So you want to be a rapper?: A How to Guide

So you want to be a rapper? Well let's set one thing straight right now: so does you and just about everybody else. Just about every able bodied person from my old high school thought they could be a rapper a some point in time. Some are making it and some... well, they're around. Point is, the rap game is a competitive business. You got to put in tons of work and effort just to get a little bit of attention! It's not all glamour and glitz, it's a hustle just like anything else.What's that? You still think you got it in you? Well, you came to the right place because this is the article that will get you started down the rode to your dreams.

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 Step 1: Make up a name/alias/alter ego.

We're starting at the very beginning. You can't skip ahead to people chanting and screaming your name if you don't have one. And unless you've already got a cool birth name like Kanye West or Kendrick Lamar, you're going to need a stage name. Think of a name that says something about you, your rapping style, your lifestyle or your upbringing. Think edgy and catchy to find the right name.

Names that work:
Lil Wayne
Jay-Z
Eminem
Andre 3000

Names that don't work:
Beelow
Del  tha Funky Homosapien
The BoyBoy Young Mess (formerly known as Messy Marv)
Shorty Shitstain
.

Step 2: Working on your rapping skills/find your style.

To avoid ending up likes some internet phenom rappers that seem to have little to no technical ability you should start practicing and perfecting you rapping skills from the get-go. Think of your self as a modern day poet and try using real literary devices when constructing your rhymes. Start off with a rhyme scheme. A rhyme scheme is a rhyme pattern or set of rhymes that repeats throughout the rap. Rap can contain all forms of rhyme, from the simplest to the most complex patterns, but it should contain some kind of structure.

Secondly, you could be the most lyrical guy in the world but if you don't have an appealing flow well then you might as well give up. Make sure you pronounce each word clearly and watch the speed, rhythm and melody of your rap. Finally make your rhymes clever by using wordplay to give your listeners those "OH, NO HE DIDN'T" moments. Easiest way to do that? Entendres.

Subject Matter.

Decide what you want a rap about. It's that easy. You've got a background and a perspective on a lot of things so rapping is your chance to talk about it. You don't have to be a Gangster Rapper, you can rap about whatever speaks to you.

Example Rap Genres:
Gangsta rap
Religious rap
Entertainment/Pop rap
Socio-political rap
Alternative Indie Rap

Common Topics:
Money
Cars
Clothes
The Hoes
(I couldn't resist)

Practice Freestyle/Battle Skills.

TRUST ME, you need to know how to freestyle. Even if you can only do a couple bars at a time it's better than nothing.

Scenario 1:
When you get around to telling people you're rapping their going to ask to hear what you got, so you spit a couple nice lines you wrote and they like your stuff. All good, right? No, cause then they ask you what else you got. You rap a little something else you had and keep going until you're out of memorized material. But they want to hear more. what are you going to do then? Shyly tell them that's all you got come back later? No, you're not! These are potential future fans, and you have to show them that you can rap something of quality of the dome, anytime anywhere. So start practicing just saying things that rhyme to yourself a couple times a day and slowly progress to saying coherent sentences and multiple lines that make sense together until you are a free styling machine.

Scenario 2:
You tell someone you're a rapper and they proudly declare that they rap a little bit themselves: "How about a rap battle?" Well, damn. Here we go. Everyone wasn't paying attention to you too before just started listening. You can't back off now. You're only choice is to go at it and hopefully you've prepared. Hone your battle skills. If you're not the insults type of person try free styling where you're bragging on yourself and showing why you are the greatest around. Many of the top rappers started out as master battlers, so start battling in your community to get your lyrics rolling off your tongue. Who knows, you may even get a couple of votes.

Write a Rap Song.

Now it's time to get to the good stuff. You've perfected your style, you've become a decent improviser and you feel it's time to start writing songs. Make sure not to stray too far original choice of subject and just start writing. Keep your lyrics cohesive, and remember to create a rhyme scheme that works well with your flow. You don't need a hook in every song, some can just be flows as long as they make sense and sound good you shouldn't have a problem. Makes sure that you're writing songs that you like and not something to appeal to the people, well, unless that's the kind of trashy rapper you want to be.

Get your name out there!!

Finally take your best work and make a mix-tape. There are plenty of sites out there that allow free posting of rap mix-tapes (including this one)  Give mix-tape out to as many people as possible: your friends, coworkers, family, everybody. Try attending rap events and clubs where you can drop your tape off with the MC and DJ. If it's good, they'll let you know. Start Facebook Pages, Twitter accounts, MySpace profiles (just kidding). Do everything you can to show case your talent.

And Finally, Never Give Up.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Keep going even when it seems like the odds are stacked against you. Not only did it take most successful rappers much longer to reach their goals than they initially thought, but many of their most difficult times produced their best material. Make sure your having fun and try to keep from getting too stressed. Stay in it, keep innovating beats and rhythms and take heart in the process of becoming a hip hop success.