Get yourself a publicist

If you’re connected with people who work for your favorite outlets and publications, that’s awesome. Not only are you plugged in, but your chances of getting coverage are automatically higher than the next person. Per contra, you might be next person, meaning you don’t have that access. It’s not the end of the world, though. If you have a little bit of money and don’t mind investing it into your craft, hire a publicist. They are usually pretty connected with your favorite blogs, and it is their job to get you placements. Getting a publicist isn’t the ultimate solution, but it definitely helps.

Stop the Twitter spam

If you’re looking for a way to get your music completely ignored, this is it. Nobody, and I do mean nobody, wants your Soundcloud links, accompanied by flame emojis and ALL CAPS, plastered in their mentions. It could be the best song ever made, but guess what: nobody will ever know, but you, because nine out of ten times, we’re just gonna scroll right past it.

Stop the email spam, too

Look. There is NO NEED to send anyone 2817373626 emails about the same damn song, video or mixtape. Trust me, when I say we saw it the first 2817373625 times. Or maybe we didn’t yet and we’re digging our way out of the millions of emails we receive daily. If we like it, we’ll get back to you and let you know. If we don’t, you might get ignored. “I tend to ignore people, because if I tell them I don’t like it, they start grilling me and asking me why”, said a fellow writer. Just relax. We see you. Don’t get your emails forwarded to the Spam folder, because you don’t have any chill.

Build relationships

Things can get really impersonal at times. And as an editor, I can say that we hate that. You want to increase the likelihood of getting your stuff out there? Connect with these people in more ways than just about music. Follow them on social media. Be as interactive as possible. If you all are from the same city and state, make an effort to meet these people. Little things like that go a long way and it’s much more helpful than always shoving links in someone’s face.

It’s all about the details

Publicists are usually pretty good about whipping up lengthy, detailed press releases regarding a song or project, but if you’re one of those who opted to save a couple of dollars, then that means you have to do it yourself. Don’t just send us a link, with a message that says “check this out. It’s dope. Can you post it?” Give us some background, man. What are we listening to? What is this inspired by? Is there more where this came from? Where is the cover art? These things are important, and might actually get you the look that you seek.

Quit namedropping!

This is for both artists and publicists. No one cares that you or your client opened up for someone who opened up for Drake. I get a ton of emails that drop more names than a verse from The Game. In fact, so many names get dropped that often forget who the submission was originally from. No lie. Namedropping has not and will never make us like a song. So just don’t. Keep the focus on you.

A submission ≠ an automatic post

It appears that this is a concept that many fail to grasp. Even if you hire the illest publicist, who wrote the most intricate press release of all-time, there is still a chance that your product won’t make it through the gates. Why? Because some of us only post things that we actually like. Ask yourself; do you like every song you hear? Do you feel compelled to tell the world about every song you hear? No, right? Same goes for writers, bloggers, etc. And this segways into my next, and final point…

Make better music!

Sometimes those submissions aren’t seeing the light of day, because they simply aren’t good. I get it. To you and your friends, it’s the best shit ever, but you have to think much bigger than that, if you want to achieve greater success. Take the time to really invest in your work. Make sure it’s mixed right. Make sure the album art is on point. Things like that are vital.

To conclude, I’ll just say that none of this shit is law. You are still free to do things your own way, but everything you just read is on the behalf of myself and other writers, bloggers and editors alike. Hopefully something in here is useful to you, going forward. Don’t get discouraged, either. Maybe you submitted something that people slept on. Accept it, and keep going. The next one could be the one that wakes everyone up. Lastly, don’t rely too heavily on blogs and online publications. They are helpful. They can get you a few new fans. But what they can’t do is be a substitute for the work you have to put in.

Sidebar: I thoroughly enjoyed the Cruel Summer album, that was just the only picture I could find.

The post Why Your Music Isn’t Getting Posted appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Over the years Chrisette Michele has made several memorable guest appearances alongside some of hip-hop’s biggest and brightest stars, lending her distinctive voice to songs like Jay-Z’s “Lost One,” Nas’ “Can’t Forget About You,” Ghostface Killah’s “Slow Down” and Rick Ross’ “Aston Martin Music,” to name a few. Three years have passed since the release of her last album, Let Freedom Reign and now she’s back with every intention of being Better. The 20 song album (deluxe edition) may seem a bit daunting and overwhelming, but a further examination reveals that four of the tracks are short interludes that keep the album moving and hold everything together. And actually listening to the album is even more rewarding.

The album opens with the declarative and upbeat “Be In Love,” which features Chrisette reminding herself that she’s capable of falling in love again despite the troubles that she’s had in the past. “A Couple Of Forevers,” the second track, is a mellow plea that borrows some elements from the classic O’Jays tune “Stairway To Heaven.”  The airy “Rich Hipster” and “Love Won’t Leave Me Out” precede the album’s first interlude, with the former featuring a verse from Wale and the latter insisting that there’s love out there for anyone everyone who is open to receiving it — even the most pessimistic, broken and bruised of individuals.

The album’s title track finds Chrisette Michele relinquishing her freedom to Cupid’s whims, which Chrisette is okay with as long she winds up being, you guessed it, Better. Surrendering herself to his will, Michele finds comfort in believing that she’s right where she needs to be even if she’s not at her best at the present moment. Her vocals really sell this song; her characteristic soulful rasp really elevates. On “Charades,” lush chords, echoing vocals and a strangely effective 2 Chainz verse accentuate the confessions of a guarded and cold woman who has been hurt and burned in the past. It’s unclear whether Chrisette is referring to herself or if she’s just the vessel for a moving story, but that’s the beauty of her delivery. A song doesn’t have to be about her for it to feel like it’s about her: her voice is just that evocative.

There are plenty of anthems out there that celebrate the multiple capabilities of the modern-day superwoman, but with “Supa,” Chrisette explores the other side of that coin, stating her desire to sometimes feel like a little girl and just be rocked to sleep in the most innocent of ways. It’s impossible to be on level ten at all times and Michele is willing to admit that she needs to be loved even when she doesn’t feel pretty or look her best. It’s a very tender confession. In one of Better’s interludes, Chrisette reveals that although she has these huge glass windows in her bedroom, she’s afraid of the dark and revels in being able to hold and be held by someone during the night. Sleeping alone troubles her, but as long as she can “Get Through The Night,” everything will be alright. It is easy to dismiss these somewhat sad confessions as a lack of maturity, but Chrisette’s point seems to be that it takes maturity to confess in the first place.

Overall, Better has something for just about everyone. The topics are relatable and longtime Chrisette Michele fans should find themselves quite satisfied. The multiple producers brought in to handle the project were quite successful at creating soundscapes that work best with what could be called “the trademark Chrisette Michele sound.”  It’s good music for the summertime and beyond. Give it a spin and you just might be Better afterward as well.

The post Album Review: Chrisette Michele — Better appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.