the 3 big aspects of rappings

[tadpole25]

I'm talking about the aspects of their rapping, not their imagery, storytelling or message.

We often use a lot of ways to judge a rapper's technique, but hopefully we can clarify the difference because a lot of good rappers are good in their own way.

Lyricism - a lot of multis, complexity, word play (basically, the words)
Flow - the speed and division of syllables (how the written lyrics are to be pronounced)
Delivery - their voice, intonation, syncopation (the pronunciation of the flow)

Lyricism varies. And depends on flow and delivery. Plenty of underground rappers have great lyrics, full of multis and wordplay, but they just can't flow or deliver them. Then you have rappers that lyricism and those other qualities, and become successful like Eminem or Nas.

The flow for example would be Notorious B.I.G. or Kendrick Lamar. They did not have complex mind-boggling lyrics and if most rappers tried to perform those lyrics, they just wouldn't have thaw flow. But Biggie for example can take the most simplest lyrics and make them into a hit. He didn't need a large vocabulary or wordplay. Lamar could take a lot of syllables and balance them perfectly.

The delivery for example, would be Snoop Dogg. His lyrics are very simplistic. His flow was weak. The average person could take his lyrics word for word and pronounce them the same way he does, but without that voice, it won't come out too good. Snoop could take the worst rhyme possible and make a great song out of it with his cool and calm voice. 50 Cent and Royce da 59 both have great voices, but if an ordinary voice were to rap their rhymes (even with the same flow, it would suck).

The lyricism is the first step, the cradle. The delivery is the final touch, but perhaps the most important one of all. The flow is in the middle. The flow borrows from the lyrics and the delivery borrows from the flow, so that is the central aspect.

[Trimss]

I'd like to add that I don't care what you are rapping about as long as you're doing it well.

[tadpole25]

I'd like to add that I don't care what you are rapping about as long as you're doing it well.

This is true.

A lot of rappers do show great technique, but have no message. Like Notorious BIG for example.

But then again, half of rappers who try to make a conscious thought-provoking song on social issues sound really cliche, trite and cheesy.

[tadpole25]

I'd like to add that I don't care what you are rapping about as long as you're doing it well.

Then why do you like Kanye West? He's completely opposite of what you said. He has messages, but raps awful.

college dropout was a very good album. 90% of what he made after that was weak.

[classthe_king]

I don't consider rhyming a part of lyricism. I can explain why if somebody wishes.

[Slim Fiasco]

I'd like to add that I don't care what you are rapping about as long as you're doing it well.

Then why do you like Kanye West? He's completely opposite of what you said. He has messages, but raps awful.

If you allude to flow/delivery then I'd have to disagree. Kanye has an excellent vocal presence.

[tadpole25]

Kanye:

Lyrics - C+
Flow - D
Delivery - B

[classthe_king]

I don't consider rhyming a part of lyricism. I can explain why if somebody wishes.

Go ahead.

Well after thinking about it I came to this conclusion. Lyricism is what you're saying and how you say it. It's your word choice, your similes/metaphors/any other literary technique you use, it's your concepts, it's your message, etc. Rhyming doesn't really have anything to do with what you're actually saying, it's just a tool you use to make what you're saying sound better. The more/longer rhymes you have the more pleasing your vocals are to listen to. Rhyming also has a lot to do with flow but that's another story. Anyway, to me listening to someone like Tech N9ne or Diabolic because of their incredible rhyming is really no different than listening to someone because you like his beats. You're still enjoying the music because of how it sounds, you're just listening to it because of a different type of sound.

[Blu]

Lmao @ "lots of multis" being a part of lyricism. Do you even know what the word lyricism means?

"An artist's expression of emotion in an imaginative and beautiful way; the quality of being lyrical."

^ dictionary definition. I don't see anything about jamming multisyllables in a verse anywhere in there.

[Accor]

I've always considered rhyming and rhyme schemes to be a part of flow, not lyricism.

[Accor]

I've always considered rhyming and rhyme schemes to be a part of flow, not lyricism.

Definitely, but sometimes not rhyming hurts the lyrics.
Imagine if a rapper never rhymes, the song WILL be awkward and the rapper will probably not have a good flow.

Filling rhymes while still making a point is much more impressive than just saying what you wanna say or expressing your emotions.

yeah, but again, that's more flow. I think rhyming a lot can hurt lyricism easier than not rhyming enough. Of course there's people who can rhyme a lot while not hurting the lyricism at all, something Eminem did well on TES.

Like, Tech N9ne rhymes and raps fast/uses complex flows more than Slug, but he isn't anywhere near him lyrically.

[Blu]

I don't think it'd sound that awkward, rappers back in the 90's were rapping with a mere syllable or two, and their flows weren't that bad. I do agree that some rappers have built their whole foundation on rhyming and their flow would probably suffer if they dumbed down to one or two syllables. But I haven't seen that happen...yet.

[Accor]

Yeah, I mean if you don't rhyme at all it'd be considered spoken word or whatever lol. The point I'm trying to make is that you don't have to rhyme 5 syllables to be great lyrically.

[tadpole25]

Tech N9NE:
Lyrics: B
Flow: A+
Delivery: B-

Eminem:
Lyrics: A+
Flow: A
Delivery: A

[Willy]

@Class, I understand what you are saying, but I think it takes a good lyricist to be able to rhyme at a high level without sacrificing what's being said.