How To Rap: The Art and Science of the Hip-Hop MC by Paul Edwards

Artists interviewed exclusively for the book include classic MCs and groups such as Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, Mobb Deep, AZ, Jurassic 5, Cypress Hill, Pharoahe Monch, Boot Camp Clik, Masta Ace, and A Tribe Called Quest, as well as more recent artists such as Clipse, Styles P, The Black Eyed Peas, Crooked I, Immortal Technique, Royce Da 5’9″, Papoose and Nelly.

HOW TO RAP breaks MC’ing down into content, flow, writing, and delivery with topics such as writing in your head, punching-in vocals, and interacting with the crowd all tackled from different angles by numerous pros.

The book also features the first complete breakdown of “flow”, allowing readers to create tongue-twisting compound rhyme styles like Kool G Rap and Eminem, complex conversational flows like Nas, Jay-Z, and OC, the classic true school patterns of Melle Mel, and everything in between.

Available at all fine bookstores and from Amazon

For more info on the book, visit www.howtorapbook.com

About Paul Edwards
Paul Edwards holds a master’s degree in postmodernism, literature, and contemporary culture from University of London and has done extensive research on Hip-Hop lyrics, interviewing 104 MCs for HOW TO RAP.

About Chicago Review Press
Chicago Review Press is also known for releasing classic work on African-American culture by H. Rap Brown and Assata Shakur. www.chicagoreviewpress.com

Part I: Content

Content Topics: Real-Life, Fictional, Controversial, Conscious, Club/Party

Content Forms: Braggadocio/Battling, Conceptual, Story, Abstract, Humorous

Content Tools: Imagery, Similes, Metaphors, & Analogies, Slang, Vocabulary, Wordplay, Punch Lines

Part II: Flow

How Flow Works: The Flow Diagram, Beats and Bars, Syllables & Stressed Syllables, Fitting the Lyrics to the Beat, Rests, Overlapping Bars, How Is the Flow Diagram Useful?, More Examples

Rhyme: Perfect Rhyme, Assonance, Alliteration & Consonance, Compound Rhymes, Coming Up with Rhymes

Rhyme Schemes: Types of Rhyme Scheme, Extra Rhymes, Number of Rhymes in a Bar, Rhyme Placement

Rhythm: Coming Up with Rhythms, The Pattern Diagram, Patterns of Rhythms, Rests

Part III: Writing

The Writing Process: Research, Ways of Writing Lyrics, Places to Write, Times to Write, How Long Does It Take?, Writing in One Go or in Pieces, Keeping or Changing the Process

Beats and Freestyling: Writing with or without the Beat, Picking Beats, Rapping & Producing, Freestyling

Structuring, Editing, & Selecting Lyrics: Song Structure, Editing Lyrics, Selecting Which Lyrics to Use, Archives, Selecting Singles

Writing with Other People: Writing in a Group, Guest Verses & Other Short-Term Collaborations, Ghostwriting, Producer Writing Input

Part IV: Delivery

Vocal Techniques: Breath Control, Enunciation, Vocal Style, Taking Care of Your Voice

In the Studio: Reading or Memorizing the Lyrics, Practicing the Vocals, Deciding Where to Breathe, Guide Vocals, Recording over Several Takes or in One Take, Number of Takes, Doubling Up & Ad-Libs, Further Editing the Lyrics, Producer Vocal Direction

Performing Live: Confidence & Showmanship, Using the Mic & PA System, Rocking the Crowd, Being Spontaneous, Improvising & Freestyling, Adding Something Extra, Working with a Hype Man, DJ, or Group, Learning from Other Artists’ Performances, Rehearsing

Final Words
Interviewed Artists
Index

Clipse
Public Enemy
Black Eyed Peas
Kool G Rap
Nelly
Big Daddy Kane
Mobb Deep
Cypress Hill
Twista
A Tribe Called Quest
D-Block/The LOX
David Banner
Pharoahe Monch
AZ
Jurassic 5
The Pharcyde
Black Moon
Masta Ace
Del The Funky Homosapien
DJ Quik
E-40
Immortal Technique
N.O.R.E.
Royce Da 5’9″
Schoolly D
Remy Ma
Shock G
Slum Village
X-Clan
Dilated Peoples
Aesop Rock
Das EFX
C-Murder
Cappadonna
Brand Nubian
Lady Of Rage
Arrested Development
Souls Of Mischief
Onyx
Devin The Dude
MC Shan
Killah Priest
Rah Digga
Tha Alkaholiks
Heltah Skeltah
Poor Righteous Teachers
Smif N Wessun
Little Brother
Cormega
Blackalicious
Crooked I
Gorilla Zoe
Joell Ortiz
MC Serch
Freestyle Fellowship
O.C.
Paris
Papoose
RBX
Ill Bill
K-Os
R.A. The Rugged Man
Tech N9ne
Cannibal Ox
Jedi Mind Tricks
Yukmouth
Zion I
People Under The Stairs
Bishop Lamont
Brother Ali
Cage
El Da Sensei
7L & Esoteric
Mr Lif
MURS
Wordsworth
Guerilla Black
Termanology
40 Cal
Big Noyd
Glasses Malone
Hell Rell
Lateef
AMG
Planet Asia
Spider Loc
The Federation
Stat Quo
Cashis
Bobby Creekwater
One Be Lo
Pigeon John
Wildchild
Omar Cruz
Lifesavas
Rampage
2Mex
Ugly Duckling
Akir
Mighty Casey