Talent-By-Birth vs. The Rapper Himself

[Tomer666]

What is your opinion about rappers? Do you believe that is talent-by birth, basically someone who got blessed with a talent and has been always good at it? Or do you believe that even the best rappers of all times were just bad at rapping at first but with huge love for rap, practice, and lots of hard work they became better and better till they reached what they are now?

[JamaicanPattlez]

Work, naturally. You're not born with the concepts of multi-syllables or the ability to rhyme and bend words fluently. Even Eminem. He's said that despite failing Grade 9 three times, he always loved English. When you love something, you're passionate about it. You're supremely curious about it and want to learn more. It almost becomes who you are. That's why he read the dictionary over and over, and you can tell by listening to Infinite. Also take into account how long some rappers have been rapping for, as well. It's all in the hard work. Well, that's what I believe.

[Slim Fiasco]

Definitely hard work. Talent may help you to advance in a faster pace, but no MC is getting anywhere without tons of practice. Check the link in my signature if you need a tutorial for rapping.

[JamaicanPattlez]

And adding to it, there's a "10,000 hour theory" that applies. The theory goes, if you've spent at least 10, 000 hours on a certain skillset, you should be around the Expert level by the time you're done, should you do it right. We know that Eminem fell in love with Hip Hop around 13-14, or younger, sometime around that time-span, and apparently took it seriously at 18. Then consider from age 18 to around age 26, when he made the SSEP/SSLP. He could have easily accumulated the number of hours well before then. Remember, we live in the Internet age, he didn't, so he did this by paying attention to other artists, naturally. I don't think he highlighted rhyme schemes of artists like what we do now (Though he may have, only Em could tell us), so it's really incredible.

[Tomer666]

How do you believe that these artists had improved? Do you think that an artist should share his songs even when he starts and even when he sucks intending to get criticism and use it? Or do you think that even if you don't share it you just get better by seeing your own mistakes and trying to learn from other rappers?

[Slim Fiasco]

As far as delivery goes, criticism can't really help you at first because you're going to suck anyway. Most people will tell you that you're off beat and that you sound lazy or whatever, but again, if you check the link in my signature, I have a lot of advices there about how to improve in that aspect. I do suggest sharing your lyrics though, because the criticism can serve you better, and be more detailed, or actually, you can more easily use it and transform it into improvement. Now don't share every fucking verse, but do so from time to time. You will notice mistakes by yourself, yes, but it's even better when other people help you.

[JamaicanPattlez]

You really have to learn to be your own critic, really. That's all it comes down to in the end. Eventually you'll realize that what you're sounding like is getting better. Practice, practice, practice. Listen to Eminem on his Soul Intent shit, then listen to his Slim Shady LP shit. In terms of lyrics, it's up to you on whether you want criticism on it or not, because eventually you're gonna learn multies, rhyme schemes and all that, help or no help. I think the longer you take, the better your song will be, IF you're doing everything correctly. And also, keep in mind, these rappers have been rapping at a minimum of 3 years or so before they really started recording (Maybe newer cats now started even earlier, who knows) so don't let your delivery get you down.

[Tomer666]

Do you think that rapping while reading the lyrics from a paper/blackberry/whever you wanna read it from can actually affect your flow in a negative way?

[Slim Fiasco]

Just check the link in my signature man, in there, there are links to some blogs, and you'll get all your answers.

[JamaicanPattlez]

Do you think that rapping while reading the lyrics from a paper/blackberry/whever you wanna read it from can actually affect your flow in a negative way?

It can, because it's not memorized. That and depending on who it is, it's not as great as going off memory and recording it. For example, write a couple rhymes and read it from paper. Then try to memorize maybe a bar and spit that without reading the paper. There you go.