Cultivate your music and image. When it comes to winning over the executives at high-powered record labels, you need to have an edge over your competition. This means finely crafting your rap sound and also making sure that you have a marketable and clear image. Not only should your sound and image correspond to what is presently selling, it also needs to be different in its own special way. Identify what makes you unique as a rapper and work on trying to make that clear in your presentation.
Establish an online presence. The Internet is key in getting a rapping contract. Be sure to have a page on every crucial social networking site, from Facebook and Twitter to MySpace. Upload MP3s of your songs to these pages, along with a detailed biography of yourself, photographs and dates for upcoming gigs. Make your music available on digital music stores such as iTunes, Amazon MP3 and Rhapsody. The more music you sell, the easier it will be for you to get the attention of record labels. Apart from the Internet, press a CD with three or four or your best songs and recruit someone to take pictures of you posing as an artist. If someone contacts you, you need to have a press kit on hand to send.
Play shows regularly to attain a buzz and reputation. Book gigs and play clubs in your area. Contact nightclubs in your region and find out if you can open for bigger acts that will be coming by. If you get a show booked, promote it by telling all your friends about it, creating and passing out fliers, sending out bulletins through social networking sites and doing mailing list blasts. A&R scouts from record labels frequently attend shows to scout out the newest talent in music, and you can't get noticed that way unless you're onstage trying to make it happen.
Contact record labels. Seek out A&R executives from record labels that interest you. Look for companies that have a heavy hip hop and rap presence and find out names of people that have the power to sign new talent. The Internet is a suitable way to do this. Another way to do this is by purchasing online downloads that indicate the names and contact details for relevant forces in music. These indexes update annually. Once you get an A&R scout's name and contact information, try to email his assistant and ask where you can send either a link to your Web page (with your MP3 uploads) or a press kit with photographs, a CD and biography. Making this connection is key to starting a relationship with an A&R executive that can get you signed.