It’s the middle of the week and we can’t help but notice Forbes just released the list of the country’s highest paid hip hop acts– and the top four are our favorite rappers! Drake, Dr. Dre, Diddy (aka Puff Daddy) and Jay-Z top the list for being “cash kings” and leaders in their field. Whether you listen to rap or not, each artist’s career provides a lesson all public relations professionals can learn. Keep reading to see what these hip hop moguls do that we can emulate (music videos not included).
1. Build A Brand
As a public relations professional, it’s not only important to build your client’s brand but you have to build yours too. One rapper, who also holds the #4 spot, has done a great job of capitalizing on his brand and secured a major opportunity last year. Dr. Dre made $620 million last year according to Forbes after his $3 billion deal with Apple. What Dr. Dre has done in the music industry, from his beginning with N.W.A. until now, has been to create a brand and keep building it. From producing rap’s greatest hits, to signing artists, creating a music label and branching his expertise into the finest of headphones, Dr. Dre gets it. Think about your niche market, whether its natural food, entertainment or tech, and how you can build your own personal brand within your industry.
2. Be Consistent
One of the most important lessons any PR professional will learn is to be consistent. From pitching, to communicating with clients and following up with reporters, consistency is the key to success. One Aubrey Graham aka Drake, who comes in at #3 on Forbes’ list, has been consistent from the minute he stepped on the rap scene. Drake played 50 dates on his last tour, grossing an average of nearly $1 milllion a night, landing deals with Sprite and Nike. Consistently delivering his sing-songy lyrics lead him to success. After establishing your brand just remember that people (clients too) are watching the moves you make. Remaining true to the best standards and practices in the industry will get you noticed.
3. Develop Partnerships
Developing key partnerships whether for yourself or your clients means you get more bang for your buck. Jay-Z showed the results of a successful partnership during his On The Run Tour with life partner Beyoncé. While we all can’t team up with our favorite artist and pitch like we’ve never pitched before, we can identify peers in our industry with whom we may want to work in the future. Don’t forget to think about partnerships when it comes to your clients. There are some key events, like Breast Cancer Awareness Month for example, when you can introduce clients for potential partnerships that can result in overall good. It turns out Jay-Z’s partnership landed him on the #2 post for Forbes, and got him beautiful baby Blue.
4. Get Creative
Perhaps one of the biggest factors that sets a PR professional apart from their peers is their sense of creativity. Diddy, who reigns supreme as #1 on Forbes’ list, has been keeping his creative juices flowing for the past two decades and counting. From record labels to reality shows and clothing lines to colognes, Diddy “can’t stop, won’t stop” with his knack for creativity and we suggest you don’t either. Brainstorm new ideas for clients and yes, think outside the box and color outside the lines because they will remember you for it. Some of the best PR campaigns were born from the most creative minds.
Do you have any other PR lessons to share? It’s a bonus if you learned it from a rapper! Let us know in the comments below!
