Rapping can be traced back to Africa centuries before hip hop music
existed, the griots of west Africa were delivering rhythmic poetry over
drums and other instrumentation. Rap or Hip Hop in its purest form is
essentially poetry that is performed with a beat.Throughout this
insrtuctable I will give you all the necessary steps to become a good
rapper. If you follow all the steps necessary you could be making rap
classics in no time.
Step 1: Do Your Homework!
To become a great rapper you have to take notes from the greats and see
what makes them special. Instead of listening to verses from your
favorite rappers, take time out to sit and dissect their lyrics. Often
time we hear a line in a song that we really like, but have you ever
wondered as to why you thought that line was so amazing? Or what
literary device was utilized? You can't perfect something if you don't
understand it. Also, it is important to understand and respect the
history of rap, even if the times have changed.
Step 2: Practice Make Perfect!
Every great rap artist had to practice to be where they are today. When
you first begin to write it may be frustrating because your rhymes don't
come out sounding like anything off Jay Z's album. It is vital to
understand that when you first begin to write your lyrics WILL suck.
Nobody sounds like Nas their first time writing a rap. It takes time and
patience and after a while you notice that you are gradually becoming
better. Eventually you will develop as a artist, but you have to
practice as often as possible.
Step 3: Originality
It can be extremely difficult to be recognized in the rap industry,
because it seems as though everybody wants to be a rapper. So, in order
to separate from the pack we're going to have to use a little thing
called originality. Originality is the main thing that will get your
noticed in a industry full of recycled artists. Don't be afraid to be
yourself, even if you think it might be perceived as strange. If you're
avid about what you're talking about you will gain respect. Hip Hop
needs more insular artists to push the genre forward so it can continue
to thrive. The more original and talented you are the more you will be
recognized.
Step 4: Introspection
Rappers have to be able to make a connection with their audience on a
personal level. Sometimes that requires an artist to be vulnerable and
delve into their psyche. Which is hard for a majority of rappers to do,
because rapping has been associated with toughness. However, when
introspection is done correctly you gain die hard fans because they can
relate to you on a personal level. That's the difference between having
your 15 minutes in the spot light, and leaving your mark in Hip Hop
forever.
Step 5: Be Creative!
Go where no other artist has dared to venture into. Hip Hop is still a
relatively new genre waiting to be explored by new talents. Don't think
for one second that once you find your sound you have be confined to
that box. You are an aspiring Hip Hop ARTIST, and artists push
boundaries and knock down barriers. The epitome of reinvention is Kanye
West, he continuously surprises his audience and almost sounds like a
new artist with every release of an album. If you didn't know who Kanye
West was and just listened to all of his albums you would think each
album was from a different artist. Come up with creative concepts, and
captivate your audience.
Step 6: Controvery
Hip Hop is the art of story telling, often told by but not restricted
to the point of view of black males. Hip Hop has ruffled feathers more
than any other genre because it penetrated the households of
suburbia. With that being said don't be afraid to say anything you feel
is necessary to progress society, that's not to say you should go on a
lyrical rampage and offend people, but you should definitely exercise
your artistic license.
Step 7: Delivery
Delivery is key in keeping the listener entertained. Being able to time
your words to build suspense and force the listener to pay closer
attention to your words can make or break a hip hop artist. Delivery in
Hip Hop is the equivalent of comedic timing, with the correct timing any
joke becomes funnier. However if a comedic pause is too short or too
long then it kills the jokes pun. Masters of delivery were Tupac Shakur
and Biggie Smalls, each very different but equally as potent.
Step 8: Swagger
Hip Hop is a very egotistic and braggadocios genre. An artist has to
have a swagger about his or her self. Not to say you have to be the
trendiest rapper in the game but you should certainly rock whatever you
do wear with the upmost confidence. Because that is what swagger truly
is, being bold enough to be true to whom you are. However it doesn't
hurt if your flossing quite as hard as Jay Z, his influence is off the
charts. I vowed to never pop another molly after listening to "Tom
Ford".
Step 9: Personality
Personality goes a very long way. One of the biggest personalities in
hip hop history belongs to Eminem aka Slim Shady. His persona swept
across the nation and grabbed hold of teenagers everywhere. His edgy,
"Don't give a fuck" attitude made people care about what he was going to
say next even more. Its common to see rap artists with a lot of
personality, rappers often make alter egos so they can give the audience
all the personality they can handle.
Step 10: Stage Presence
A rapper should be able to control the crowd. Don't stand in one spot
awkwardly clutching the microphone. You won't last long as an artist if
nobody wants to see you perform. Practice having stage presence and
interacting with the crowd to make them feel like they're part of the
show as well. If you have a great presence on stage then people will be
dying to come to your concerts. Watch out though, some fans get really
attached.
Step 11: Significance
A mark of a great rapper is having lyrics that are so significant
that they transcend time. Tupac Shakur is still a prevalent artist to
date because of the cultural significance of his lyrics. When someone is
so influential its hard to let them go, which is why there is a Tupac
sighting about once a month. If you want to be remembered find a issue
you feel passionately about and let your voice be heard. You don't only
represent yourself anymore you are a voice for people who feel the same
way you do.
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