In 2006 a London-based team founded a digital-media production house called GlobalFaction. The intention was to erect a platform — a soapbox — in a corner of the Internet on which conscious lyricists and artists could take a stand against today’s social and political climate. With GlobalFaction as their pedestal and the World Wide Web as their loudspeakers many UK rappers and poets have been doing just that, and thus their independent declarations of dissent have been forged into a revolutionary movement; a Speaker’s Corner for the Hip-Hop community in the 21st century.

Music videos make up a large majority of GlobalFaction’s output, and have helped publicise the scene’s next big things; such as Logic, Kyza and Skriblah Dan Gogh, as well as some of their higher-profile associates like Lowkey, Akala and Klashnekoff.

Since the rise of the music video in the 1980s, the format has been largely subservient to its music, adding little meaning and simply supplying visuals to create a digestible format suitable for television. What makes GlobalFaction’s music videos so special is how they add whole new depths to the original track’s meanings, or extend the meaning’s parameters.

For example; in the video for Lowkey and Shadia Mansour’s track Too Much, Lowkey raps about the emptiness of monetary wealth, compared to true human values; “money can buy power but it can’t buy respect… money can’t buy you love, but it can buy sex”. GlobalFaction shot the video in Cuba — a context the lyrics themselves make no explicit reference to – and during the intro and outro textual information about the embargo imposed on Cuba by the US (which restricts trade between the two nations) is added. Thus GlobalFaction reinterpret Lowkey’s concept — of monetary wealth vs. true wealth — within a Cuban context, and thus speak volumes about the country’s spirit and integrity in the face of oppression.

In another of Lowkey’s videos entitled Hand On Your Gun, GlobalFaction take a different approach and supplements the lyrical themes with even deeper levels of detail. The lyrics take aim at the arms industry, and the video adds further textual information telling us that “Barclays (…) is amongst the top 10 largest investors in US arms companies”, and “HSBC (…) has loaned £27 billion to the industry”, while “Lloyds TSB (…) serves as principle banker to BAE systems” (one of the world’s largest military contractors). The video thus becomes an educational document and, once having reached the masses, itself becomes a devastating weapon in the hands of those making a stand against the West’s invasion of the Middle East.

GlobalFaction also realise that dissent without a supporting community is powerless, and are therefore associated with live events such as the Speaker’s Corner night at the Brixton Jamm in South-East London, and also brings artists together to collaborate on their Youtube show called Beats, Rhymes and Revolution.

This production house is potentially a very powerful force; an online – and sometimes physical – community of revolutionary thinkers with something to say and the talent to say it. They are bringing together the UK Hip-Hop scene’s individual voices of political and social dissent, in a grand step forward in the movement for a truly global faction.

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So you’ve been jamming, slowly developing as a unit. You start to develop those small snippets of riffs, lyrics, bass lines or beats into fully-fledged, rich, textured songs. Then you try to put them together into an organic and flowing order into a thing called a set. You’re a proper band and you’re ready to gig but what now?

You need fans and you need to be taken seriously by the industry. Here’s ten tips that can help you get that kick start you need to put you one step ahead of the competition.

1. Although everyone likes to think it’s just about the music, it frankly isn’t. Image is as important as it ever was, if not more than ever before. Always make sure the way you are presented, online and offline, is professional and you display a cohesive image across the various mediums.

2. Make your fans feel part of something. Encourage conversations between themselves and to you. Blogs are a great way to talk to your fans but allow them to respond and take criticism onboard. You might not like what you hear at first, but it’ll help you develop a thick skin and boy do you need one in this industry.

3. A gig is not just you playing your set. It’s a performance. Put some effort into making it an event for the audience.

4. You may think it’s selling out, but think of as many ways to develop revenue for your band. Think merchandise and more. The more money you make, the more extra cash you have to spend on recording sessions, a van and the less you have to delve into your own pockets.

5. Time is your biggest asset. Promote each and every gig hard. How many members are in your band? Share the load equally between you.

6. If you give your promo pack to an industry professional, make sure it’s something that will grab their attention. They want to know that you’re as professional and dedicated about your band as they are about their label. Don’t just give them a scribbled CD–R. Give them something special.

7. Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to your “friends”. Make your contacts on social media potential fans and relevant industry professionals. You can have 10,000 friends but if they are all country music bands in Tennessee and you’re an indie band from Yorkshire then you’re just wasting your time by adding them.

8. Remind your friends of every gig you play via text or email. They may have seen you 100 times before but they’ve watched you so many times for a reason. The more people you have at gigs the more you will impress the venue and promoters.

9. Get your gigs listed in as many online and physical formats as possible. Printed publications usually need to be notified about your gigs weeks in advance.

10. Don’t use gimmicks for the sake of it. They can soon become boring unless they add something genuine to your performance and doesn’t feel forced.

Every band is different. Every band has a different dynamic, musically and personally. Play around with these tips. See what works and what doesn’t for you and then keep improving on what you find effective.

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