Why Rappers STOPPED Writing Their Rap Lyrics?

[@q.heffner3612]

Whats insane is that from everything you could learn from Jay Z (punchlines, metaphors, similes, double entendres, business acumine etc), they pick up that he don't write and run with that. You can't make this ish up 🤣🤣🤣

[@CurtissKingTV]

😭💯

[@Dihmarko]

Jay z writes in his head ,memorize it then records the verse in one take ,these new rappers just freestyle a few bars and keep punching in , its not the same.

[@Reggi_Sample]

@@Dihmarkoexactly! This gone have mfs thinking Jay went in the booth mumbled and crooned and filled the words in later like a new boy 😂 GTFOH. I need Curtis to address this for the younglins

[@fizzychizzy]

@@Dihmarkoit really isn’t. I’m upset they even brought him in this. Like…you don’t get Jay Z’s bars by stopping every line. Lol

[@quinreal1]

All facts...and completely maddening

[@c10_c10]

"Artists are more proud of the process than the product." Hearing this one statement made this video. Knowledge, truth, power. 🙌 Thank you gentlemen, my mind has been blown this evening. 🤯

[@younglove3362]

No, it's the reason why it SUCKS now. If anything, they need to go back to writing ✍️.

[@jaysouthmusic8230]

@@younglove3362I totally agree I write all of my stuff down I never freestyle in the studio because my memory is not as great as it used to be to be and people should know not everyone can freestyle that’s why there is paper and pens for a reason

[@younglove3362]

@jaysouthmusic8230 The passionate rappers I know carry a book 📖 and pencil ✏️ around or keep lyrics in their phones 📱. I use both based on convenience.

[@lacarte2008]

ALL FACTS!!!!!!!!!! They dont write cuz they CANT! Writing is truly a artform and im so grateful I know how

[@TrickNPlay]

In other words, the school system failed them

[@uriamudeltoro5075]

Damn....my notebook is calling me....

[@Reggi_Sample]

Jay-Z can’t write?

[@lacarte2008]

@@Reggi_Sample he definitely can. I recall him saying he has to be inspired. He wrote some of 444 I believe. And tbh everyone is not jayz nor Wayne. Levels to this

[@MichaelBonhomme-lp6ml]

@@Reggi_Sample If I remember correctly, the first reason was 1. He lost a lot of his master copies as a kid to theft, misplacing, or it just getting thrown out without his permission.

[@therealdondubb]

I’m with the mumble while I’m writing, the mumble helps me catch the cadence and memorize that, filling the cadence in with substance ‘words’

[@reddsmoke904]

Thug process was unique. He did that but to the mic. He would mumble a line multiple times and it became clearer each take. That was my first time seeing that.

[@realityhurtsrcspaced6017]

I agree but no matter how u look at I music is art period and tbh folks tend to tell more truth when it's not planned out now I personally write everything I put down even when i punch in but as a producer or engineer I should say some folks can write exceptionally well yet they choose to freestyle to them they don't have to think about how to go on the beat or even worry about proper timing mainly because they aren't reading so everything else is easier to catch on to

[@tesaikealiiolanakila]

It’s hard out’chea fo ahhhh pimp! I think ‘Hustle and Flow’ really captured the home method from my experience anyway

[@kamau506]

"Gluing a bunch of toothpicks instead of getting a block of wood" Barz

[@Iamgemsthevessle]

❤❤❤❤yup. I do that too😊

[@carlosmillertheprodigalsso6335]

Honestly my generation started to trying to freestyle songs when we found out Lil Wayne was doing it

[@jjbing3]

Yes! Jay inspired Wayne and then Wayne became the father of all these damn young guys😑

[@kidcasgaming62]

Yup that was me, and i failed lmao

[@yungcash8800]

Damn shame 😂

[@wvlkinvibe]

I concur yo rs wayne the reason I legit freestyle to this day 😅

[@pyroglyphicsTV]

That's what happens when you chase trends. Rap is seen more as a commodity than a art form.

[@maroon9273]

Also, it turned into anyone can be a rapper.

[@pyroglyphicsTV]

@@maroon9273 I'm 100% for gatekeepers at this point.

