How to Rap: The Art and Science of the Hip-Hop MC Paperback – December 1, 2009

Wow!I am someone who has always been moderately interested in rapping, but never really knew much about it. There are some songs and some artists that I absolutely love, but everything else I pay little attention to. I don't know very many artists names and am almost completely unaware of rap prior to about 1999.On to the book. This book has taught me all of the intricate details that go on into imagining, creating, editing, and performing that I could have ever wanted. Every single page taught me something that I found worthwhile and often thought was incredible. Another amazing side-effect of this book is that I now have a huge appreciation for the hip hop community, and am amazed and inspired by many of the individuals. I am now aware or and appreciate tons of great artists of the past and present that I had know idea about before. I have now listened to 100's of tracks that I never would have before, and have learned how incredibly talented these artists truly are.I highly recommend this book for anyone that is interested in the hip hop community, wants to appreciate the art form more, or who wants to learn how to rap.And as others have mentioned, it seems that the only people that have given this book low reviews are "nobody" rappers who think that they are famous. There is nothing wrong with being a "nobody" rapper as that is what 99.99% of us will be, and it can still be fun and meaningful! Just don't pretend to be able to construct something better than this book.

This book offers great insight on various views and directions for artists beginning, artists to brush up on knowledge, and artists looking to put it all together.Now I'm not a professional but I would assume a professional would have little reason to buy a book like this unless they have not found them selves yet. This book is not a spoon feeder. It is more of a 4 COURSE meal. You choose at your own pace what you would like to eat and the order you would like to eat it. It offers great reference from many artists. Most are underground yet the important thing is that there are many avenues on the various components of rap. These are present. It doesn't give you worksheets, it instead provides views and points of views. These points of views are then perceived by the reader according to their understanding. The level of information is great depending on the ability of the reader to comprehend what is being read.Truthfully just about everything covered in this book was something I already knew or did, but the fact that it was neatly laid out and organized was the key. Some people have to have some peace of mind when they write which can be achieved by understanding direction and options. This book can give peace of mind to rappers that excel in writing.I have recommended it to my friends and have seen fast improvement.This is the definitive book on the subject.

This book was suggested to me by my producer/engineer as a must read. Once the book arrived, I could see why. The book is full of excerts from big names and legends of the rap industry. Ever wonder how your favorite artist writes a hook? It's covered. Been curious how to up your recording ability? It's in there too. All and all this is a great book if for just an insight into The Game. In fact we have weekly lessons and even homework concerning things convered in this book.

Although Kool G. Rap is featured on the cover the book is mainly composed of excerpts from interviews of various rappers and observations from the other author (Paul Edwards) tying them together thematically. The order of topics and choice of quotes is not perfect, many quotes are repeated and often some concepts seem to have quotes thrown in simply to avoid having no 'sources' even though the quotes are not very interesting out of context. Many of the ideas covered could be considered basic or obvious to anyone except a person who just recently began listening to Hip Hop. The historical context of the Hip Hop movement and reference to many classic 'required listening' albums and artists are great, and the lists of various attributes of an MC are useful, if only to have a vocabulary to discuss things you have already noticed. The flow diagram method is interesting and reflects what many lyrically talented rappers like Rakim already do when writing. Unfortunately these diagrams are not easily resized for reading on a kindle or other small tablet so it can be a little bit difficult to follow some of the longer technical breakdowns if you are reading the electronic version. The book describes many techniques but is hesitant to give many rules or guidelines, especially because of conflicting advice from various interviews. Ultimately I would almost prefer to read or listen to the interviews themselves, especially because many of the rappers interviewed clearly express themselves through sound, intonation, and gestures which are lost in the quotations. There is also a lot of space devoted to the actual act of performing performing on stage and furthering your notoriety as an MC. This book might be better titled 'How MCs are made'Bottom line - If you are new to the genre, don't know where to start, or would like a fun read with a lot of great context for modern Hip Hop this is a great buy. It's definitely worth the money but beyond the flow diagrams most of the advice could be boiled down to ' Practice constantly, be creative with your process, and listen to a lot of Hip Hop if you ever want to be an MC.

I found this book a joy to read and educational. I especially like the format of different mc's explaining their craft as it relates to rhyme structure. The structure of the book works well although I'll add that this book can be very technical at times. I admit I was expecting something different but now when I hear hip hop on the radio I actually can count bars!!

Paul Edwards does a remarkable job of compiling insights from over one hundred influential artists across various regions and styles, both mainstream and underground.The book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the mechanics of rap, from content creation and lyrical flow to rhythm and delivery.What sets this book apart is its accessibility to readers of all skill levels. Beginners will find the breakdown of rap components like metaphors, similes, and different styles particularly enlightening. At the same time, seasoned artists can appreciate the depth of knowledge and the candid first-person accounts that provide a window into the creative processes of hip-hop’s pioneers.Overall, “How to Rap” is not just a manual; it’s a celebration of hip-hop as an art form. It’s a must-read for aspiring MCs, hip-hop enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the power of words in music.

Used for addressing some fundamentals of poetry and rhythm for my grade eleven English class. Brought a non-traditional focus to things!

Dope booklearn from the greatest,and somebody one day will learn from you.Kool g rap and mobb deep,the best mc!

Un très bon livre si vous vous intéressez à l'aspect "technique" du rap et que vous lisez l'anglais.Sur plus de 300 pages le livre reprend une multitude d'interventions de personnalités du milieu (Tech N9Ne, A Tribe Called Quest, Papoose, AZ, Cypress Hill, The Lox, DJ Quick, Public Enemy, Masta Ace, MC Shan, Twista et j'en passe des dizaines).Le corps du bouquin est décomposé en 4 sections qui ont trait chacune aux "disciplines" qui composent un bon rap :1. Le contenu : le sujet abordé, sa forme, les outils utilisés, le vocabulaire, ...2. Le flow : comment ça marche, le schéma des rimes, le rythme, ...3. L'écriture : le processus (recherche, etc.), le freestyle, choisir son beat, structurer son discours, ...4. L'expression : style vocal, placer sa respiration, etc. aussi bien en studio et en performances live, ...Si vous connaissez un rappeur français, n'hésitez pas à lui en acheter un exemplaire (rare sont ceux qui n'y apprendront rien ;))

This books has helped me improve my skills.. Too informative, if you wanna know the techniques to be better than others then you gotta get one for sure !!