RE: 'switch up the beat!!!!' [ conclusion to the jam - Round 60 ] 白蚁.
Hey Red, how long have you been rapping? I have rapped for over a decade and I like to give back and help those with dedication as yourself. You clearly have a talent for writing, but putting the writing in a format that's exciting to the listener is key. If you have a rapper with a great flow and delivery and weak lyrics and another rapper with the best lyrics known to man but with an average flow and delivery the verdict will always be the same. The first rapper will see way more success. It's how you say it, not just what you say that counts. A rapper like DMX is proof of this, very basic lyrics but many view him as a goat.
So my suggestion is to really focus on your flow and delivery and putting more energy into it, changing it up more. There are many Youtube channels which focus on those aspects. You have a very creative way of writing, that doesn't need to change, but you need to know how to write in a way so that your syllables fit the beat too. Aesop Rock is very complex in his writing and has a big fan base. I myself do things totally different, that can be a strength or a weakness at times. Sometimes people just don't get what you're doing, but as long as your skill set is on point, keep being you. Also your production game needs improving, that is a simple fix though. Just get a condenser mic and learn eq, compression and reverb.
Also just to conclude this long ass post, use the jams to develop your skill, the winner here isn't necessarily the winner in the grand scheme of things too. It's just a few guys opinion, not the whole world. (Termite if you're reading this, I respect your guys opinion btw.) Do I feel I should've won more than I have? Lol yes on a few occasions, but what I do is I try to see what the winner did that stood out and then try to learn from them. One of the best ways to improve is looking at artists that are better than you in certain aspects and learning from that. Flow and delivery wise, you can study artists like Eminem, Tech n9ne(They have the most flows), Nas, Jay-Z, Logic, Pusha T. See how they use emotion in their voice, when they stop, how their words fall on the beat. Some rappers rap on the beat, some rap a bit behind the beat like Snoop Dogg or MF Doom, some rap in front of the beat. It can get really technical and it's so fun to study it and use it for yourself. Hope this helps Red.
Yea I have only been rapping a little over a year!!
I know all those things you say already. I just am unique in that youtube videos are not enough for me. I have to many questions that can not be answered directly. It is also hard to show the world that states that it, for the most part doesn't want me here. I can use those people to learn from yes. But they are a part of a system that I am currently destroying with every line written.
I don't care about winning I was more or less venting as what is the point really when there is no truthful feedback. Been on here over a year amd you comment along with maybe one or two termite comments where someone actually gave me an honest answer. And what you all are seeing is not actually how good I am the tech. Or lack of knowledge on that end is the reason i sound not as good. I have all the pieces. I just need help putting them together. And I am not going to get that from youtube. Mostly what I am dealing with has nothing to do with rap. Or my abilities. I can do anyone of my flows for you in person and it will sound and feel like it is supppose to. And I know I have to be patient. I have only done this a year. And I have come a lobg ways since the beginning. Just tired of doing it all alone I guess.. And being stuck with random youtube videos is not getting it done anymore.
One year is extremely short. So yeah my honest feedback is you have a lot of growing to do in the flow/delivery department, regardless of your lack of good recording equipment. No shame in that, it takes more than one year to develop those things. You also don't have to use YouTube, studying great rappers is better. As rap is very ego driven, I'm cautious of giving feedback, but you took it well:) Keep at it man, hope you take my tips. Good luck sir.
Btw I still ask for people's advice to this day. There's always something I can do better, the search for perfection never ends;)
Yea I feel ya on that and really my problem lies in the comfort area. For people I am comfortable with the flow and delivery is there, just strangers I am having trouble with. If you know what an empath is, then this will make more sense!
Lets just say it is hard to explain in just these messages alone. Mostly it is deprogramming from what I have been told I can't do my whole life. But I really took it to heart as a child. And I am dealing with that. Just where I want to be is constricted some what by that. And I haven't really figured away around it although I do feel I have made progress.
Yes and see I am attempting to change rap from an ego driven thing to something else just as must if not more emotion. Partly why it is hard for me. I know I will get there.
Thank you for the feedback. I need to hear all this it is most help in knowing where I am from others perspective.
Pleasure bro:)