How To Rap: The Art And Science Of The Hip-hop Mc

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Edwards, Paul, 1982– How to rap : the art and science of the hip-hop MC / Paul Edwards. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-1-55652-816-3 1. Lyric writing (Popular music) 2. Rap (Music)—Instruction and study. I. Title. MT67.E38 2009 782.421649'143—dc22 2009026892 Cover design: Philip Pascuzzo Cover photograph: Q-Tip, by Trevor Traynor Interior design: Jonathan Hahn © 2009 by Paul Edwards All rights reserved Published by Chicago Review Press, Incorporated 814 North Franklin Street Chicago, Illinois 60610 ISBN 978-1-55652-816-3 Printed in the United States of America 5 4 3 2 1 Contents Foreword by Kool G Rap Introduction vii ix Part I: Content 1 Content Topics 3 Real-Life Content Fictional Content Controversial Content Conscious Content Club/Party Content 5 9 10 14 19 2 Content Forms 23 25 30 34 37 38 Braggadocio/Battling Form Conceptual Form Story Form Abstract Form Humorous Form 3 Content Tools 41 42 44 47 Imagery Similes, Metaphors, and Analogies Slang Vocabulary Wordplay Punch Lines 50 56 58 Part II: Flow 4 How Flow Works The Flow Diagram Beats and Bars Syllables and Stressed Syllables Fitting the Lyrics to the Beat Rests Overlapping Bars How Is the Flow Diagram Useful? More Examples 5 Rhyme Perfect Rhyme Assonance (Vowel Sound Rhyme) Alliteration and Consonance Compound Rhymes (Multisyllable Rhymes) Coming Up with Rhymes 63 67 68 70 71 73 75 76 78 81 82 84 86 87 92 6 Rhyme Schemes 95 99 103 104 107 Types of Rhyme Scheme Extra Rhymes Number of Rhymes in a Bar Rhyme Placement 7 Rhythm Coming Up with Rhythms The Pattern Diagram Patterns of Rhythms Rests 111 113 116 118 127 Part III: Writing 8 The Writing Process 133 134 139 152 156 157 162 165 Research Ways of Writing Lyrics Places to Write Times to Write How Long Does It Take? Writing in One Go or in Pieces Keeping or Changing the Process 9 Beats and Freestyling 167 Writing With or Without the Beat Picking Beats Rapping and Producing Freestyling 167 174 177 181 10 Structuring, Editing, and Selecting Lyrics 185 Song Structure Editing Lyrics Selecting Which Lyrics to Use Selecting Singles 185 197 201 204 11 Writing with Other People 211 Writing in a Group Guest Verses and Other Short-Term Collaborations Ghostwriting Producer Writing Input 213 220 227 231 Part IV: Delivery 12 Vocal Techniques Breath Control Enunciation 239 239 244 Vocal Style Taking Care of Your Voice 13 In the Studio Reading or Memorizing the Lyrics Practicing the Vocals Deciding Where to Breathe Guide Vocals Recording over Several Takes or in One Take Number of Takes Doubling Up and Ad-Libs Further Editing the Lyrics Producer Voca