It’s the question all hip-hop artists ask themselves when they’re breaking into the rap game – should I stay independent or sign to a major label?

Just like any other profession, being a hip-hop artist gives you the opportunity to take one of two paths. While in some industries you’ll have more than two choices, in music you get to pick from one or the other.

Do you want to go independent and do it all on your own? Or do you want to sign up under a record label?

Once your music starts to become popular and turn heads, you’ll find that music companies and records labels will start getting in touch to express their admiration for what you do. They’ll start dropping little feelers to see how you feel about maybe signing up with them, and if you keep performing well they’ll eventually make you an offer.

So, what route should you choose? Do you want to emulate Jay-Z’s corporate hustle or Nipsey Hussle’s #FuckTheMiddleMan and #Proud2Pay campaigns?

What provides a hip hop artist with the best chances of being a success? Typically, it comes down to the individual. Sometimes, though, there is a little bit more to it than just “where would you like to go?”

Pros and cons of signing with a major label

As you can imagine, signing up for a record label has many different benefits – but it also brings significant drawbacks that you have to take into account. When looking at the full situation form an artist’s point of view, jumping into bed with a record label too early can be quite dangerous.

The benefit of signing with a record label is fairly obvious – it’s like being employed. Much like a tradesman, when working with a record label firm you now have a set lifestyle that you will be following.

You’ll be expected to set an example for other artists and help to promote the “brand” as a whole. This can become quite tedious and difficult for even the most patient of hip-hop artists, and usually will at one stage involve a “chat” in which your style will be moulded to fit the brand style more.

This is something that many artists simply cannot deal with – why would you let someone else dictate how you actually sound? This is the key sticking point for many rap artists, as it can ruin their ability and their chance to express themselves as they originally intended.

All you need to do with a record label, though, is writing and performing. They’ll do all the promotions and deal with the bookings, the recordings, the signing sessions – everything. If you are good at putting on the face of a PR man then this is a good route to go, as you’ll be very much hands off in terms of your future.

So long as you give your fans something to cheer about and keep producing records that make profits, a music record label will buy into you for quite some time.

They’ll give you access to better tools than you could ever get on your own, as well. They’ll make it so much easier to start putting things in place and making a genuinely considered difference to your musical capacity. Photo shoots, interviews, recording…this is all taken care of and paid for by the record company.

However, as we all know, nothing is that good. You don’t just get handed wads of cash for doing less work than you would – otherwise anyone would have a record deal!

In return for basically managing your life and trying their best to turn you into a global sensation, they’ll take a massive cut of your profits. And this isn’t massive by normal standards –it can be nearly everything.

Once you top your overall cost to the record label that you are signed with, then you’ll start making royalties on the music. This means that you won’t make a dime if they invest, for example, $100,000 in you. Until you make that $100,000 back you won’t make a dime. It’s like a loan in exchange for your success, effectively – not so great.

Pros and cons for staying as an independent artist

However, staying as an independent artist leaves you in a totally different spot. The main reason that many hip hop artists choose to stay independent is because of the fact they get all of the money made. Additionally, being able to actually choose what you sound like is very important as well – nobody likes to be the imposter that writes powder puff lyrics!

If you feel genuinely close to your music and your style as an individual, being indy is probably the best choice for you. You won’t have some big corporation holding you by the legs in the air, shaking you for every last penny that drops out of your pockets.

You make all the revenue, you get all the sales, and you decide who and when you will be doing shows, recording or carrying out interviews. You’ll also get all of the bonus income that comes from this kind of lifestyle – you keep everything that you earn.

However, you do need to do everything as well. You need to distribute the music, sign contracts, manage your taxes, organize events and hire in others to help your music sound better. You’ll be paying out every penny in the same that you earn every dime – it’s a two-edged sword, effectively. You get all the acclaim and all the power, but you also foot the entire bill.

Remember – all of the top independent rappers in the game right now had to struggle, work hard, grind constantly and put up their own money to get to where they are today.

So, what do you think sounds like the more appealing way of living your life? Would you rather be the guy on the side? Or would you rather be the face that is in charge of absolutely everything?

The choice that make obviously comes down to your own ideas and interpretations, but if you believe that you need the help and can make up the financial gaps in a record label you should consider that.

If, on the other hand, you feel more comfortable in dealing with everything yourself and having the entire risk – and reward – hen staying independent might be the choice for you. They both have pros and cons, and it really does come down to your own ambition, talent and personality.

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