[@IAMPVTRK]

I still use Pen & Paper as a Rapper I am proud of it! I love the fact that I can still go back, and look back in amazement! Not just listen and be happy with the end result. I love the process of what we were taught in English class in school. I do outlines, edits, final drafts and all. I know that times change and that things must update, but If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The foundation is always solid. I am not a fan of the punch in method however; I do understand the natural ability that writing can't catch. like actors memorizing a script you can't write a facial expression or a feeling when playing and reacting from studying the words and doing a scene. But I also write because I'd rather know I have it somewhere rather than to forget about it later. I love your videos brother, stay grinding keep it coming.

[@TaurusBeats]

"Detachment from the written word..." - THAT was the phrase that hit me the hardest Curtiss. Man, you hit on an issue that is way bigger (and sinister). I applaud creators for being creators. Don't forget there is power in writing words down that activates/engages more of you as a creator. Great convo!

[@AikiraBeats]

I never understood why rappers want to brag about how they don’t write their raps. That’s literally the definition of your title.

[@maroon9273]

Most of them suck at rapping.

[@austinjones9171]

not really. Being a writer and being a rapper are technically 2 different arts

[@designbydraq]

@@austinjones9171 rap are diffrent than writer? Rhythm And Poetrys are different? you sure abt that?

[@Cardel34]

As a former rapper who stopped writing as well, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it as long as your “crafting” a song. For example, I had a job where I could listen to headphones all day. I would listen to beats and slowly build the verse in my head. Sometimes it would take me a week or so to get a verse done. That helped me develop the verse, memorize it better. It helped me craft a verse I can actually spit too so I’m not punching in or loosing my breath. I was able to pay more attention to the beat and the flow and choosing the right words, scheme and structure to make a good verse. It sounded more natural than when I wrote and tried to fit what I wrote to a beat if that makes sense.

[@redridxr]

Most of my songs are punch in but I actually need to start writing

[@nar7470]

also a rapper and i agree

[@Cardel34]

@@redridxr im from an era where performance mattered. i always felt if you cant spit it straight thru in a booth how you gon do it on a stage.

[@reddsmoke904]

Brother on the left been spitting the whole interview 😂 "you glued together a bunch of toothpicks instead of getting a block of wood."

[@BeautifulEarthJa]

he preached a word!

[@makavelizu2922]

Shout out to the engineers out there. Thank you🙏 The culture luvs y'all! 💪🏽you hurd me

[@4Bang9Gang]

I absolutely hate tracking rappers who don’t write. When I agree to do so and give my price they say I’m bugging. An engineer like myself is important.

[@fhajovan]

It makes since to write. For the artist and for who is recording you, so I understand you to be frustrated with someone who isn't prepared.

[@Reggi_Sample]

Your talking about the rappers who punch in and out as they go. Jay and Wayne write the whole verse in their head and lay the verse in one take. You wouldn’t have any problems. Don’t confuse this with these new niggas

[@4Bang9Gang]

@@Reggi_Sample I didn’t get into depth on WHO I was talking about or the process. Your assumptions are way off. I actually encourage the punch in technique and memorizing. Thank for your input though. And no I’m not a pipe rider or a fan boy. While having the opportunity to record Jay or Wayne I do not record certain material nor do I work with individuals who have a work ethic I don’t find suitable for me and my process and my pockets. The artists isn’t as important the engineer is. Im allowed to choose who and what I track. Im 22 yrs deep as an audio engineer mixing and tracking. I think I know what I am talking about. You the GOAT though. I almost thought I didn’t have a mind of my own. I never knew someone I’ve never met in life knows exactly what Im talking about with such little information. WoW how you do that?

[@xdevoiderx]

As an artist I find my best flows come from when I first hear the beat and just freestyle whatever noises come to me while I'm also hearing the beat for the first time. So my cadence, flow and delivery ends up blending and complimenting the beat way more. Then I would go back and listen to it and write down lyrics to give the mumbling nonsense structure and it helps with my lyrical ability since I need to make lyrics based on the sound myself.

[@aquariusthompson8212]

And you have no subscribers 😢

[@myronmosley2167]

@@aquariusthompson8212not all actors are famous, yet you see them in every commercial on tv and every add that has real people in them, and nobody knows 99.9% of them. What’s your point?

