What defines rap skill?

[Stone B]

I know most of you are probably DJs, producers, and engineers, but I'm sure most of you have worked with your share of MCs/Rap artists/lyricists and have formed your own opinions about what makes a rapper skilled.

I've been giving this alot of thought and I think your opinions would give me some insight. You can give an example of someone you think posesses skill.

If you don't agree with someone else's choice, don't insult them, explain why you dissagree.

B

[Beathoven]

I mostly listen to french rap but if I had to choose a skilled english MC, I would choose Busta Rhymes. This guy has lot of different flows which I think is the greatest skills a MC must possess.

My two cents,
Beathoven

[pyssdogg]

-word play, tight metaphors etc...

-someone that is a good story teller and can paint a picture in my dome

-a good rapping voice is important too

-originality

[Stone B]

I still can't understand much of it, but as far as the other elements of skill, I heard some pretty tight groups, cant remember the names of them though.

[ambi]

flow and cadence, you'll find that now a days with most hip hop, or mostly mainstream rap, the lyrics are shit, and nobody cares cause it sounds good. So if you wanna do it the mainstream way just have a good voice with a good flow,adn you can say whatever you want. Best to have good lyrics though. Nobody's going to count the metophors you used, or how many other literary devices you used, just say something meaningful, that means somethign to YOU. Don't say shit.

[Beathoven]

Stone B,

French rap is tight because of the versatility of our language. Our language is more poetic and and less straightfoward than english. Also, we have a way to play on words called "vers-l'en" ("L'envers" inverted. "L'envers" means inverted) If anyone here understood the word play used in french rap songs, you wouldn't care about listening to english rap anymore.

Peace,
Beathoven

(P.S.: I like english rap too but less than french rap)

[Cwadroon]

depends on the individual. Some like this,some like that. Personally, I look at all aspects of it, but I break it down to a few key points. #1 is delivery and flow(you could have the tightest lyrics in the world,but if you dont spit them right it's still wack) #2 is the lyrical content(what your sayin and how your sayin it)#3 is the theme(basically one and two combined matching with the beat)

[JUSTTIGHT]

I look at it this way

#1 What you say, is key for me(subject matter)

#2 The way you put your words together(format and content)

#3 The way it comes across(the flow)

A perfect example would be Canibus

[Stone B]

You all seem to prefer quality lyrics, someone once told me that people don't want hear that stuff, keep it simple. You guys are restoring my faith in people.

I personally don't listen to the radio anymore, plus I can't receive any good stations.

[JUSTTIGHT]

Your faith may have to be put on hold. I do prefer the more intensed lyrics, however the simple stuff seems to be what sells nowadays. Off hand I can't name 5 lyricist (IMOP), that sells many records. Now we have some real lyricist that dumbs down their style to sell records ie. Busta Rhymes, Jay Z. They adopt more of a puffy stlye of flow.They also lose alot of respect from me. Only because they changed to make money. On the other hand puffy has always been what he is, Simple but I respect him for that

[Stone B]

You'll have to excuse my, before this site, I never really spent that much time on internet forums, what does (IMOP) mean?
There are others that I don't know, (xoxo), (IMHO)?

[JUSTTIGHT]

(IMOP) IN MY OPINION
(XOXOX) I THINK MEANS HUGS AND KISSES
(IMHO) MOST LIKELY IN MY HONEST OPINION

[Flo' Dolo]

Beathoven,

I listen to a fair amount of french rap, as well as british, german, and american, and all things being equal, which they are, each language has a set of "street literary device-styles" that can be mad colorful, expressive, and just plain ill. There are also plenty of wack French groups and MCs. As the world turns, it's all the same, money. Being an international b-boy (which is what i'm assuming you are since you can peep shit in multiple languages), you should know that. Don't hate on me cuz you don't know of lots of ill american MCs, too be honest, i'm surprised you don't know of any since when I lived in Europe I found an abundance of dope US hip-hop in shops from Holland, to Germany, to France, to Turkey, to Portugal. And no, I wasn't a soldier, I REALLY lived there, running a studio and spinning in clubs.

Just keeping it really real,

Flo' Dolo

[Stone B]

I just checked, it was (xoox), a guy put it at the end of a message.

[JUSTTIGHT]

I'm in the same boat with you on that one????

[Chriss]

IMHO = in my humble oppinion...
xoox ... ??? some new way of spelling "zeus"???? why do we even promptly think that it has to mean something... maybe his cat just landed on the keyboad....

[Stone B]

That's quite possibly what happened

By the way, I would be interested in your opinion on my above question.

[Chriss]

i
m not very much fond of rap, the only stuff i like is hip hop with some interessting anttenuations and innovations... i.e. Beasty Boys rap skills can kiss my sorry ass, and so can most of the american rap scene... eminem got some cool shit going once in a while...
like in all genres, i don't care at all about the lyrics, they don´t have to make sense or anything, it just have to sound good..

ambi kinda said it... i'm that kinda guy i don´t listen to music to recieve a political message or an endless flow of poetic emotions... bah.. i just want it to make me feel good... one of the reasons is that : how many mc's do you think are hogging up on political messages while not caring shit anyhow and just being in it for the money??? my guess is 90%...

[Stone B]

I even agree with you to some extent.

I think that some of us expect, require, or want more from music though, and we don't get it, we can be frustrated.

Music to me is like food, some of us are particular about our food, and some don't mind as long as it tastes good. (Not intended as an insult to anyone) Eventually, we all want our food to taste good regardless of our particular preferences.