We had the good fortune of connecting with Hannah Got Raps and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah Got Raps, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Initially I didn’t know my brand was considered a business. As an artist starting out my main focus was the creative process. But realizing to grow and scale my brand, I needed to start operating as a business. It’s so many moving pieces behind every great Artist that your average consumer isn’t aware of. From marketing, distribution, management and so forth. However, starting off the main thing I had to remind myself was not to be intimidated by the entertainment industry but to play as many hats as I can for the time being until I’m able to bring on board as many of those missing pieces.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I fell in love with the process of creating. How I’ve been able to express and connect with other humans. It is very personal, therapeutic and an outlet for me to deal with my traumas. Once I started performing I realized the impact and how my story resonates with other people. That became the driving factor to taking my artistry more seriously because I realized the purpose behind it and it was no longer just about me. My story is no longer just my story, it has become our story.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m from Chicago, Illinois. My experiences are the reason why I am who I am and why I’m so passionate about my message. I move with the integrity I do because of my upbringing and background. Community is rooted in me because all we had was each other. That has also opened my eyes to see the possibility of what could be through unity, within the structure that they built for us. Dealing with overwhelming loss and insurmountable grief at a young age has shaped the way I look at and value life, trying not to take anything for granted.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Currently I am 100% independent with a very small team, so that means operating without or a minimal budget most of the time. With that being said, establishing a network of genuine and like-minded people has been of utmost importance because they have shown up for me, which allows me to operate in ways that I would like while building my budget and business.

Allocating necessities in my personal finances is vital. I have to not only manage my day to day life with bills & adult responsibilities, but also fund my dream/business. So I can’t always do everything I want to, but I believe in sacrificing in order to realize my ultimate goal.

Website: www.hannahgotraps.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/hannahgotraps/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hannahgotraps

Youtube: www.youtube.com/hannahgotraps

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.