[@xdevoiderx]

lol let them talk it just shows negativity within them. I been making music and youtube videos under different accounts since 2010, My numbers from this one channel can never represent the amount of views, plays and subs I've gotten over the years without showing my face@@myronmosley2167

[@aquariusthompson8212]

@@myronmosley2167 my point is there are no subscribers....I clearly wrote that lol wtf. You can't read and comprehend? Whats your point of responding to something that wasnt about you or directed to you? Why didn't you subscribe to his channel and help out or this your other account you using trying to make it seem like somebody care?

[@feleezyt6620]

Im a rapper and I write all of my lyrics I will never stop writing my lyrics my favorite rapper 2pac did it and I am inspired by him

[@SpiceyKy]

I'm Gen X. I'll always be able to tell the difference. Cohesiveness is missing in this newer rap.

[@maroon9273]

And creativity that make sense.

[@SpiceyKy]

@maroon9273 Exxxxxactly! Can't imagine someone rapping, "let's talk about sex" and not making the song VALUABLE to the women in the target market. IE... Salt and Peppa. 😒 Not a bunch of random phrases a bomb editor had to scrap together just to make a song.

[@jchrismusics]

Bro I feel for engineers cause that has to be one stressful ass process

[@miguel831974]

Bro, IT IS!!!😂

[@jchrismusics]

@@miguel831974 😂 y'all need to charge these rappers more if they Gon be up there doing that or at least take a cut/percentage of those tracks cause I could never engineer someone who records like that. I could never engineer someone who's not me not to talk of someone who raps like that. 🫡🫡 respect to all engineers who engineer these rappers

[@maroon9273]

Engineers need to step these rappers games up by raising their fee or getting g a percentage of there work.

[@mikelavish]

I started off as a lyricist focused on writing rhyme schemes, flow switches and multi syllabic rhyming using variations of a b formats. Fast forward to now, I’ve “dumbed it down” to be less rappy using a mix between scatting melodies and actually writing the lyrics down. I find that sometimes when you write you can become a perfectionist causing the process to take longer. Allowing yourself to do both allows you to capture that lightning in a bottle and fine tune the music with writing 👌

[@aquariusthompson8212]

Damn if that's true, why you only have 60 subscribers?

[@mikelavish]

@@aquariusthompson8212 for years been focused on artist development. Now that I have my unique sound, become self produced, mixed & mastered & studied the game it’s almost time 2 launch everything 2 the world. I have 3 projects & countless singles in the vault. You’ll see soon 🤞

[@Rugbiii]

@@aquariusthompson8212 right all these dudes big upping their abilities but not moving any needles

[@StreetCars101Magazine]

"you glued together a bunch of toothpicks instead of getting a block of wood" ahahahahhahahaha OMFG!

[@multidinero]

As a writer, I acknowledge that I start some of my rhymes with at least 8 freestyled bars maximum! Then I get my page out and start to put my pen to work. I would go to the studio with my songs written and organized for nearly the entire song. I need my whole idea to be near complete. I need my songs to make sense to me first. I’m old school I guess.

[@loso850]

I’ve used both techniques in one song . Both rap techniques have their pros and cons 💯

[@GoodAfterNoon]

Tupac absolutely killed it reading from the paper though

[@maroon9273]

Pac wrote quickly like he was rapping from his dome and was able to complete multiple songs in day. Imagine if pac was alive. He would be able to a discography catalog in a day or week with the technology we have.

[@GoodAfterNoon]

@@maroon9273 I wish we could see that

[@KingKhupacabra]

@@maroon9273I know 😭😭 he would have done like 6 albums or more in one year

[@arrow-gee]

"You Glued Together A Bunch Of Tooth Picks Instead Of Getting A Block Of Wood" MANN! 😭🎯

[@sinnetgraham7711]

I love this conversation. I've been writing lyrics for 30 years. Im teaching to my sons

[@PlanetThrillz]

Depending on who you are, and where you’re at in your life, both helps. When you write, sometimes you police your own emotions, and can even sometimes overthink it, but when you freestyle, especially under the influence, you allow yourself to be yourself and just express emotions which is what resonates to the truth with most listeners

[@jonyu3]

Honestly, i think it’s bc most artists lack the discipline and focus to craft their bars. Everybody ain’t Jay or Wayne. The idea of the macro thought is spot on

[@iamtrinysongzz]

Facts!

