There's
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat Not A Ceiling Once You Reach A Goal And After That Comes Opportunities With That Goal.
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat And The Further You Go The Harder It Gets But A Lot More Rewarding So It's Worth It.
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
What do you think an artist needs to get selected to play festivals like A3C?
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat Well First, Like Any Other Job. You Need A Resume. You Need Accolades To Ensure You're A Good Fit. Also You Need
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat To Have A Good Show Record. Let's People Know You Can Put On A Good Show And When You Have People Have Wanted You
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat Back.
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
What are some things that could hurt a hip-hop artist's career?
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat I Think Associating Yourself With The Wrong People. Whether It Be People Who Do Bad Business Or People Who Are
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat Just Not Adding To You're Situations To Proceed. Also I Don't Think Giving You're Fans What They Want Is Also A
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat Way To Hurt Artists Career. And There's Ways To Do That Without Leaving Your Comfort Zone. And As An Artist Thats
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat Up To You To Find Out How.
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
How did you build connections in the music business?
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat To Be Honest. At First, On Twitter. I Didn't Have To Much Time When I Was In College To Do Any Real Life Networkin
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat But That Was The First Outlet. I Tell People All The Time The Internet Is Really A Big Ass Networking Event
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat Depending On How You Use It. I Used To Cypher Through People's Timelines, Figure Out Who They Were And Attempt To
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat Find A Way To Make Them Lend Their Ear. There's Definitely Other Ways But Here Was My Foundation.
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
How can artists improve their stage presence?
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat To Improve Your Stage Presence The #1 Thing Is You Have To Be In Shape. Recording In The Studio Isn't The Same As
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat Entertaining A Crowd While Performing Every Single Word And Syllable On Top Of Moving Around. #2 Is Preparation.
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
How did you find your team (publicists, managers, etc.)?
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat I Found My Team By Choosing The People That Have My Best Interest At Heart. People Who Know Me Best
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
@Sonicbids #SonicbidsChat And Also Getting People That Want To Work That See And Want The Bigger Picture As Much As I Do. So Looking Around
— Mike Zombie (@MikeZombie) August 12, 2015
If you want the opportunity to perform alongside Mike Zombie and other talented hip-hop artists, apply now for A3C! Submissions are totally free through August 31, 2015.
