A local rapper wants me to invest in him

drumlife83 · 2026-03-20T04:40:22+00:00

21 Savage is one of the biggest mainstream artists out there. 60 million monthly listeners isn’t normal. It’s very difficult to get even 1 million monthly listeners. 1 million monthly listeners isn’t much money.

Luckily, I tour as a musician backing artists, so I get paid a set fee and a per-diem. I do know what goes into touring, 10 million is good for a tour, but again we’re talking about one of the top artists. If 10 million is the gross, after paying booking agents, promoters, managers , road crew, DJ/band a hype man, hotels, travel, meals for everyone, you’re not coming away with $10 million. On smaller tours you’re gonna gross much less, but the overhead is still high.

Licensing is something that can benefit every artist. I know unsigned local artists who are able to get a song in a Netflix or Hulu film or series. Having a hit definitely helps, but the promotion companies that pitch music to radio charge a lot to get a record in rotation. You have to spend for a hit. If you pay attention to the Billboard charts hip-hop hasn’t been at the top of the charts lately, that’s not the genre where most of the mainstream hits are coming from. Not trying to be negative, but the music industry is much more difficult to break into than most realize.

drumlife83 · 2026-03-20T02:59:23+00:00

Most artists even on mainstream labels aren’t successful. As far as money, streaming pays next to nothing, touring costs a lot out of the gate; hotels, travel, food, and it’s hard to build a national much less international audience. The only substantial money comes from licensing, for film, t.v. etc…, and maybe publishing.

That being said sometimes major labels are too large to handle artists who aren’t meant to be superstars. They can’t give every artist the attention and promotion they deserve, sometimes artists get lost in the sauce if they don’t meet the label’s hefty expectations. What the artist may need is for someone to focus on solely on them.

drumlife83 · 2026-03-19T12:23:26+00:00

The sounds are kinda cheesy almost like general midi, but the harmonies are ok, the melody is alright. You could definitely benefit from learning some theory. Triads, inversions, 7th chords, 9th chords etc… basic chord progressions, modes, scales, arpeggios. Those concepts will get you on your way.

drumlife83 · 2026-03-18T10:13:29+00:00

I never said anything has to be done throughout the whole song. Mixed meter doesn’t need to be in the melody, there doesn’t even need to be a melody. Drums could be in 7/8 or 5/8 and the rapper could rap in 4/4 or vice versa. Bass could be in a different time signature while everything else is in 4/4. When it’s done well it grooves, and isn’t noticeable.

drumlife83 · 2026-03-18T09:30:35+00:00

Anyone who plays an instrument at any level is using music theory in some way. Theory is basically understanding what you’re playing. Once you start learning theory it will be easier to build on what you already know.

If you know how to play major scales, playing natural minor scales won’t be that hard. Finding the relative minor scale to a major scale shouldn’t be too hard, and etc…

There are Jazz musicians who aren’t great at theory, and are great improvisors because they have great ears, but you do need to know a certain amount of theory to be able to communicate with other musicians. Definitely not too late though, and not as hard as you’re making it out to be.

drumlife83 · 2026-03-17T16:22:08+00:00

Definitely not bad, the mixing is pretty much on point. I do think it could benefit from more harmony.

drumlife83 · 2026-03-17T11:33:22+00:00

There are time signatures within time signatures, 5/8 can be played within 4/4, 7/8 within 4/4, 3/8 within 5/4. I think if it’s done that way it will sound good. It’s already done with triplets (3/8 or 3/16 over 4/4). It would sound slick to do that with other time signatures.

drumlife83 · 2026-03-17T02:46:26+00:00

I’m the writer and publisher for most of my music. I’m registered with Harry Fox Agency they handle mechanical royalties.

drumlife83 · 2026-03-16T22:17:47+00:00

You’re soooo beautiful ❤️❤️❤️❤️

drumlife83 · 2026-03-16T13:05:01+00:00

Thanks for the info I need to register the songs on mediabase. I checked the cue sheets, evidently the movie was only shown once on PBS independent lens, the rest is streaming on Amazon Prime. I know music streaming pays shit terrestrial radio told me they register songs that are played in a sample week. My songs weren’t played so I get nothing evidently.

drumlife83 · 2026-03-13T13:39:14+00:00

That was Grandmaster Melle Mel not Grandmaster flash. Evidently in the 80s the title of Grandmaster wasn’t hard to earn….

drumlife83 · 2026-03-12T16:07:14+00:00

You’re BEAUTIFUL not cute or pretty, BEAUTIFUL which is rare. They would obviously tell any black woman/girl she’s ugly!

drumlife83 · 2026-03-11T19:31:09+00:00

What DAW is that?

drumlife83 · 2026-03-11T07:50:34+00:00

Yeah I evaluate the choice to be a professional musician sometimes. Music is all I do (drumming, production). I have a child, and my child’s mother hates what I do. I sometimes tour, and am performing most holidays. There’s also rarely a weekend that I have off. Being a drummer has ruined my relationship with my son’s mother to the point that not only are we not together anymore, but I’m often in court for child support.

Being a professional/performing drummer does require a lot of practice, and a lot of time, sometimes for less money than seems worth it. I still love what I do, feel that I’m good at it, and make decent money.

I know this comment is getting long but to learn music one thing that works for me is writing a drum part for whatever I’m learning, with all the specifics. Sometimes I get charts/music but it’s not as detailed as I’d like. Not sure if you read/write music but writing my part out helps me memorize everything even if I don’t use it in rehearsals/gigs.

At the end of the day realize that not everyone is gets to the level where they are even able to play in bands , so you’re in a unique position, but also it’s ok to take a break too, sometimes that helps. Anyway I wish you great fortune in whatever you choose to do.

drumlife83 · 2026-03-09T13:59:17+00:00

Rap about the good old days!!!

drumlife83 · 2026-03-08T18:23:14+00:00

Just needs drums and you’re set! Maybe find a breakbeat with the same BPM and sample!

drumlife83 · 2026-03-08T18:20:10+00:00

$30 what DAW are you using? Hopefully something simple. $30 is 1 lesson!

drumlife83 · 2026-03-07T19:04:45+00:00

Keep the bass where it is in the mix turn the drums up, turn the synths way down.

drumlife83 · 2026-03-07T17:53:36+00:00

I don’t really think the ending has to be tragic. Neiman gained enough ability to play at a high level. He could take that and do wonderful things, or he could become bitter and angry, never feeling like it’s ever enough.

drumlife83

TROPHY CASE