[@lacarte2008]

absolutely

[@feltonbakerii3464]

Bro…I am so thankful for your content. It always leaves me motivated to become a better creator. And I love this vid because y’all reminded me that the FINAL PRODUCT is what matters. It really shouldn’t matter how YOU got there as long as you GOT THERE. Keep creating y’all.

[@CurserTV]

I still write but i rap into voice memo then play on repeat 3x the day before and 2 hours before session. That way I go in booth and knock it out in 30 minutes

[@TheDumontShow]

That's a great technique. Even if rappers today did that, their lyrics would sound better. There is nothing wrong with that. That's similar to a reference track

[@jchrismusics]

I write, I enjoy it and I never will stop. I used to use this big ass book but now I write on my notes in my phone which was a game changing. I like to collate my taughts so I can't do the freestyle shit. Not for me. It's probably way more stressful recording bar at a time, I just prefer to sit down with a beat and my idea, put it down and record

[@fika.violent]

same

[@oxladeforlahn6043]

Same here bro freestyle is a hype

[@nickgoodlock263]

Crooked I doesn't use pen and pad or actually write his lyrics down and he's super complex with it. Really impressive!

[@robfromthefuture214]

There was never anything wrong with the idea of not writing. The ones who don’t “write”, and are ahead of the pack are not the actual targets here. Jay, Wayne, and even Nas now are praises for this, cause it takes a ton of dedication to your craft to reach such a level and still perform at a high percentage.

[@101iswhatsup]

I love the surfing aspect of freestyling. Im grateful you all are on this topic as fellow creatives. When i write, i can be more witty and thoughtful. When i just surf it tho, part of keeping it going just brings something out.

[@RelicLabzEntertainment]

I literally record a free style for 10 to 20 minutes on the same beat, then chop the best flows and compose them on the beat in the best way I feel, then write to the flow I now have layed out. My music comes out deeper and the flows progress instead of changing all the time it's a good style of writing

[@AreYouPrey]

If you have written a lot of songs punching in makes it much much easy for you. Just make it make sense

[@victorcd9653]

Punch or write but it's still comes down to the voice, thoughts, energy/ soul, song writing, production and sound engineering to animate the artists verse.

[@HankHillspimphand]

keep doing these vids man, you will be 100k ever vid then 500k ever vid. the vibe is real, you got the old head and young head view. never even knew this channel. (knew curtiss but not the channel.) keep up the grind

[@CurtissKingTV]

🫡🛠️

[@HUSTLER-AT-HEART]

There is more energy in a freestyle but it’s more substance in a written rap

[@DavidMcCombs-gp2pi]

If it works for you it works for you. For me I'm writing mostly subconsciously, so I don't have to think much or at all consciously about what I said. But I mostly write my songs down, rehearse them and record that first, then listen to that recording and repeat that process until it's time to record in the studio. I then find a beat and pick out some pre-recorded adlibs, pre-recorded sound effects and choose a pre-recorded hook that I feel fits the song. Then if something happens in the studio while I'm recording that sounded like it fit that part of the song, I keep it. I then save the song and move on to the next.

[@KarlNova]

Whether you’re writing it down or just recording your thoughts and feelings straight into the mic in the moment, it’s all coming from your mind, you’re composing EITHER WAY! Writing it down gives you more time to consider what you’re saying, it is still intuitive and free flowing. You’re still saying the words in your mind before putting it down on paper or typing into your phone. It’s so weird how this has been made into a thing when you’re gonna still record using a mic and flow to the beat either way. People need to respect writing things down. The written word is powerful especially when you’re gonna speak or sing those words and make a recording anyway.

[@officialkngfst]

I do both. as long as u making great art thats all that matters. I tell u this, its NOT for everyone lol

[@TrickNPlay]

I think modern rappers inability to write is failure of the school system. I'm in my mid 30's and schools used to make kids read and write poems. Lil Wayne literally got started in rap by writing poetry. 90% of rappers should write and only a special few should come off the top of their heads

[@CurtissKingTV]

I was lowkey hoping someone would bring this up. I hesitated because a lot can get missed in context. But YES! This is absolutely a factor

[@akeem2752]

Yeah u correct, when you read and write it targets different parts of your brain. Reading helps expand your vocabulary and writing https with organizing thoughts.

