I Want to Try My Hand at Rapping, Any Tips?

[Andrew Korenchkin]

Basically, as I've got into Hip-Hop, I want to get into actually rapping. I'm not looking to becoming an elite rapper on the level of, say, Black Thought, Eminem, Earl Sweatshirt, Andre 3000, etc. etc. etc, but I definitely want to at least get some experience,and maybe be able to actually make a mixtape or something.

Where to start? What to focus on in regards to developing yourself as a rapper? Any trips would be awesome.

 

[Aztechnology]

Vocabulary. Work on your vocabulary like nothing else.

 

[Hip Hop]

Do you have the voice for it, you think?

That's the first thing before anything imo. You could have the sickest lines, but if your voice don't match, it's not a good look.

But yeah, working on delivery and the way you speak it, that should be what's next.

 

[lightskintwin]

Just do it. That's it. The more you do it, and work on it; the better you'll get.

 

[Andrew Korenchkin]

Do you have the voice for it, you think?

That's the first thing before anything imo.

I have a pretty deep voice, but yeah, from what I gather, you also have to work on your rhyme schemes that allow you to influx your vocal expression. I've tried to rap stuff like Lupe Fiasco and Kool Keith, and it sounds pretty bad.

Vocabulary. Work on your vocabulary like nothing else.

Eh......maybe. I think technique is among the most important.

 

[Pinko Marx]

Write. write. Write more. Keep writing.
Listen to rhyme schemes. Pay attention to cadence and word flow. Don't worry about always rhyming every bar , sometimes not even rhyming.

 

[Matty77]

Flow and voice. If your voice sound like shit or your flow cant properly match 16 bars don't bother.

If you have sound and delivery try to write rhymes that fit you and are honest. Some sound better with simpler rhyme schemes, some with really complex just don't rhyme the same word 5 times or sound like you used a bunch of big words but make no sense, find your groove,

If that all pans out find beats, a good beat and recording engineering goes a long way especially in covering up a beginners weakness.

 

[FelipeMGM]

Write as much as you can and work on your flow b. Only way to see if it works is by doing it

 

[inner-G]

You need a gimmick like Kriss Kross or The Fat Boys.

 

[jaekeem]

the technical aspects of writing are overrated

voice/delivery and flow will either make or break you. no one is going to listen to a mixtape by some random nobody unless the flow and voice are on point.

 

[lightskintwin]

All the extra stuff can be worked on later. Just start. Don't think about it, DO IT.

 

[Erv]

your first mistake was putting earl sweatshirt in the same category as eminem and andre 3000

 

[Bad Trip]

First know the start of hiphop , you must pay homage to the Mecca in Ohio on Frank Block . There you will find the answers you seek.

 

[MC Safety]

Do not claim you are a "lyrical poet" if the talent you possess could be fit into a shotglass with room left over for a shot.

 

[Andrew Korenchkin]

the technical aspects of writing are overrated

voice/delivery and flow will either make or break you. no one is going to listen to a mixtape by some random nobody unless the flow and voice are on point.

This is definitely a good one, though this is a bit subjective. But you at least have to be commanding and rap with your chest, or something.

Flow and voice. If your voice sound like shit or your flow cant properly match 16 bars don't bother.

If you have sound and delivery try to write rhymes that fit you and are honest. Some sound better with simpler rhyme schemes, some with really complex just don't rhyme the same word 5 times or sound like you used a bunch of big words but make no sense, find your groove,

If that all pans out find beats, a good beat and recording engineering goes a long way especially in covering up a beginners weakness.

Thanks, this is pretty helpful.

your first mistake was putting earl sweatshirt in the same category as eminem and andre 3000

His wordplay and rhyme schemes are insanely good though, but yeah he's not on the same level technically. But his internal rhyming is nuts.

 

[Aselith]

Mom's spaghetti

 

[Spira]

I like to write lyrics on top of instrumentals that I enjoy listening to. I would say do that. As far as everything else? Don't pay too much attention to other people that are fans of music. Everyone has a different taste. Just do you.

 

[The Kree]

Write constantly, like every day. Always write with a flow and delivery in mind rather than just trying to make phrases rhyme. Practice your flow and delivery constantly - I've worked with rappers who couldn't deliver their lines on beat in the same place every time because they had no actual concept of flow or any internal rhythm.

