We all need help in achieving our goals, and even more so as rappers. The road to a successful career is riddled with challenges, and we all want the journey to a successful and fulfilling rap career to be as easy as possible. This is where a mentor can help.
Who is a mentor
A mentor is someone, perhaps a rapper, a music executive, or anyone really that has more experience and knowledge in the rap industry and can offer you advice, feedback, support, and connections.
Having a mentor can help you improve your skills, avoid common mistakes, expand your network, and achieve your goals faster. In this article, we will discuss the role of mentors in developing your rap career, how to find and choose a suitable mentor, and how to make the most of your mentoring relationship.
What can Mentors do for you?
Mentors can help you with different aspects of your rap career, such as writing, recording, performing, marketing, branding, etc. They can teach you the tricks of the trade, share their insights and experiences, and give you honest and constructive criticism. They can also introduce you to other people in the industry, such as producers, managers, labels, media, etc., and help you build your reputation and fan base.
Some of history’s most successful rap artists had mentors who helped them reach their potential. For example, Eminem was mentored by Dr. Dre, who signed him to his label, produced his albums, and featured him in his songs. Dr. Dre also mentored Kendrick Lamar, who credits him for teaching him how to make timeless music and handle fame and pressure. Drake was mentored by Lil Wayne, who gave him his first big break, collaborated with him on several hits, and inspired him to be versatile and creative.
Having a mentor can make a huge difference in your rap career. A mentor can challenge, inspire, and motivate you to grow as an artist. They can help you overcome obstacles, learn from failures, and celebrate successes. They can also keep you grounded, humble, and focused on your vision.
How to find and choose a suitable mentor
Finding a mentor in the rap industry can be challenging but not impossible. Here are some tips on how to find potential mentors:
- Attend events where rap artists gather or perform, such as concerts, festivals, workshops, conferences, etc. Network with other artists and industry professionals and try to make a good impression.
- Join online communities where rap artists interact or showcase their work, such as forums, blogs, podcasts, social media platforms, etc. Follow and engage with artists you admire and respect and try to build rapport with them.
- Reach out to artists you admire or want to learn from directly via email or social media. Be polite and professional, and explain why you want them to be your mentor. Show them some of your work and ask for their feedback or advice.
What to consider when choosing a mentor
Choosing a suitable mentor for your rap career can be tricky but not impossible. Here are some criteria on how to choose a suitable mentor:
- Style: Choose a mentor who has a similar or compatible style to yours or can help you develop your style. Don’t choose a mentor who tries to change you or make you sound like them. It could be bad for your brand.
- Experience: You will get more from a mentor with enough experience and knowledge in the rap industry who can offer you valuable insights and guidance.
- Reputation: A mentor with a good reputation in the rap industry and who is respected by their peers and fans will rub off on you the right way (you will meet good people). You don’t want a mentor who is involved in scandals or controversies or has a bad image, as you will attract the wrong attention or, even worse, get blacklisted before your career kicks off.
- Availability: Choose a mentor who has enough time and willingness to mentor you and who can communicate with you regularly.
- Compatibility: Learn under a mentor whom you ar emost comfortable with. You don’t want a mentor who clashes with you or makes you uncomfortable or intimidated.
Making the most of your mentoring relationship
Once you have found and chosen a suitable mentor for your rap career, you need to establish and maintain a good mentoring relationship with them. Here are some advice on how to do that:
- Set clear expectations: Discuss with your mentor what you expect from them and what they expect from you regarding goals, roles, responsibilities, frequency, duration, format, etc. of the mentoring sessions. Agree on the ground rules and boundaries of the relationship and stick to them.
- Communicate regularly: Keep in touch with your mentor and update them on your progress, challenges, achievements, etc. Be responsive and respectful and don’t ghost them or spam them. Use the communication channels and methods that work best for both of you.
- Respect boundaries: Respect your mentor’s time, space, privacy, and preferences and don’t overstep or abuse them. Don’t ask for too much or too little from your mentor; don’t take them for granted or exploit them. Don’t cross the line between professional and personal relationships unless mutually agreed upon.
- Give and receive feedback: Give your mentor honest and constructive feedback on their mentoring style and effectiveness and how they can improve it. Receive your mentor’s feedback on your rap skills and performance and how you can improve them. Be open-minded and receptive, and don’t get defensive or offended.
- Learn from your mentor effectively: Ask your mentor questions that are relevant, specific, meaningful, and show your curiosity and interest. Listen to your mentor actively and attentively and try to understand their points and perspectives. Take notes of your mentor’s advice and tips and apply them to your rap career. Don’t be afraid to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them.
More tips on relating with your mentor
You must also show appreciation and gratitude to your mentor for their time and guidance. Here are some examples of how to do that:
- Thank them for their time and guidance verbally or in writing after each mentoring session or periodically.
- Acknowledge their influence on your work publicly or privately by giving them credit or shout-outs when appropriate.
- Share your achievements and successes with them and tell them how they helped you reach them.
- Give them feedback on their work or offer them help or support if needed.
- Send them a gift or a card on special occasions or randomly to show your appreciation.
Having a mentor is very beneficial for your rap career
A mentor can help you improve your skills, avoid common mistakes, expand your network, and achieve your goals faster. To find a suitable mentor, you need to look for someone who has a similar or compatible style, enough experience and knowledge, a good reputation, enough availability, and a similar or compatible personality to yours. To make the most of your mentoring relationship, you must set clear expectations, communicate regularly, respect boundaries, give and receive feedback, learn from your mentor effectively, and show appreciation and gratitude to your mentor.
Also learn that sometimes, a mentor chooses you and you do not choose a mentor. You can expand your reach and attract a high-level person as a mentor by promoting your artistry on social media. Click here to see how