[@craegenics]

Loving C King's TV channel... relatable knowledge, funny engaging quips.... and most of all so bloody entertaining!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥

[@Professor_Pat]

Everything you guys spoke about is all facts. Coming from someone such as myself who wears all three hats. Mix engineer, music producer and rapper songwriter.

[@shinpathome]

At some point we gotta come together and agree that freestyle =/= off the top/ off the dome

[@twylight191]

Not writing is a lot of the reason "lyricists" don't have meaning in their rhymes, it's All about A vibe. And just because Jay z doesn't write on a paper doesn't mean he doesn't write. There's a method of going bar for bar & remembering

[@FEELSOUL]

I do both, however I come from the generation of writing. I know who my audience is and what they expect. So whether on paper and now on my phone I write and produce all of my music and get 5 or more songs done a day. Your process is your own. I get it a lot of times we create based on feel or conveying a feeling but it depends on who you're talking to.

[@richdude8150]

I use to read on rap genius but now I can see the layout in my head when I listen, it's literally an in mind crossword and I could see the word pop up with numbering abd colour scheme in my head as I listen. Almost like when you take shrooms and have these visions. I just love lyricisim for this, it's beautiful imagery and art man. A casual listener just listens because the music sounds good. I wish more people could see the depth of real lyricisim

[@earlpipe9713]

That sounds almost like synesthesia.

[@Eugeene]

I'm still not quite able to bring those instinctive cadences to life even when I try to record it and capture that magical first listen. But when it happens it's just so dope. Also the writing part is a skill, I consider it more important than the recording part. So punching in can never be satisfying for me

[@earlpipe9713]

The way you wrote this comment made me think of the vert first time I heard Exhibit A🤌

[@uno_tvm]

Some of these rappers NEED to write 😂😂

[@JGtheChampion]

12:30 I engineered in a small studio in Atlanta for a couple months and sooo many artist came through and did this process and they wanted things to be quick. Fortunately I had been recording artist for awhile so I had a fast process. But I ended up quitting because I realized recording artist I didn't care about wasn't for me

[@MrMartellSincere]

That's tragic 😅 Laziness with these rappers nowadays

[@maroon9273]

​@@MrMartellSincerethe bar has been set so low.

[@MrMartellSincere]

@@maroon9273 I'd been writing my songs since I was 14 and recording music at 16|17|18

[@AntonioShakur]

Wow

[@Dice562]

If a rapper uses ghost writers cool, but in my opinion he can't go around saying he the best rapper and should not be held in high regards. A real rapper writes his own lyrics point blank period.

[@maroon9273]

Also, claiming to be the best composer and musician.

[@thelivekatcher666]

I'm an artist for over 2 decades now and i had stopped writing from around 2007-2008 because i realize i've reached a long way doing music so i would naturally get the first few lines that would be hard to forget in my mind and i just started to finish the entire song without writing it out.

[@yuneergainz117]

“Artists are more proud of the process than the product” 💎💎💎

[@chriswatson425]

5:45 time stamp - Jay - that was a bar/haymaker type of statement. “Artist are more proud of the process than the product”….and it's obvious. The lack of quality is undeniable.

[@grandaddybeatz5697]

From my own attempts at being a rapper and being in studio, the problem is not whether the rhyme is written or not. The problem is that if you wrote your rhyme down, it's that you are going into the booth with the paper or your phone. And unless you are really talented, it's gonna sound like you're reading and not spitting. Written rhymes committed to memory can be performed in the studio with the same energy, intensity, and feeling of being in the moment. This is coming from a guy who used to nail verses in one take. Now don't get me wrong though, aside from the music quality, if you setup to do a hot ass song and blow, what does it really matter how you recorded the song? I respect anyone who sees an obstacle and figures out a way over it, even if I don't necessarily like it.