 

[Daffy Duck]

ITT I learnt that Andre 3000 was in Outkast who were just two guys, I always thought they were a group like the Black Eyed Peas.

Good luck though OP, post up some videos of you rapping.

 

[Master Z]

Step 1: Start with basic, old school style beats and learn how to rhyme on the snare. This will develop your sense of timing and rhythm.

Step 2: Once you have a good feel for rhyming on the snare then begin playing around with flow and cadence. Stretch words, see how many syllables you can fit in a bar (4 beats), figure out when to breathe. This is where you will begin developing your voice and breath control. Breath control is fundamental in becoming a great performer, like a singer you must learn to project your voice from the diaphragm.

Step 3: Once you are confident in your rhythm then it's time to start writing seriously and develop a vocabulary. I suggest in this phase to listen to your favorite rappers, rap along to their songs, learn how they combine and manipulate words and syllables.

Step 4: Practice, practice, practice and more practice. In time you will develop your own style. Once this happens, get out into your local scene, shows, open mics, etc. Network to find producers and other artists to rap with.

 

[Andrew Korenchkin]

ITT I learnt that Andre 3000 was in Outkast who were just two guys, I always thought they were a group like the Black Eyed Peas.

Good luck though OP, post up some videos of you rapping.

LOL.

Not going to happen anytime soon.

 

[lightskintwin]

I like to write lyrics on top of instrumentals that I enjoy listening to. I would say do that. As far as everything else? Don't pay too much attention to other people that are fans of music. Everyone has a different taste. Just do you.

This. Once again just DO IT. You won't know what you need to work on until you start, then you can figure out what type of flow, rhyme patterns and cadences, lyrical content and rhyme schemes you have an affinity towards and need to work on afterwards.

 

[Matty77]

Write constantly, like every day. Always write with a flow and delivery in mind rather than just trying to make phrases rhyme. Practice your flow and delivery constantly - I've worked with rappers who couldn't deliver their lines on beat in the same place every time because they had no actual concept of flow or any internal rhythm.

This is actually good advice. Most the guys I know that sound good try each line out as they are writing so they have an idea how it will sound and don't have to go back and readjust structure later.

 

[Erv]

This thread is making me realize there are probably a lot of rappers on gaf. we should make a gaf mixtape or another if there has already been one.

 

[Andrew Korenchkin]

This thread is making me realize there are probably a lot of rappers on gaf. we should make a gaf mixtape or another if there has already been one.

I think some of the regulars on Gaf-Hop have some rap songs and shit. This is a good idea.

Anybody want to post their shit, go for it!

This. Once again just DO IT. You won't know what you need to work on until you start, then you can figure out what type of flow, rhyme patterns and cadences, lyrical content and rhyme schemes you have an affinity towards and need to work on afterwards.

Yeah, I just started....oh, tonight! It's going to take a long time before I find out what rappers will best help influence my style.

 

[LookAtMeGo]

I have a shit ton of playlists of amazing instrumentals that I listen to wherever I go. Im constantly just thinking of rhymes in my head all day.

 

[Zukuu]

Don't choke.

 

[Cheeseman Battitude]

You can try your hand at rap
But make sure that you're not crap
Or the people will not clap
And you won't be happy, chap

Nailed it.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

This thread takes on a whole new meaning by simply removing one letter from "rapping".

 

[cchum]

ITT I learnt that Andre 3000 was in Outkast who were just two guys, I always thought they were a group like the Black Eyed Peas.

Good luck though OP, post up some videos of you rapping.

Well yeah, but they are a part of the dungeon family (which includes: goodie mob, ceelo and other artists). kinda like an extended family.

 

[Calvero]

You should put up some videos for us. That can give us a way better idea of what advice we can offer you )

 

[7threst]

What could help as you write raps and develop your own style, is trying your hand at creating beats at the same time. Understanding the music that goes along with your raps could be pretty helpfull in speeding up developing your technique and finding out what kind of style suits you personally.

 

[Andrew Korenchkin]

You should put up some videos for us. That can give us a way better idea of what advice we can offer you )

I'm definitely not going to post videos until I actually get practice, ha ha. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

This thread takes on a whole new meaning by simply removing one letter from "rapping".

