| Learning how to rap can be a difficult process, IF you | | | | stage. Think about it... How often have you seen |
| are forced to learn the hard way. Lord knows I did. | | | | someone live and been completely unimpressed with |
| What aspiring rappers miss out on is someone who | | | | their performance? In order to rap, you need air. You |
| breaks down the fundamentals for them. After all, if | | | | can't get much more fundamental than that. |
| you want to learn to play basketball, you gotta learn | | | | 2. Strengthen your voice. Rappers are meant to be |
| how to dribble, shoot, pass, set picks, etc. | | | | heard, not seen. Before your freestyle or record a |
| The same is true when learning how to rap. You've | | | | song, do a simple warmup. I've created a 14 step vocal |
| got to learn rhyme schemes, battle skills, vocal | | | | warmup, but that's outside the scope of this article. |
| technique, how to count bars, songwriting, verse | | | | You will notice a difference in the quality of your voice |
| development, hooks, recording methods... | | | | if you try humming at different pitches. Make sure you |
| In the words of Keanu Reeves: "Whoa." | | | | feel the vibration in your chest when warming up, then |
| Here are a few pointers for those learning how to rap: | | | | try to keep that feeling when rapping. Trust me, this |
| 1. Exercise. I can almost hear you now: "Say what! | | | | does wonders... |
| Exercise will make me a better rapper! Look at Biggie, | | | | 3. Ice cream. Yep. So many rappers grab the top of |
| Big Pun or Fat Joe...THEY didn't exercise at all!" | | | | the mic (thinking that it makes them look cool) only to |
| True. However, exercise will help strengthen your | | | | muffle their voice. Remember: hold the microphone like |
| lungs, which prevents you from gasping for air while | | | | an ice cream cone (don't touch the "ice cream") and |
| rapping. Outkast used to go jogging and practice their | | | | you'll sound like a pro. |
| songs to make sure they could make it sound tight on | | | | |