Start writing music. You'll need a song repertory if you want to publish a full-length record. In hip-hop, the beats are usually produced first, and lyrics are written second. You can mix your own beats or team up with an aspiring hip-hop producer who has a library of beats already.
Market your music and generate buzz. Open an account on MySpace or other platforms for artists where you can post music and information about yourself. Pass out fliers, business cards and other materials at local rap events. Use social networking sites to promote your music as well.
Record your music at home. With tself-publishing technology, you don't necessarily have to spend a fortune to record. At minimum, you need a quality microphone and music-mixing software. Record the vocals over the beat and fine-tune the song until it sounds good.
Burn your music onto CDs. Pass them out to friends and contacts in the music industry, send free copies to local radio stations, or try to sell them online or at local record stores.
Send your music to hip-hop record labels, who may be interested in signing you if they like what they hear. If you're good at generating buzz, record executives may already be following your burgeoning career and might reach out to you first. If they sign you, you'll be able to make an even more professional record using the resources of the record company.