Artists and Social Media

ALLHIPHOP's own Jigsaw drops very truthfully editorial on the interaction of artists through the maze of social media sites. If you're in the game you'd do well to read this and pass it on to your "aspiring" friends.

By Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur

Over the years, I have become quite an expert in social media. I've had to.


Before I continue with my thesis on social media and the detrimental possibilities for artists, let me explain exactly what this trend is.


Social media are various tools that allow people to share, trade, interact using technology typically rooted in the internet. Basically, you communicate with people using something other than traditional forms such as personal letters or telephones. These social interactions are typically very open for others to see and even allow others to join in the conversation. One friend maintains that social media is a “communication mindset,” apart from the equipment used.


While, I have yet to be christened with any sort of degree in social media, I have been on the cutting edge of just about every emerging social event. Twitter? Twitter.com/chuckcreekmur! Myspace? Myspace.com/jigsawtheone! Facebook? Yes! What else? Yes, that one too! Furthermore, I have talked oh-so-eloquently on several panels regarding the topic and seen AllHipHop.com’s own Ill Community act as a de facto social media destination since its inception many, many moons ago.


Allow me to finally arrive to my point.


New Flash: if you are an artist – new or old – you are probably about to ruin your career if you are investing too much time and energy into social networks like Facebook, Twitter and others.


Let me clarify.


Most of you have no idea how to make social media outlets work for you.


Let me clarify further.


Most artists, rappers in particularly, get on something like Twitter at the urging of somebody that heard from somebody else that Twitter was something that everybody should be on. Twitter is “hot.”


**Full Editorial Here**