Sphere of Hip Hop

If you’ve never read all the junk below, please do so before you proceed to send information and music in. I know… it’s a lot. You probably have questions and this page will help answer virtually all of them.

SUBMIT: News / tour dates / release dates / videos / song downloads
Contact us at the email listed below for submission information. We’ll provide some instructions on how to get us material in a format usable on the site. Include some links so we can check out your stuff. If we dig it, we’ll send you submission info.

Do NOT send MP3 files or any other unsolicited attachments to this email account. If you do, we’ll delete it without response.

sphereo [at] sphereofhiphop.com

Getting Covered on Sphere of Hip-Hop

We cover a wide variety of styles and presentations of hip-hop. Anything that is relevant to our audience will see some coverage. We’re admittedly a bit slower to cover new artists simply because we’re often unfamiliar and have no prior relationship with them. Major label, signed, unsigned, part time, full time, hobby level… everyone has a fair shot at coverage.If you’re already being covered on Sphere of Hip-Hop — keep submitting! If you’re not, review the information below to take advantage of the resource that is Sphere of Hip-Hop.

Please keep in mind that submission does not guarantee coverage. We’re selective in what we cover. Our visitors have an expectation of excellence. So do the editors of the site. If your first taste of something isn’t at least moderately positive, you’re not likely to try it again right? Music fans are the same. It’s pretty tough to not be slept on if you come out with a mediocre first effort. We don’t want that to happen for you. Please don’t take it personally if we choose not to cover your submission at this time.

A common question we receive is “How come such and so artist isn’t covered on your site?” Most often the answer is simple — we’re not receiving information or music to provide coverage features. Encourage your favorite artists and record labels to connect with us so we can support what they are doing! Because we receive so many submissions we are a bit slower in processing the updates and writing those reviews but it is improving rapidly.

Tips for artists/labels

Please take advantage and submit content for some of our most visited sections of the website. We post a wide array of News, Release Dates and Links. We also publish Album Reviews and Interviews. What about Videos? Check. Song leaks/MP3 downloads? Tour dates? Check. Few hip-hop sites post such a broad amount of content that Sphere of Hip-Hop does. Jump in the mix and submit!

If you’re not submitting, you’re missing out on reaching millions of hip-hop fans. We are always interest in hearing your coverage pitches. DO NOT submit anything with profanity! We don’t want it and will not cover it.

Tips for fans/visitors

You can submit information too! Have you stumbled on some news about one of your favorite artists? Drop us an email and let us know! Don’t be bashful, hit us up with the info so we can share it with everyone who enjoys Sphere of Hip-Hop. Use the Contact Us page to get the info to us.

How to submit and what information we’re looking for

News – What information do we look for? Artist name, album title, release date information, important news, press releases and so on. It doesn’t hurt to also include a link to an image (Jpeg or Gif – minimum sized 300×300 pixels) so we can feature that with the text. Anything you want people to read via our News section.If your submission reads like a commercial more than it is informational, we may edit it or decline it for coverage. Visitors want info.

Our News section is front + center on Sphere of Hip-Hop and continues to be the spot our visitors visit most often. It only takes a moment to submit news to Sphere of Hip-Hop. See the top of the page for submission information.

Release dates – Five bits of info are required…Street date, Artist name, Album title, Record label and a link to your album cover (300×300 Jpeg). Easy stuff. See the top of the page for submission information.

Album Reviews – We’ve published hundreds of album reviews since we opened up shop over 13 years ago. Why not submit your project? It’s easy to submit… simply send (1) copy of your retail product plus any paper information about you and your project. Sending a flashy folder with all kinds of stuff inside sure looks nice but isn’t required. For that matter, save some dough and just get us the goods. Fluff is… well… fluff. Be sure to submit early and anticipate some wait. We are all volunteer status with jobs, families and stuff like that. We receive sometimes as many as 25 releases in a week!

We have a growing team of review writers and we do our best to match your project up with a writer who is likely to know a bit about what you’re doing musically. We know that a club rap sounding record won’t get a fair shake from a writer who avoids that sort of thing.

Mail to:

Sphere of Hip-Hop
attn: Album reviews
3803 4th Place NW
Rochester, MN 55901

If you’re not sure about our submission process, hit up the Contact Us page and send an email. We’d be happy to answer your questions. Sometimes your release isn’t appropriate for our website and we can save you some time if you ask.

(CDrs are acceptable IF and only if all information is provided such as scan-able cover art, credits and track listing)

Interviews – We need a pretty compelling reason to conduct an interview and generally pick them outside of anyone pitching one to us. The most likely candidates for interviews are artists who have become familiar to our visitors. Don’t let that discourage you from suggesting one for our consideration… we’re all ears!

Videos – We’re looking for live performance footage and music videos.  We’ve served up millions of video views on Sphere of Hip-Hop. Traffic continues to grow. See the top of the page for submission information.

Song leaks/MP3 downloads – Got a song to leak? Want to promote a new single? Just want a shot at some new listeners who might become new fans? Contact us for submission details. Do NOT email us your tracks until you find out how to properly submit. They will be deleted and ignored if you do. Once you have the instructions, simply follow them any time you have a new track to share with our visitors. See the top of the page for submission information.

