What a crazy year so far for Hip Hop. If you had told me on January 1st that we would see Donda 2 on streaming with Ye’s wild antics, Kush and OJ 2, the follow up to Wiz Khalifa’s legendary mixtape would be released, and that LiAngelo Ball would have one of the most played songs of the year, I would call BS immediately.

But that is what happened, and for that, I thank this crazy community for keeping me on my toes. As we hit the transition into summer throughout May, let’s try to keep the headlines and focus on having fun and getting through the financial times, instead of Ye’s cousin.

Who said that “real” rap is dead? Another month has come and gone, and another great selection of music from a wide range of underground rappers is here. The collective Assembly Sounds released the second installment of their titular mixtape series, Vol. 2: REDACTED. Showcasing a wide array of artists and producers, there is sure to be a song for true Hip Hop heads in there. Another new gem I recently listened to was LE$’s Water under the bridge. Showcasing his blend of New Orleans and Houston influences, LE$ captures what it means to be a storyteller in a genre that has seen a civil war between catching a vibe and saying something that has deeper meaning. The Goonees showcase their raw energy and talent with the debut mixtape Uninspired. And of course last but not least we have another addition to the legendary Gangsta Grillz run which sees DJ Drama again connecting with rising West Coast artist G Perico on his feature heavy album LA Gangsta for some fun LA bounce to kick off the summer right.

***ATTENTION!*** If you or anyone you know has a new mixtape or album coming out, please reply to this email and let us know! We would love to check it out and may even feature it in the next edition of Mic Check Monthly! For FREE!

Share your music story with the world. Tell us where you’re from, what you do, and why you’re the greatest to ever do it.

Every artist and producer starts from somewhere. Take this time to reflect on your favorite artists but more importantly, the ones that you draw the most inspiration from in your music. Did Jay-Z give you the blueprint, was Alchemist the legend that inspired you to buy your first MIDI, or did Kid Cudi get you through a tough time and now you want to hum like your life depended on it?! We want to know!

Ok perfect, we know who you are, you’ve told us that you rap, and we understand it’s because of the first time you heard Tha Carter III. Now what makes you different than everyone else? Why should I press play on your album instead of the new Westside Gunn project that we all know is coming, because that man never stops? This is your time to stamp your imprint.

This one isn’t as serious. My belief is and always has been that music connects us all. It’s hard to find a better way than chopping it up about what music you’ve enjoyed the most recently. Will others agree, or will they think you’re crazy?! Either way, it sparks conversation and builds a bond.

Let’s continue following the story of you. We know who you are, your past and current musical endeavors, now what about what’s coming next? Give the people what they want and drop an exclusive that your magnum opus is coming out in 2 months!

And it’s all good if new music isn’t coming any time soon! Every artist has their own process and if you have any other creative projects or truly anything you want the world to know about, here is your spot to highlight that.

IF YOU WANT TO BE FEATURED IN THIS NEWSLETTER, THEN SAY SOMETHING. I’m calling all of you out right now. You want the world to listen to your music. It is special to you. You spent a ton of time creating something that never existed before.

Cool, so have thousands of others.

HERE IS YOUR CALLING TO STAND OUT AND SHARE IT!!!!!! If you are a beginning and growing artist people will not stumble across your music by accident. You need to promote and share it through any and all means necessary. Yes I agree, promotion and marketing suck. But you know who has thousands to millions of people listening to their music, those that promoted and marketed it to a point where people heard it and loved it enough to keep coming back for more. Here is an opportunity. Take it.

If you or anyone you know would like to be featured in this monthly newsletter, PLEASE REPLY asking to be considered for this spotlight! We at Mic Check would love to connect with you!

Managing expectations is one of the most critical elements in the career of any rapper or producer. In an industry fueled by hype, ego, and social media distortion, it’s easy for artists to lose touch with realistic benchmarks for success. Clear expectation management can allow for you to focus on tangible growth such as building a loyal fanbase, developing consistent content, and improving performance rather than chasing viral moments or instant fame. Expectations set the mental and emotional framework for longevity in a business where overnight success is the exception, not the rule.

By setting expectations you set the foundation to make smarter strategic decisions. If you don’t yet understand that building a career takes several years of work, you are much more likely to burn bridges out of impatience or chase gimmicks that don’t align with your long-term brand. Producers, you too can benefit from realistic timelines and relationship-building expectations. Knowing that placements often come from years of consistent collaboration, not random luck is key to building a catalog that showcases your talent for other artists to find. Once you are at the point of having a team, managing expectations is pivotal in keeping everyone aligned. Label meetings, tour planning, marketing budgets, everything becomes infinitely easier if and when you as the artist have a grounded understanding of what’s possible now versus what’s possible five years from now.

To implement this mindset, you must treat your career like a business, after all this is the music business. That means creating short, mid, and long term goals with actual items you want to measure for what you define as success. For a rapper, that could include reaching specific streaming numbers, selling out a 200 person venue within X amount of time, or releasing 12 quality singles a year. For a producer, it might mean building a catalog, earning consistent sync revenue, or securing placements with artists at ascending levels. Surrounding yourself with mentors, not yes men, is crucial. At the end of the day, expectation management doesn’t kill ambition and creative enjoyment, it preserves it by channeling it into sustainable, strategic action!

Thank you for checking out our latest edition of Mic Check Monthly! If you have any questions or would like to be featured in the next edition, feel free to reply to this email and I will personally respond as soon as it comes through! Thank you!

— JTA