With all the debates swirling around the independent scene in the Big Apple, I caught up with one of the more active participants Infamous Ty. Check it out as we touch on topics such as trolling, marketing, and showcases in NYC.

Jason Bourne: As an up and coming MC how have you found the current state of the social media age we live in to be beneficial ? 

Infamous Ty: Yes I find social media to be beneficial because it is a major outlet that artist can use to connect the dots with producers to purchase beats, as well as other opportunities like showcases and connections with promoters. We also are able to take advantage of fan page reposting, releasing snippets of songs and music videos.

Jason Bourne: Are there are any challenges with remaining authentic in your approach to promoting your brand and your music online ?

Infamous Ty: Yes there are challenges because NOT everyone promises what they deliver. I’ve learned that not everything that glitters is gold. Someone can offer a service for whatever x amount of price that they put on it and it can look and sound good to the point where a hungry aspiring artist will spend their hard earned money. There’s so many things that we are forced to try at times trying to keep up with the demands out here or examples of what an artist that is moving will do.

Jason Bourne: Trolling is one of the biggest trends now a days – how do you feel about the term and tactic ?

Infamous Ty: Trolling is definitely in.  The tactic has proven to be effective when it comes to marketing, and promotional things. The amount of hype that it can build has helped some people become a star.

Jason Bourne: There is a criticism of independent artists or underground if you will, that you guys get tricked into becoming more of commentators than performers in terms of feeling they need to vent on your TLs more than in your music; what’s your opinion on that ? 

Infamous Ty: I agree I feel that if an unsigned artist can put a lot of energy into the speaking on current events like the Super Bowl, NBA finals and the works of major artists then they can do the same thing when it comes to their music. I feel like too many artists crying for support or instead of strategizing their push, they tag 99+ people in there post saying “check out my music. ”

Jason Bourne: I for one think that NYC Hip Hop has made a strong push in 2018; how do u think some of that can trickle down and help the rising artists in the city ?

Infamous Ty: I listen to the fans by asking what kind of music they can relate to. I study who they say are their favorite artist. I don’t block out the critics, but I do put more interest into the fans. It’s all about supply and demand.

Jason Bourne: What is your thoughts on the term “influencer”?

Infamous TY: In my opinion, that term is overused. A lot of people say that they’re an influencer but the question is who did they influence? I think its the same with a lot of other titles that people are throwing out there like saying everyone a manager, but they don’t know the true definition of being a manager. They just use that name to either make themselves look good or just to have an artist that really don’t need them to have them underneath there belt.

Jason Bourne: Do you feel that internet radio personalities are doing their job in NYC ? What do you see that needs to change ?

Infamous Ty: Yes and no. Reason being they are playing the artist music but I feel they need to get more in-depth with the artist instead of giving them a quick 2 min spin on the radio and a shoutout….what need to change is to be in more in-depth like getting to know more about the artist and ask questions about their career, next project, why they name that project and future goals.

Jason Bourne: What is marketing to you ?

Infamous Ty: Marketing to me is taking a product, packaging it the right way and branding it. You have to promote to let consumers know that I have a product that’s coming soon.  I always think about Wendy’s commercials or Nike and the selling points.

Jason Bourne: Are gimmicks necessary to be noticed in today’s Hip Hop ? 

Infamous Ty: Yes and no yes because it helps the artists build hype for next project or even increase sales of tickets for their next show. The thing that throws me off is that the term gimmick is like another way of being fake; smoke and mirrors are what mainstream artists can influence the unsigned artists  to do. Personally I am not comfortable with it but I do not judge people that find it cool.