How to Get Hip Hop Music on Spotify Playlists

To get hip hop music on Spotify playlists, pitch your unreleased song to Spotify's editors, then contact independent curators whose playlists match your region and style. Hip hop covers a lot of ground, so "rap playlist" is rarely specific enough. A boom bap track and a melodic trap single often need completely different playlists.

Start with the playlist's lane

Before you pitch, listen to the 10 most recent additions and ask:

• Is it built around a region, language or local scene?
• Does it focus on one style, such as boom bap, trap, drill or conscious rap?
• Does it add new artists, or mostly established names?
• Does the curator seem to care more about the beat, the bars or the mood?
• Is the playlist explicit-friendly, or does it look like a clean list for workouts or study?

If your song would sound out of place next to those tracks, move on. A smaller playlist that fits is a better target than a big one that doesn't.

Editorial playlists and independent playlists

Big editorial playlists such as RapCaviar are run by Spotify, so you can't reach them through a curator email. The route is Spotify for Artists. Pitch an unreleased song and deliver it at least 7 days before release. Spotify says pitching doesn't guarantee placement.

Independent playlists are where you can contact someone directly. Start with the hip hop directory, then narrow it to rap, trap or modern hip hop.

What to say in a hip hop pitch

Tell the curator what they can't get from your artwork or a quick skim:

• Where you're from: many hip hop playlists follow a city or scene.
• Your style: name it plainly, such as drill, boom bap or melodic rap.
• Language and content: say if the song is explicit, or if there is a clean version.
• Who's on it: mention a producer or feature only if it helps the curator place the song.
• Your best track, not your longest bio: let the song do most of the work.

Example:

Subject: London drill single for [Playlist Name]: "[Song Name]"

Hi [Curator Name],

I'm [Artist Name], a drill artist from [Area]. I think "[Song Name]" fits [Playlist Name] next to [Artist on Playlist], because it has the same dark, sliding production and fast flow. The clean version is also available.

Spotify: [Link]

Thanks for listening.

[Your Name]

Change the details so they are true for your song, or use our free pitch email generator. With full access, you can save your songs and pitch any curator in the directory with the email already filled in.

Before you send it

• Make sure the master holds up next to the songs already on the playlist. A quiet mix can stand out for the wrong reason.
• Mark the song correctly as explicit if it needs it.
• Have one clean link ready instead of sending a file.
• Avoid anyone who promises streams or a guaranteed placement for money. Spotify warns against those services.

FAQ

Can I submit directly to RapCaviar? No. It is a Spotify editorial playlist. Your route is a pitch through Spotify for Artists before the song comes out.

Should I pitch a song that's already out? You can't pitch it to Spotify's editors, but you can contact independent curators. Read how to pitch after release.

Are there free hip hop playlist submissions? Yes. Many curators accept free submissions, while some charge their own fee. Read whether to pay for submissions before you spend anything.

For the full process, see how to get your music on Spotify playlists.