Learn to Rap Like a Pro
Follow LL Cool J’s Advice. One of the greatest emcees of all time, LL once recorded a track where he rapped the actual alphabet while saying “the” in between each letter.
So it came out like “The A-The B-The C- The D, etc.Inch
Try going through the alphabet, saying each notice as clearly as possible, and increase the pace at which you rap it. After a week you will start to see results.
You can take this a step further and make several different raps in line with the alphabet. For example, in one physical exercise you could say “A-B-C-D-E (PAUSE) F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P (PAUSE)…” and on the next time around, place the pause after D, G and P.
Why? Simple. If you wish to learn how to rap quick, you’ll also need to learn how you can stop fast. It’s like driving a car: NASCAR drivers are just as good stopping a car because they are speeding one upward. By adding breaks in your flow, you’re additionally giving the listener time to process that which you said before racing onto the next lyric.
Twista has some great lines, however few people ever pay attention closely enough to trap what he’s saying. Don’t let this happen to you!
How to Enhance Rap Battles
Freestyle battles are a cornerstone of rap culture. Generally, two opponents square away against each other in battle of wits. Each MC gets two rounds (usually a minute long) in order to verbally humiliate the other using a variety of punchlines regarding their appearance, history or rap style. A battle is a great way for up and coming rappers to obtain noticed (Eminem, for example, took second place at the Freestyle Olympics, an effort that got him acquired by Dr. Dre).
So what makes for successful freestyle rap battles? There are a number of contributing factors: the uniqueness of the punchlines (the more specific the better), the shipping (clean and well enunciated) and the flow (unique style, or just hurling insults?) are important considerations for a battle rapper. Let’s consider each in more detail:
Specific punchlines. Obviously, most people have heard a million “Yo Mama” jokes, and while some are really funny “You mama so fat she will bleed gravy” they’re also very generic. After all, everyone has a parent. While you can certainly win using general punchlines for example fat jokes or even skinny jokes, the greater specific the better. If you can reference the words on your opponents shirt, all the better for you.
Freestyle fights are a lot of showmanship, and the MCs have to deliver their lines cleanly. I’ve seen rappers get huge applause from a crowd not since the punchline was that great, however because they said it like they meant this! Conversely, a deadly punchline is worthless if you are covering the mic together with your hand. Focus on delivery.
Flow. Whereas shipping is about articulating your words, flow is how you put words together. Generally, in freestyle battles, the most lethal form of flow is the use of multiple internal rhymes that consist of a set up along with a punchline. how to rap, learn how to rap