Thank god this did not happen, LOL. That would be awkward as fuck.

What could help as you write raps and develop your own style, is trying your hand at creating beats at the same time. Understanding the music that goes along with your raps could be pretty helpfull in speeding up developing your technique and finding out what kind of style suits you personally.

I dunno, I think beat producing could be a cool alternative altogether. I do listen to tons of music, and I love production for Hip Hop more than I do the actual rapping.

 

[Matticers]

Wear a skin tight tiger outfit and shout out Neogaf during one of your rap battles.

 

[barik]

Only advice I can give is not to create bad habits for yourself when you're trying to freestyle. Once you start getting too comfortable with filling up a sentence with a stock phrase to fill up time, you start getting predictable. I freestyle when I'm drunk with friends but it's gotten to the point where everything is

start a sentence
rhyme that sentence
react to that with something weird or specific
fucked your momma with ( <- this gives you time to think of a rhyme) something that rhymes with the weird thing

and then you start at the beginning again. I guess this might not apply if you're actually writing it over time.

Also like others said, flow, vocabulary and delivery are key.

 

[JinjoUnchained]

If you want to half ass it, use the Pit Bull rhyme scheme:

Da da da da, da da da da <WORD>
Da da da da, da da da da <RHYME>

You'll be on top of the rap charts in no time.

 

[ActWan]

First and foremost work on your flow. Rap on existing beats, doesn't even have to be your text...just practice alot on your flow. Then start writing stuff with punchlines and rhyme schemes and get original beats if you wanna.

 

[spawnsniper]

"Rappers" these days come up with stupid but catch-y shit...that's pretty much all you need... I mean, I've heard really horrible stuff from todays "rappers" but since the music is catchy then its all good.

 

[ColdPizza]

Do you have the voice for it, you think?

That's the first thing before anything imo. You could have the sickest lines, but if your voice don't match, it's not a good look.

But yeah, working on delivery and the way you speak it, that should be what's next.

You're asking this in the age of Future and Fetty Wap?

 

[gaugebozo]

Every line should rhyme with...

Mom's spaghetti

DAMNIT

 

[Skux]

While we're on the subject, what's a good place to go for instrumentals?

 

[trixx]

At this point I think on top of the technical stuff, find stuff that really differentiates yourself from other artists.

One of my favourite rappers right now: Milo has an incredible vocabulary and makes a whole bunch of philosophical references.

Earl Sweat is pretty good with flow subject matter and lyrics.

Depending on the type of rapper you want to be and the subject matter you will talk about, you will effectively be put in a box. From there you just have to make yourself unique.

I do poetry and like poetry a lot. Blu would probably be the rapper I'd try to be like, but I recognize that the audience for that type of rap is extremely small.

 

[trixx]

"Rappers" these days come up with stupid but catch-y shit...that's pretty much all you need... I mean, I've heard really horrible stuff from todays "rappers" but since the music is catchy then its all good.

Yeah if you want to be successful you'd have to go in this type of direction. I mean sure you have your Kendrick Lamar and J.cole but generally speaking lol.

 

[John Kowalski]

Saved by the p.

 

[Joyful]

listen to some percee p

Spoiler

then give up

 

[ChopstickNinja]

Basically, as I've got into Hip-Hop, I want to get into actually rapping. I'm not looking to becoming an elite rapper on the level of, say, Black Thought, Eminem, Earl Sweatshirt, Andre 3000, etc. etc. etc, but I definitely want to at least get some experience,and maybe be able to actually make a mixtape or something.

Where to start? What to focus on in regards to developing yourself as a rapper? Any trips would be awesome.

Vox did a video on deconstructing rhyming schemes. Very interesting to see it from a analytic point of view.
Vox.com on rhyming schemes.

 

[tanooki27]

get a beat, pick a subject, and go. Do this six hours a day

 

[choco-fish]

Make sure you always spell it with two 'p's when asking about it on the internet and you'll go far.

 

[Rubenov]

I read this as "I want to try my hand at Raping, any tips?". Jesus.

 

[Zombine]

Think about your life and grab a pen and then write lines
Practice all the time so when you hit you don't get tongue tied
Then verbally attack other rappers with your sick rhymes