[@iamaudi4518]

That’s part of the problem everyone jumping in the booth punching in 🗑️ bars doped out of there mind in whatever 🌎 they in, at the time that shit sound 🔥 to them. Hip hop not dead they just slowly ☠️ it. #SaveHipHop

[@rpstevo8965]

What I didn’t hear you guys mention is; a great song has a perfect marriage between what is flow/cadence and the instrumental. This would lean more to the mumble method. However, there is another that leans more to writing and cadence pre-decided. What I’ve done is write and record the song at the right bpm but with a dummy track. Strip the track and create the married instrumental. Fun fact. “How Deep is Your Love”by The Bee Gees was written with the “mumble method. There’s a video here on YT.

[@earlpipe9713]

Earth Wind and Fire used some similar methods/principles, just judging by how some of their choruses/hooks are just kinda abstract babble that Maurice White thought couldn't have been improved on with more concrete lyrics.

[@teamstrike1st]

Correction Jay said in an interview that he would memorize bars while on the block. He never said he didn't write rhymes

[@yiqwaba3833]

I noticed year's ago that I would freestyle first then stop to write down what I said so I couldn't forget it. But when I learned punching in I started doing that. It felt more comfortable, but when it's so much distractions around, I go blank so it's just now trying to find the time now, but that's a hindrance, can you do a video on getting the settings right? You know how it feels feeling constipated that's how it feels to force yourself to regain enthusiasm .

[@MJohns-ui2vs]

I think it was Joe Budden or Lord Jamar who said something to the effect of “rappers don’t write anymore… and it sounds like it”.

[@rahrah1958]

I been having this conversation all weekend. If you punching in I think it takes practice just like writing. To not be stuck on one line for 7 hours is the key.

[@austinjones9171]

Lil Wayne said he can spend WEEKS on a line sometimes. Everybody writes at a different speed. Cant rush it.

[@WasionKey]

"alright i'm ready.. to do what sir"

[@CurtissKingTV]

😭

[@blizziboitv]

When I write I’m WAAAAAY too rhymey. I’m connecting rhymes from syllables I said 2 sentences ago and shit lmao it’s like too structured when I write and less natural feeling . And it’s hard getting a “feeling” on paper . Mess around write something one day and forget the emotion next day

[@clydebrady1757]

And that's one of the aspects of writing that makes it very challenging 🫡

[@AntonioShakur]

Right

[@MJPIMP9]

Everybody got they process but the shit got to sound good with a complete thought in musical form bottom line. If you need a engineer to piece your thoughts together you better pay that man.

[@darker_360]

Grateful to have such content on a daily basis 🙏🏾🔥🇿🇦

[@Don1neofficial]

Writing was always easier for me it made more sense to go a lot quicker but punching works well to a combination of both is like a collaboration of different areas in your brain

[@1_jahwarrior]

9:15 11:27 How TRUE writing goes is: 1) you hum/mumble a melody for a flow or a pocket. 2) THEN you fill in this melodic structure you've made thru the humming with WORDS.

[@zayemusic]

14:27 She hit that on the nose 8 years ago it took me two years to finish my mixtape Now that i've been punching in I've made three EP's in eight months.. Back then if you was a solo artist it was three verses And a hook.. 3 to 4 minute songs Now it's 1 to 2 minutes and a half song. But note I do not rap like none of them.. I am a lyrical beast.

[@LEGENDTHEGOD25]

I don’t write my lyrics down but I’m a thought provoking and conscious artist that’s the difference. I don’t come up with my material right there in the studio I prep it in my head and recite it 48 hours before I walk into my session. These dudes don’t be having no intricate rhyme schemes, punches, double entendres, or wordplay. They just rap straight and even the delivery be half a** and the actual content be preposterous.

[@earlpipe9713]

You don't ever forget any lyrics you thought up previously when not writing them down at all? I know I have a problem with it, probably worse than the average, due to past concussions, but was wondering if someone hard at the craft most days would have it at all?

