Over the past few years, free online mixtape culture has become an important part of hip-hop. Lil Wayne’s rise to fame in the mid-2000s was on the back of mixtapes given away for free online, some composed largely of freestyles. Checking out free mixtapes is a great way to jump into the conversation happening in contemporary hip-hop.
Eminem is known for his quick flow, intricate rhyme schemes, and metrical perfection, while Lil Wayne is known for his great one-liners and similes. Find rappers that appeal to you. A$AP Rocky, Tribe Called Quest, Big L, Nas, Mos Def, Notorious B. I. G. , Tupac, Kendrick Lamar, Freddie Gibbs, Jedi Mind Tricks, Army of The Pharaohs, MF Grimm, Jus Allah, Shabazz Palaces and the Wu-Tang Clan are very different and talented rappers or groups worth checking out. Listening to rap that you specifically don’t like can also be helpful in trying to craft a style. Form opinions. Make arguments. Debate with your friends about different rappers. Talk about who sucks and who’s great.
Think about what stands out for you about this verse. What do you like about it? What made it memorizable? Find an instrumental version of the song with the verse you’ve memorized and practice reciting it to the music. This will help you get a feel for the flow and the speed at which the music occurs.
At the end of the week, you might only end up with a couple of lines. That’s ok. That’s good. When you’re first starting out, you’re going to write a lot of crappy lyrics. There’s no way around it. It takes work and lots of effort to create songs that anyone will want to listen to.
Story songs usually have a hard-luck element to them in classic hip-hop. Stories need to address the Who, What, and When elements to paint a vivid picture of the scene or the event you’re describing. Raekwon and Freddie Gibbs are great story-telling rappers. Boast raps feature lots of one-liners. Look no further than Lil Wayne for the self-crowned king of bragging in rhyme. Use lots of similes and metaphors to compare yourself to all manner of greatness. Pop rap or trap is all about the chorus. Chief Keef’s rhymes may be super terrible, but he’s got an ear for a killer hook. Aim for a simple line or two that slides right into the beat. “Don’t Like” and “Sosa” have simple ear-worm choruses that get stuck in your head for weeks. Ditto Soulja Boy’s “Crank That. " For more classic examples, think of Wu-Tang’s “C. R. E. A. M. " and anything by Snoop Dogg.
Start with a good “starter line,” something that pops and gets your mind going, then rely on your clusters of rhymes to start letting things unspool from there. Don’t try free styling in front of anyone until you’ve practiced a lot. It can fall apart quickly, but try to stay on beat, keep with the flow and find your way again if you start to stumble. Don’t stop, or it’ll be over. Even if you have to rap nonsense syllables, make sure they rhyme and stay with it.
Even Chief Keef and Soulja Boy, rappers who hit big at 16 and 17, didn’t pop out of their mamas writing hit songs, it took them 6 or 7 years of rapping constantly before they found the goods. Be critical of your work, if you’re going to take rapping seriously. GZA was 25 before he found success, and he had been rapping since he was a child.
It’s a good idea to attend a lot of competitions before attempting to compete in any of them. Get a good feel for your skills and the skills of the other competitors before jumping on stage.
Attending shows, competitions, and battles is a great opportunity to meet other rappers and beatmakers you might collaborate with, or who might have resources to share with you.
Burn CD-R copies of your music and give it out at concerts or gatherings with your contact information included on it.
