Trapital
Hip-hop business and strategy; Stories that matter
0 followers
Hip-hop business and strategy; Stories that matter
0 followers
Trapital is a newsletter about hip-hop business. Each week, Dan Runcie writes a story about the strategic moves that shape the industry. When most coverage on hip-hop business scratches the surface, Trapital digs deeper to explain the trends behind hip-hop's growing influence in society.
I look forward to Dan's email weekly. As a hip hop fan who grew up in Hollis Queens (home of Daymond John, Russell Simmons, Steve Stoute etc), I was taught to think of the business side as soon as I heard a beat drop. This is the first publication that breaks down the business side so succinctly and timely. Great platform that I hope expands to other formats (Podcast etc).
Pros:Timely, Succinct, Thorough
Cons:Would love even more content
Substack Chat
Dan is a wise guide through the sometimes weird world of the hip hop business. He provides depth of coverage in an area that is poorly covered by the mainstream press
Pros:Insight, clariry, voice, focus
Cons:Would love to see it more often
Breaker
I'm currently a student at Harvard Business School, focusing on technology, media and entertainment. Trapital is a staple reading for me after a classmate sent it to me (she used this article to end an argument over which article was Drake's best: https://trapital.substack.com/p/...).
Trapital is the only newsletter in my life that I've read every single issue of (sorry Axios, Term Sheet, etc.). Dan's thoughtful take on an industry whose business is more the subject of tabloids than thoughtful analysis is refreshing and deeply insightful. The content is well researched, accessible and exciting (it does still read like it's written by a fan of the genre after all :) ). His piece on the relationship between Rap Caviar and Spotify gave me inspiration for one of my term papers this semester.
I'm a huge fan - can't wait to see where Dan takes it, and look forward to getting my hands on some Trapital merch
Pros:Dan has a novel take on the business of Hip Hop, sticking to the data and facts behind the business, not falling into a pop culture trap
Cons:I prefer the depth of some of the prior stories to the use of multiple, shorter stories we've seen lately.
Trapital is one of few email newsletters I regularly read. It's obvious Dan puts a lot of thought and time into his work, which makes Trapital an invaluable source on the business of hip-hop. I'm excited to see how it grows!
Pros:Excellent analysis on the business of hip-hop
Cons:None
Most of the time hip-hop news falls into the focus of album reviews, rapper profiles and useless gossip (sorry, I don't care what Cardi-B had for lunch). Trapital is the only site/newsletter I know of that covers the biz/marketing side of the industry in a way that is not written for insiders and instead reads almost like a professional advice column for the industry, not unlike what you would find in most trade publications.
Pros:For those who follow hip-hop, but are interested in the biz side
Cons:None
The Guide to Product Hunt Loom Videos
This is my first timeI logging into PH in forever and I'm doing it only because I want to give this newsletter some love. Most writing about the intersection of hip hop and business has been super weak and lacks any real curiosity and depth.
This newsletter is what you've been waiting for. Dan has deep knowledge of the rap game and a keen eye for observing the business side of an artists' trajectories.
This is not a criticism, more of a request: I'd like to see more takeaways. Dan has a strong voice for what the artists should do to evolve. I want to hear what Dan thinks the reader can take away from his observations to apply them to their own lives, careers, and ventures.
Pros:Relevant, knowledgeable, strong voice, goes in depth, timely
Cons:Better branding/graphics (only bc I had to put something)