[@Yoloslides]

Rappers stopped writing because Jay-Z and Big were exposed for not using pen and paper. The problem is Jay-Z (for example) had years of mental training due to being in the street to be able to come up with complex rhyme schemes and has the wit (along with being an avid book reader) to come up with double, triple and quadruple entendres. Combine all those things and what takes the average rapper forever to come up with, he can think up and remember in minutes. Once he started bragging about it in one-liners, this whole new wave of "I aint no rapper" or "I don't write nothing down" started, as if using a pen and pad was looked down upon. I'm old enough to remember rapper after rapper suddenly coming out saying they don't write. The thing is it was blatantly obvious THOSE rappers didn't write shit because they sounded like it right away, and not in a good way lmao. Then Eminem came in and proved he could shit on everyone using a pen and pad. Fast forward to today, and these brain-dead rappers can barely put two complete sentences together without having to punch in over and over again just to stitch together a verse. The concept of flow has gone out the window.

[@sosleepy3333]

I freestyle all hooks to make sure it fits the vibe of the beat perfect and to naturally let the vibe tell my mind what the song concept is, and then I write my verses around the theme of the hook

[@alecmartinez9491]

been rocking for years and i feel this is some of your best content, thats just my personal opinion

[@joeparkhurst57]

YES... as a creative... I'm 100% with ya... I see the benefit of both ways, but as a singer, I don't mind adlibbing for a live show, but for something that is going to be FOREVER and not meant as a 'moment' --- I am writing the forever down, and studios don't do hourly anymore? How are artists affording 21 takes and punch-in creativity? I'm hearing THIRSTY, as in studios were hurting so bad financially that they sold themselves short. That sucks. Great video!

[@mktgsifu]

I've watched rappers like NBA Youngboy and his peers freestyle rap and "punch in" their bars. It's no wonder why at times these modern day rappers sound off beat lol

[@icaris78]

My last 30 songs all controlled freestyles. Zero paper zero pen . All mental 🧠 🎙️

[@MoneyManMediaTv]

I stopped writing ✍️ back in 2004, and I will be very honest about the punch in part I suck at. So, I have a hook pre-set off already. That's my method. Dope video

[@treblanco101]

I do both. But I prefer to record what first hits me as far as cadence and flow and then go back and fill in the words.

[@Bla_blah99]

I think people like you guys keep the spirit of hip-hop alive. I think you guys see some dumb sh*t and you don’t bash which is kinda offsetting but at the same time I respect it. It’s quite a double-edged sword. But people like you are the ones that real hip-hop heads respect. The ones that care about the culture, the meaning, the history, the respect. People like y’all are hard to come by in a world where “normal hip-hop” is a whole lot of repetitive bs and so it becomes this norm for the genre ultimately losing the point of why it was invented. What’s the point of every one of your songs being the same as one of your favorite artists, not taking a leap of faith and touching new ground as an actual ARTIST. A lot of people forget what the term “artist” even means. Once you’ve actually made a good painting and then try making music just to realize that music and painting are oh so similar then you can understand the term “artist” every real painter ever pretty much has touched new ground and took leaps because THEY knew they’re work was good and now look. “Iconic” that’s what real artists call them. People pertain to the masses because it’s what sells, but I see no leaps in that

[@kingnyame2119]

Wow! This was awesome insight to recording . This is why when I rap some songs, it sounds weird. But that might also be me 😂😂😂😂

[@akeem2752]

I rap and at first i used to write all the time. As a kid/ teen i wrote poems, short stories, and raps. Then as an adult i stopped writing my raps once i started making music. I like doing my verses in one take. They used to call me One Take Ak lol. So i would write first then memorize it. But once i studied Lil Wayne and Jay i stopped writing all together and it honestly became easier for me to compose a verse in my head and to be able to work on multiple tracks at once. I'm a nerd though I used to read the dictionary as a kid and i love learning new words, do i do think reading and over all world knowledge/experience helps make for a better and longer life of a track.

[@encouraginglyauthentic43]

True

[@quinreal1]

To me....and this is just my opinion as an artist...i don't knock those who write but...NOTHING will ever compare to what i sit down, feel the beat and let the words come to me....and WRITE IT DOWN....a very good friend of mine who i actually consider my family does not write (and he is incredible at it btw)explained a shortcut to do it(read the dictionary,start at any point but daily every day AND works..ive tried it..just didnt like it compared to what i write..)..but the kat who he's a fan of the most(also family)said nothing will ever compare to what's put on paper...but again it is what works for the artist

[@newraritv2771]

Haven’t written in years. It does make for simpler rhymes but better flows which is, to me, more important when the goal is good music

