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How to be a great rapper

BY GLENN GAMBOA | Staff Writer

October 12, 2004

Rapper Jay-Z is set to perform in the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia. (Newsday File Photo/Bruce Gilbert)

Great rappers make it look easy.

They just talk, right?

Of course, anyone who's seen not-so-great rappers -- or tried unsuccessfully to rap for themselves -- knows that's not true. If they falter in any one area, the result is as noticeable as a singer out of tune or a drummer out of time. To be considered great, a rapper must master all these skills:

The rhymes: First of all, verses must rhyme.

By doing that creatively, rappers set themselves apart. Whether it's making up words like Snoop Dogg's "izzle" speak or changing pronunciation like the Beastie Boys' rhyming "Wylie E. Coyatee" with "lattee."

In "99 Problems," Jay-Z manages to rhyme "hoes," "those" and "zapatos" to explain why critics are wrong about him.

In "Without Me," Eminem rhymes "controversy," "Elvis Presley," "selfishly" and "wealthy" to sarcastically explain how his race has helped his success.

The flow: The way the rapper delivers his lines in time with the music. That can be fast like Twista or slow like Snoop Dogg, but the rhythm needs to be consistent throughout the song.

Diction: With so many syllables going past quickly, it is important to be able to enunciate while still being able to be understood. In "Don't Say Nuthin'," The Roots make fun of mumble-mouthed rappers whose rhymes can't be deciphered at any speed.

Originality: Perhaps more than any other music genre's fans, hip-hop fans are always looking for something new, something that sets the rapper apart from the rest.

A sure way to lose fans is to rely on old standbys such as counting ("to the 1, to the 2" ... ), "yo mama" jokes or asking fans to put their hands in the air and waving them like you just don't care.

A sure way to gain them is to create new words (Jay-Z's "Denzellin'"), new catch phrases (Missy Elliott's "Get your freak on") or new scenarios (Eminem's crazed-fan tale "Stan").

Personality: The best rappers are able to offer some of their individuality while still following all the rules of rap -- either by telling personal stories or offering a new spin on often-told tales.