Know What I like ? Ranting. Here's One About Rapping.

So, if you know me at all, you know that I LOVE to rant. I LOVE it; whether complaining or praising, nothing entertains me like expressing my opinion. And, since you're reading my blog, guess what you get ? Nope, it's not a pony. Not a brand new car. It's a big ol', heaping helping of MY OPINION ! *crowd cheers*

Now, again, if you know me at all, you know I'm a rapper. You know I love music, and you know how I'm generally a pretty fair judge, if a little overly harsh. This is ESPECIALLY true when it comes to indie artists, like myself. I'm passionate about what I do, and I hold everything I hear to the same standards that I hold my own music to. So, here are some things that bother me about other indie rappers, as a whole:

1. If I haven't heard your song yet, your MC name is EVERYTHING.
Seriously, get a respectable name. I'm not saying it has to be like mine, where it's mimicking a regular name, or a part of your own name, or anything like that. But, if your name is something like "STUNNAZZ di Rude Boi" or "T-Swagger" don't expect me to click the links you ever so frequently post on my wall. Find something original, that reflects your identity as an artist.

Which brings me to...

2. FIND YOUR FREAKING ARTISTIC IDENTITY, AND SOLIDIFY IT.
The caps were soo very necessary. If you don't know who you are, why should I want to find out ? Figure out who you're trying to be (here's a hint: aim for not being someone who already exists)and be it ! Now, people change; I've re-invented myself a few times, and I'm still solidifying myself. But, as such, I still have a general feel for who I'm trying to be. If you don't have that, you'll have no trademark feel for your listeners to identify as being you.

Oh, and on a more technical level...

3. Pleeeease.. ENUNCIATE.
If I don't understand what you're saying, I'm honestly not going to try to. If Busta Rhymes & Twista can enunciate while rapping as fast as they do, you can make it so that your 92 BPM club track is clear. Not that a little slur isn't cool, but like... You're not Plies. Chill.

And another thing...

4. Be inventive about how you say things.
I'll be real; there are like 5 things to rap about: your skill, your swag/money, relationship stuff, ambition, & conscious stuff. Now, that being said, "I'm the best" will NOT cut it. It wasn't enough for Melly-Mel, it's not enough now. Figure out creative ways to say the same thing, because that's ALL WE DO. You are, by default, redundant. So am I. I've come to grips with it. I CANNOT be 100% original. So, I'm gunna push for whatever percentage I can get. Stay away from clichés, unless you're gunna spin them a different way.

5. Do some personal quality control.
Don't release EVERYTHING you record, just because you managed to get 5 songs done during your 3 hours at your cousin's friend's boyfriend's uncle's studio; check those songs. Chances are, at least one of them sucks. Ouch, right ? I say that to myself EVERY TIME. Because it's like this in the studio: "DAAMN, AJ ! This is gunna be the ONE ! We're blowing up TONIGHTTTTT !" And then like this when you hear it in a week: " Damn, AJ... Why did we even record this track ? This goes softer than sentient marshmallows having a pillow fight..." So listen to your songs. Listen for flaws. Look for weak things. Scrutinize. Otherwise, you post stuff that you'll regret IMMEDIATELY afterwards... And I'm just as guilty of this. Trust me... Soo guilty... Lol... ANYWAYS. Quality control: don't give your haters any more ammunition than they already have, lol.
If this seems nitpicky and harsh to you, guess what... The list of things I personally do, with regards to my music, is sooo much longer than this. Like, absurdly longer. Maybe one day, I'll post my mental processes for things like that.

For now, though, hope you enjoyed reading what I again would like to state is my opinion. Y'on't like it, don't read it.

But seriously, like it & read it. :)


Peace In, Peace Out.