Rap doesn’t suck
Before you swing back at this playlist with your Guns ‘n’ Roses albums and outdated classic-rock boomer rhetoric of how Hip-Hop is a hedonistic genre that’s just a bunch of dudes “talking” about drugs and money over some lame beats, just have an open mind and don’t pretend that your favourite rock bands were any less shallow. Much like how Rock music over the decades has evolved into countless denominations of hyphenated subgenres, Hip-Hop has evolved a fair bit since its inception. There’s the aggressive and synthy West Coast, the jazz-inspired East Coast, and the much hated and complained about Trap music which originated in the South. Convincing Hip-Hop haters that there is good Hip-Hop out there is easy once you realise there is so much out there that people haven't been willing to explore.
It’s all Beats and Rhymes
When you break it down, Hip-Hop is two things: Beats and Lyrics. That’s a bit of a gross oversimplification, but being able to segment your listening attention into two clear halves will aid in appreciating the intricacies of both Hip Hop production and the art of rapping. When it comes to the production of old-school Hip-Hop, most newbie listeners are unaware of the importance of sampling. Basically, producers take short snippets, or “samples” of other songs (usually RnB/Soul tracks) and alter the pitch, speed and rhythm of the sample in order to complement the beats they make. The beats themselves could even be samples in their entirety. Watch any Rhythm Roulette video and you will instantly gain an appreciation for sampling and Hip-Hop production. When it comes to lyrics, listening to any acclaimed MC rap is pretty much an english lesson in rhyme schemes, with crazy shit like holorimes, internal rhymes and multi-syllabic rhymes being just a few of the many techniques these rappers incorporate into their bars.
Lyrical Spiritual Miracle Rhythmic Hieroglyphic Dominatrix
One common issue that beginner songwriters struggle with is lyric-writing. Most tend to rehash phrases and motifs that have been used and abused about a million times, structuring their sentences with uninteresting, predictable rhyme patterns. Some would dare say lyrics aren’t that important. But what’s the point in crafting an amazing song only for its lyrics to sell the music short of its full potential? Storytelling is crucial to relaying your ideas and relating to listeners. So, what better way to learn how to improve on your writing than to start listening to the genre where lyrical gymnastics reign supreme. For all you drummers out there, Hip-Hop beats are loaded with tight, snappy grooves that get your head bopping. Study the works of legendary producers like J Dilla, Q-tip, RZA, Madlib and many more. Look out for their hi-hat patterns and kick placements, how they arrange their rhythms to create a groove that is smoother than butter. And lastly, RIP to the G.O.A.T, MF Doom, the illest supervillain. Go listen to Madvillainy and have your world turned upside down.
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