mc's without as voice should write a book..

[Cold Truth]

for real, some of ya'll just aint got it and need to quit. im just being honest.

nooooooooooooooooo......... just playin, but i know thats the type of post we get at times here. oh well.

actually, i'm about to complain and vent about myself here. i think thats about as real as i can be here.

i started out rapping (horribly) and four years ago jumped into the world of beats and i havent really looked back since. about a year ago i started PRODUCING- really doing more than just looping a sample with drums on top (all i did was loop something and drop a drumline over it- thats it- this has nothing to do with the subject of "beatmaking vs. producing" so please, i dont want to hear a diatribe about the two. i am all for sampling.). during this time i would freestyle once in a while with a friend, and i write once in a while- which i think is solid but there is definatly room for improvement.

SO>................... i'm lazy and havent put much practice or thought into the actual rapping. i have mainly been focused on getting the tracks laid, and now i have enough solid tracks for an ep and a demo. GREAT, right?

wrong. i couldnt just jump in and record vocals like i thought i could. turns out i hate my voice..... i realized that all the great ones (my own list) have unique deliveries and voices. i noticed that i have a tendency to mumble and not complete words, to fast, and that my voice just sounds average- like a lot of guys that i dont care to listen to when it comes to rapping.

it kind of pisses me off because again, i think i am a solid writer. i'll post the tracks i have done in the next showcase and see what you all think, but i really felt that my voice was garbage.

it doesnt mean that i am giving up, it just means that i need to work at this aspect of things- and we'll se where it goes.

with that all said, anyone else deal with this type of circumstance?

 

[mercurywaters]

it took me awhile to really grow into my voice. i actually went to the point of rapping so much i would lose my voice. it's really just practice. your voice is your voice and its not really going to change much. what you have to find is the confidence in your voice. really be secure in what your saying and your voice will come through. or you could do a madlib and do a pitch shift on your voice. go mickey mouse with it. as for the mumbling, just put it into your mind to enunciate better.

 

[Shonsteez]

Yeah Truth, anyone can exercise their voice to make it sound better...It sounds like you may jus need more practice and try commiting yourself to both aspects of tha music instead, if you can handle both at tha same time. I'd have to say that theres not too many people that can pull that off and make look good...But even if it doesnt work out, remember that you still do have and imense amount of talent and you can only be restricted by whats in yer head.

 

[WingsOfAnAngel]

great topic truth! :thumb:

as for myself - i have been into writing for many years, but i know that i can't become a solid emcee. i simply do not have the qualities + a suitable character.
i can write good texts on paper, but when it comes to performing...
therefore, i have never thought of emceeing myself. thus, i'm always looking for hungry poetic emcees.

in my very humble opinion, written literature has pretty much summarized itself. there's hardly anything new to invent. hip hop, on the other hand, offers countless possibilities. cause it's not just about the text, it's also very much about the music (the background). i like the art of writing, but i feel that i can express myself better through music. i would be glad to write texts\poems (to be read on top of my beats), but i really do not see myself as an emcee.

Best of luck,
Wings

 

[Cold Truth]

yeah thats true, there are a thousand ways to get on in this culture....
it just struck me hard, like rappers that i think are garbage at least delivered better! it also gave me a lot more respect for guys like mos def and pharoah monch (you to merc) because guys like that can do so much in terms of vocal ability. they dont have "singing" voices, but they do some ill things with it........

anyhow thanks deuce that helped- last night i was ready to quit- no joke man, i was just buggin, got depressed and everything..... as far as beats and rhymes, making them both equally well, there arent many who can do them both well, i agree.........but i'm gonna try! i want to be above average at both, but to be honest there are very few that i want to rock my beats (or, seemingly, that can- most people who try have a hard time with them...) so as a producer, if i cant produce myself then i'm kinda stuck...... (unless merc is willing to do a whole album with me.....!!!)

 

[mercurywaters]

man i would love to do a whole album with alot of producers(especially truth) but i want it to be official. i'm tired of sitting on finished albums with no loot to promote, manufacture or distribute them. i gotta get on an indie label.

 

[Shonsteez]

Yeah Truth dont quit man!!!
Dont sweat tha small stuff man for real...
I know sometimes it feels like yer up against a brickwall but that tha nature of this game.
And i didnt mean that you shouldnt try to do both, by all means you should def. try....I was jus adding that not too many fools are good at both...that def. doesnt mean that you cant - dont beat yerself up so much man...
And seriously, i dont see how fools wouldnt want to rhyme over yer music, sounds to me like you maybe jus havent had tha opportunity to link up with tha right people. Theres always someone out there that will like your music and then tha ones who will be like "dam this dude sucks!" ....but fuck tha cats who dont feel you and keep on doin it...

Most importantly do it for YOU.

Hell, when i listen to my music, im like "dam that sucked!" all tha time and then someone says that they dig it and it would be a good track....
I just get tired of hearing myself sometimes and at that point i have to step away and get some air and be away from tha craft.

 

[Cold Truth]

nah actually most heads that hear my music dig it- i just dont dig them. the only dude besides merc that i have felt comfortable with (or deemed, um, worthy....!) is aguy out here from San Diego named Mirage, but we have a hard time keeping in touch... i refuse to let anyone who THINKS they got skills touch my music- asde from personal issues (you all know i am a Christian, so anyone who drops something on a Truth track needs to keep it clean, plain and simple.... )...

 

[hookiefree]

I feel u man. My voice is all nasal and dull sounding. God didn't give me a busta rhymes voice, so I make beats.

 

[Shonsteez]

I can see how that would be hard...

 

[mercurywaters]

check out sphereofhiphop.com, truth. its a christian rap site. its some nice emcees over there. dope producers there too.

 

[Cold Truth]

did Mars Ill start that site? thats the title of a song of his...

 

[mercurywaters]

i don't know. maybe. i run through their message board every now and then. i don't know alot about the site.

 

[Equality 7-2521]

i thikn mercury is right when he says you need to find the confidence in your voice. that in my opinion can be the difference between a wack rapper and a dope rapper.

ive tried rapping and cant get my voice to some through, (unless im drunk freestyling)

 

[SupaStar]

Its just practice and dedication I think, I've never tackled rhyming before, but writing I have. I remember way back when I just started I was never able to completely write a song. But I kept at it - poems and journals and notes and even here at Ill, I occasionally drop an article. Now fast forward to the present, just yesterday I received a check and a trophy for a love poem I wrote and songs I can dash through in a second, I believe not doubting is the first step and being dedicated at it no matter how bad you think you sound,
Also a good exercise is searching for fast rhymers like Busta and I cant think of anymore and rhyming along side them - the day you can keep up and allow voice pitch changes, move to another artiste I believe thats a good thing to work your voice, and singing even if you cant find some good old gospel records and sing to them - the chords will definitely strengh your vocal tenecies, gospel is proven to be one of the hardest thing to sing - if you can make through a song without that burning sensation in your throat thats a plus a sign or how well your doing.
Maybe dumb suggestion, but hope I helped

 

[boneyboys]

Yup all you guys are dead on on this one. Keep going truth and remember that not everyone likes the same kinda rapper, you should be able to find your niche. I'm equally happy listening to Stephen Malkmus half singing half rapping half talking (yes, three halves I know) over Pavement with his sorta whiney voice as I am listening to Rakim flowing like I wish I could. Thats what makes music so great, no two people can sound the same and theres something in there for everyone

 

[RigorMortis]

If you main goal is making music (beats & rap) you enjoy and can put your creative mind and energy into, you got nothing to lose ever, only things to gain.