The MP3 download spot here at Sphere of Hip-Hop has been a cornerstone of our site for many years. Since we started offering (free and legal) song downloads, we have served over 64 million downloads. That’s a lot of great music in the hands of fans who want to check new material out.

We’ll also consider your submissions for our Daily Download feature and also our Podcast.

Submit. It’s easy – we promise!

Stuff you should consider

We are always open to hear creative pitches on why we should offer extended and/or priority coverage for your music.

We reserve the right to decline coverage to any release for any reason and without explanation. If your submission essentially reads as an advertisement and not something newsworthy, we’ll respectfully decline. Most of the time we will offer an explanation, if requested, but sometimes time constraints may not allow. Please do not take it personal – keep submitting all future info and material.

Make it easy for us to support you. Be professional, thorough and easy to work with.

Professional services available

Josh aka “plastic” is available to help you in nearly every area of preparing your music for release. Here are some services that he provides that can help you out.

Consultation
This is the place to start if you don’t know where to start when it comes to putting out your music. Let over a decade of experience and over 1 million records sold help you find the proper track. This service is available by appointment and is billed hourly.

Budget Planning
Let me help you map out your budget. How much do you have to spend? Where should you spend it? Where do you want to spend it? What is the best way to spend it? I’ll help step you through it over email. This service is available for a flat fee.

Marketing Planning
Draw on my experience of having released dozens of records over the last 10 years. I’ll teach you how to assemble and implement a detailed marketing plan for your release. We will cover many angles of marketing so you have a clear road map to follow in marketing your album.

Media Servicing
Don’t have connections with print and online media? We do! We will mail your finished album release to our database of media associates for their consideration. You provide the materials (we help you put together a professional packet of info) and we get it into the hands of the right people. This service is available for a flat fee + exact mailing costs.

Radio Servicing
Don’t have connections with traditional and online radio? We do! We will mail your finished album release or radio single to our database of radio associates (FM, AM, mixshow, Podcasts, online etc) for their consideration. You provide the materials (we help you put together a professional packet of info) and we get it into the hands of the right people. This service is available for a flat fee + exact mailing costs.

Press Kit Preparation
Have no clue when it comes to building a press kit? Let me help! I will teach you how to put together a professional looking press kit that will effectively communicate you and your music to taste makers. We will provide a list of components for you to compile and we will help you proof them. The result will be an excellent final product that you can be proud of sending to people. This service is available for a flat fee.

Promotional Strategies
Tips and tricks to effectively promote your music. Learn what to do and what not to do so you are able to find new levels of success. This service is available for a flat fee.

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Current/Former client list
Josh has worked along side many different record labels and recording artists over the last 12 years. Radio, Media, TV and online promotions are all included. He has been quoted in magazines like Forbes, Feed, HM, Soul Mag and many others. You even have heard him interviewed on National Public Radio.

Record Labels:
Beatmart Records, Cross Movement Records, Fla.vor Alliance, Fly Away Records, Gotee Records, Hip Hop Is Music, ILLECT Recordings, Illectronica, Krosswerdz, Syntax Records, Uprok Records, + many indie record labels

Artists:
3 The God Way, 4th Avenue Jones’, Ajax Starglider, Ambassador, BC, Beat Rabbi, BeConscious, Beyond Skillz, Big Rec, Billy Bo, BK & Associates, Bobby Bishop, Braille, Caramel Skillington, Carriers, Cas Metah, Change, Cookbook & Uno Mas, Craig Nice, Cross Movement, Da Truth, Deepspace 5, Dert, Details, DJ Allstar, DJ Aslan, DJ Because, DJ Form, DJ Maj, DJ Morphiziz, Dragon Fli Empire, Dynamic Twins, Elected Official, Elias, E-roc, Falling Tsar Project, Flame, Fla.vor Alliance, FLYNN, Freddie Bruno, Fresh Digress, Fros’T, Future Shock, Grits, illharmonics, Incorporated Elements, Insomniaddicts, J. Davis, James Daniels, Japhia Life, Joey the Jerk, John Reuben, Jurny Big, JustMe, k-Drama, Kaboose, KJ-52, Knowdaverbs, Knownauts, Kwestion, L.A. Symphony, Labklik, Lojique, LPG, Malachi Perez, Manafest, Man of War, Mark J, Mars ILL, Matti P, MaxOne, MC Till, MG the Visionary, Mistery, muzeONE, Name Basic, New Breed, Nickels, Ohmega Watts, Othello, PageOne & Because, Paul Wright, Peace 586, Pee Wee Callins, Pettidee, Phanatik, Phat Kats, Pigeon John, Playdough, The Procussions, Propaganda, Raphi, Rawsrvnt, Reconcile, RedCloud, Research, Rob Hodge, Rockstar, Runaway, Sackcloth Fashion, Scribbling Idiots, SD, Sean P, Sev Statik, ShadowFacts, Sharlok Poems, Sharp Skills, Sinners Prayer, Sintax the Terrific, Sivion, Solseekers, Soul P, Soul Plasma, Soup the Chemist, Stu Dent, Sundance, Theory Hazit, Tru-life, Tunnel Rats, Underground Rise, Underighter’s Lab, Urban D, Verbs, Winona Drive Productions, Yochannan, YSG-Timothy, Zane + many others.