Rapping Mistakes To STOP Doing In 2021 (WHY YOU AREN'T IMPROVING!)

--

--

If you're looking to learn how to be a rapper, how to become a rapper, and how to rap better, this video regarding how to improve your ability to learn how to rap and how to release music will help you immensely. We'll discussing rapping mistakes that will help improve your ability to know how to make a rap song and expand your skills in making a rap song quickly and easily. Enjoy!

--

--

Rapping Mistake #1: Chorus-Second For 50% of Your Songs
The first rapping mistake I see too many new artists making is to not have half or MORE of their song output begin with the chorus FIRST.

Now of course, this is more of a suggestion than a RULE but you have to understand that rap listeners ears have matured a LOT in the last 2-5 years.

Streaming services and (when we’re not locked down) festival performances have helped moved the listener to be uniquely attuned to hearing a “catchy” part of the song to start off.

It should already go without saying that the first 30 seconds of the song are the most prime “REAL ESTATE” of your track…

…Partially because you are likely a NEW artist who needs to grab the audience’s attention QUICKLY to turn them into “insta-fans”…

…AND because the first 30 seconds of listening is how streaming services even GAUGE if they will count that play as a “stream” or if fans click away in the first 30 seconds, it will not even count as a stream.

So putting your “best flow forward” is absolutely crucial these days when it comes to the start of the song.

Chorus-First For Lyrical Rappers
Now, a lot of you might be a little bit more into the “lyrical variety” of rap and be influenced by more “bar-heavy” or storytelling-heavy rappers and that’s GREAT, we support that.

However, even the more “lyrical” popular artists such as Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole often have a chorus-first mentality in their tracks.

From a storytelling track like “Neighbors” to a lead-off intro like “KOD”, Cole is not afraid to drop the hook to jump off a track, regardless of how lyrical he decides to get…

…And almost instantly iconic songs like “DNA” and “Loyalty” from Kendrick start the track off with an epic chorus before getting into the lyricism of the verse.

Do NOT let your penchant for lyricism deter you from becoming an expert songwriter.

We BELIEVE here at How To Rap that you can “walk and chew gum at the same time”…

…And the idea that “catchiness” and “lyricism” are two separate entities that can’t coexist is ridiculous.

Don’t fall into the trap that you can only be a “lyrical” or “catchy” rapper and not both.

Chorus-First For Mainstream Rappers
On the other hand, it should go without saying that if you’re trying to go more mainstream, as in chart success, the chorus needs to be the preeminent piece of your music’s offering.

Of the more popular songs of 2020 that have actually BLOWN a newer rapper up…

…Most of them have a chorus first that hooks in new listeners to the artist, with the most major examples being “Mood” by 24kGoldn and “What’s Poppin” by Jack Harlow – both of which start with a chorus.

Additionally, it should be needless to say that more established mainstream artists like Drake with his recent hit “Laugh Now, Cry Later” also begin their tracks with choruses often.

In short, whether you’re going for storytelling, bars, or more pop mainstream success, your ability to have numerous chorus-heavy songs will only help to improve your chances of gaining notoriety.

We go more in-depth into proper song structure in our free songwriting course (which you can get by clicking HERE), so check that out.

Rapping Mistake #2: Overly Aggressive Studio Delivery
This is a subtle point but rock with me.

Essentially, back in the day in the early days of rap, high quality mic and recording quality wasn’t easily available to your average young person growing up learning how to rap…

…And the mics themselves even when you got on weren’t nearly as good. They couldn’t pick up some of the nuances of modern rap.

With this in mind, rappers back in the day definitely both LEARNED how to rap and delivered their raps with a lot more AGGRESSION…

…Which sounded great at the time and delivered us some of the best rap music ever with aggression such as DMX, 2Pac, and so on.

It makes total sense – if you grew up rapping on the block, in the cyber, or at a block party…

…Your rap voice tone is going to evolve to fit that setting that you first started in. So, 1990’s style rap was more attuned to the setting that the rappers who grew up in the 1980’s would gain clout from.

[HowToRapOfficial]

COMMENT: Have you made any of these mistakes recently? Which one(s)?

[fortnitelovervictoryroyale]

Imagine getting a heart from how to rap

[flyingpigproductions]

Honestly underpromoting kills tons of careers in any creative field. It's so easy to get drowned out in the noise if you don't even try to speak

[soulshipconnection]

I'm a new rapper indeed. Prior to watching this video, I was not aware of the "Chorus first mentality."

[JFreeOfficial]

I need to get my promotion game on! Also need to get more hooks in my songs sometimes I just be telling a story and I forget to throw a chorus in the song. But I’ll stay learning and improving thanks for the video!

[janovich.]

How To Rap is living in 2021 while were out here in 2020

[Z-Tec]

YOUR THE ONLY RAPPING MENTOR CHANNEL THAT ACTUALLY TEACHES HOW TO RAP AND THE WAYS OF RAP!!! KEEP IT UP I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!! I DEFINITELY IMPROVED SINCE I FIRST SAW YOUR FIRST VIDEO!!! THANKS!!

[MoistAir]

I’ve spent so much time getting to know myself and what I should lean into that I’ve been holding off promoting so now that I know I’m more than ready to handle the spotlight promotion is my next step to being the next great 💪🏾💯❤️

[mrdmcarter]

I’ve learned a lot from this channel and I’ve applied some stuff that I picked up on the album I’ve been working on. I need to promote more.

[wallszymusic]

Under promoting.... Glad you brought that topic up.

[kidsoulworld]

Thank U for not causing anxiety like the other channels

[ItCantbecee]

drew already planning for 2021 yes man

[nebokl]

Why I'm I sooo in luv with your voice 😊😍

[mini_mac]

I used to Meek Mill scream on the track bc that’s how I thought you got the feeling on the track 😂 Def another good point you put in about the technology of mics too. This is true especially if it is a condenser mic

[TreyGold]

Been watching you for years now. Over 5 years....wanna say since like 2010 maybe not sure I'd have to go back and look but yeh stay up man

[LMarquee]

Early on, I used to rap way over the top aggressively for the style of music that I made. My biggest influences at the time were Eminem, Tech N9ne, and Hopsin, all of which oftentimes had aggressive tones in their music. I overdid it, but I am finally starting to find my voice.

[iliasseferiadis]

I want to make a rap to tell a story . How can i put a catchy chorus into that?

[wearefootballmusicfans]

lots of love from Nepal and always help me a lot

[simonpeter]

Mines is fist view
I saw it first😜😜
Soo helfful tnq bro😍😍❤️❤️

[Lirimmz]

For me its mostly the underpromoting, its just that I don't like using social media and I like to stay lowkey