[@bornamezm]

fact outside the booth it's like it was all freestyle till the end but producers go through a lot to help

[@YungAqua732]

I used to write in da early 2000's til 2010 when I got my own studio..Punchin it in makes the process faster for me and easier to correct errors. Still write sometimes tho

[@Lyrivelli]

Ive been punching in for some years now. I would say most of my best work has come from it. Not only do I get wordy when I write but I find myself repeating words and bars . Punching in goes straight from my brain to the mic. I like it that way better

[@Flipitmixit]

They really think this is a flex, just say you dont know how to write and read gang😭

[@YungSuave]

I always freestyle my lyrics because it flows smoother to me . When I wrote my raps it sounds like I’m reading a book 📕 sometimes . But writing definitely is needed in some cases . It depends ! But overall as a MC u should be able to write good and freestyle good !

[@uknw438]

Valid point on the live show aspect

[@EastVirginiaStudios]

Idk how i feel about it. Sometimes i write sometime i punch in. Depends on the mood. Go see if you can tell the difference on my music

[@10MilliJay]

As An Artist I Do What I Feel Is What Most Comfortable For Me Every Artist Has Their Fair Share Of Inspirations But I’m Not Out Here Trying To Copy and Sound Like Everyone Else Don’t Try To Bring The Next Person Down Just Because Yall Don’t Like Their Techniques and How They Do Things

[@AlexValliMusic]

On the topic of writing vs not, I find both ways interesting, in general I have a lean towards writing because in a lot of the cases I've had the writing was well done, complete, and well executed. I do work with off the dome artists just as much, but it takes me a second to get in the groove of what the artist is doing first go around.

[@austinjones9171]

Personally I have to write because I can’t be confident going up to a mic if idk what I’m saying lol. Freestyling out loud for fun is one thing, but once that microphone in my face I ain’t gon be able to rap for shit. And I find the idea of recording a mumble then writing lyrics to the mumble too tedious. So I prefer to just write. I’ve had some songs where I thought of the bars in my head and just punched in, and it actually turned out well, but for the most part I just feel more comfortable projecting when I know exactly what I’m gon say

[@PreciseDiff]

The toothpicks bar 🤣🤣🔥 when rappers steaI what other rappers are doing those are “FREE-styles” lol

[@Malindean]

I recently watched the Nas masterclass and they gave him a pen and pad when he was about to show his process. He looked at it and chuckled. He said something along the lines of “we don’t do that, this wont be needed.” Then he proceeded to punch in line by line freestyling with hitboy engineering him. I’m not sure when he switched his process but I can hear that everything hes done with hitboy and this latest run he’s been on has been punched in. I thought that was very interesting.

[@JamesVader47xx]

I'm glad you mentioned you don't read it for the final version I write my raps liberty them for days or weeks them come back when they are flawless how I want them to sound cus it's not all about the words it's how it flows the vibe the tone the cadence and all that sounds different when you know what your saying before hand

[@RealLaone]

" they more proud of the process than the product", facts right there! If they know their written verses will suck more than an artist that don't write it's their excuse to not write and use that as the reason their verses suck let's be for real. You can hear the complex issues and skills an artist has whether they write or not, and most are just doing hip hop because they are fans of it and found a cheat code to make money through it, but the passion to be the best at it isn't there that's why the argument is always numbers, which is crazy because some are cooked through streaming farms... and once someone seem popular, everyone else wants to know what's the deal so they go listen. Plus most are making club songs, so that's what most memories are attached to as that's where people chillout ,take the cool off etc...

[@Benjamin-tf4cm]

The reason why Jay didn’t write a lot of his verses back then was because he memorized Biggies words already lol 🤷🏽‍♂️. Nas said “How many Biggies rhymes gonna come out ya fat lips?”

[@RiqO315]

I write most of what I do, I’ll just verbally edit some lines if need be. But I’ve had artist that I needed to punch in every two lines 🤦🏿‍♂️. Both methods are useful tools.

[@Nateolison]

I just found the channel, but this video got me locked in. I'm subbed up. Feel like I'm bout to learn a lot from y'all.

[@rajanmonroe]

Glued together a bunch of toothpicks instead of getting a wood block 🔥👏🏾 😂😂😂😂