Why Rappers Stopped Writing: The Punch-In Method

Fifty years into hip-hop’s constant evolution, many rappers don’t write down their lyrics at all. Here’s how they make songs now.
Subscribe: bit.ly/U8Ys7n
More from The New York Times Video: nytimes.com/video
----------
Whether it's reporting on conflicts abroad and political divisions at home, or covering the latest style trends and scientific developments, New York Times video journalists provide a revealing and unforgettable view of the world. It's all the news that's fit to watch.

[@evanbrum6357]

The only issue I see with this is that it encourages rappers to basically structure their whole album around writing clever one liners and non-sequiturs. Instead of making something more conceptual. Very hard to imagine an Illmatic, a Food and Liquor, or a TPAB being written with punch ins.

[@Djacedeuce]

Couldn’t have said it better. Instead of the artist thinking “what is this entire song about?” or “Where am I going with this verse?” they just think about “what’s a catchy thing can I say on this line that will get attention?” The end result is a verse or song that from a concept standpoint makes little sense.

[@FUNKBOOGIE1]

If you write your music or lyrics down on a notebook pad in your own hand writing and sign it. it becomes a museum peace years from now. just like an autograph. Then it can be auctioned off years from now. Rappers who don't write their lyrics down, are throwing away money like a dummy.

[@hhhsp951]

Three of the best albums I ever heard. And mfs think it's more impressive to not do that.

[@yashchenko999]

Christ Dillinger made KING LEOPOLD THE 2ND WAS A HOE by punching in and it's a thought-provoking masterpiece

[@StephTerry-c2y]

To be fare Lupe demod on a IGlive him punching in. So its not the method it's the effort and quality.

[@winstonplatt7354]

Summary: "I heard Jay Z doesn't write down his lyrics, so I took it a step further and just don't have lyrics at all"

[@mfundomkhize2337]

😂

[@Yoloslides]

BINGO lmfaoooo

[@ashleyadams5207]

Facts.

[@idesel]

😂😂😂

[@ColdBlunts]

this why they forget lyrics at concerts 😂

[@egdapo]

99.9% of these people NEED to start writing again. They missed Jay's point completely. Even he started out writing his rhymes🤦🏾

[@letsgetbizzy6543]

99.9% of these people need to stop making music altogether.

[@egdapo]

@@letsgetbizzy6543 facts 😂

[@Dreezie]

Juice one of the only recent mainstream rappers that could do what jay z did, everyone else gotta grab a notepad

[@derekhakeem8]

@@DreezieJuice wrld freestyle ability was insane 💯

[@D-Reality]

"I ain't a writer, I'm a biter" 😂

[@TigerCraneLove]

“We stopped writing a long time ago, not many people write”. WE CAN TELL!!

[@senseichang_]

Doechii is amazing. She don’t need to

[@bobweiram6321]

Writing is hard work. Hip hop culture devalues work because labor is perceived as demeaning. It's largely due to a legacy of slavery, oppression, and exploitation.

[@TigerCraneLove]

@@bobweiram6321 that certainly is painting with a broad stroke. Some artists in the Hip Hop community may devalue hard work. Hip Hop is not only emceeing.

[@bobweiram6321]

@@TigerCraneLove There are rappers who put in the effort, Playboi Carti comes to mind. Andre 3000 boasts about all the hours Outkast put into their albums. Tupac could be seen in the studios with a stack of notebooks studiously editing his masterpieces. On the other hand, there are too many rappers who say boast about how little effort they put into their craft. They wear it like a badge of honor, "I make make a million dollahs just saying "uh". Combine that with the slow talking, listless body movements, it sells a very self destructive ethic of underachievement. I say it's part of hip hop culture because it's unique to it. Playboi Carti, while amazingly talented, frequently babbles and bumbles in interviews.

[@iGame3D]

We can, brainrot fans who can't even READ can't.

[@calcutlass]

Just Blaze trying hard to not say these new dudes is trash lol

[@Africafactsguy]

You could tell

[@zachthomas5272]

I really wanted him to go in hard with his actual opinions.

[@j.carnette8139]

🚮🚮🚮🗑️🗑️🗑️

[@bo_____knows]

Facts lmao

[@picassocerrado8972]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂true

[@Spearca]

Seems like the engineers are trying to keep their jobs, not saying how unimpressed they are.

[@djblc2201]

Exactly what I was thinking

[@neverhungryagain2187]

They better shutup

[@beattrackmusic9565]

I one hundred percent complained about this in my comment and in my professional life and personal life I’ve quit several studio jobs over it. That’s putting my money where my mouth is #EnGineerLivesMatter lol

[@grimrichman]

Engineers don’t really get as much of a say nowadays unless they actually produced the track

[@fkanous6077]

Before my brother passed away, he was an engineer. He used to do OFF about this. He hated it.

[@Skink303]

“Phony rappers, who do not write Phony rappers, who do not excite…” - A Tribe Called Quest

[@neverhungryagain2187]

Trash 🗑️

[@EnglishEloquenceMoscow]

Word to that.

[@Therealziro]

their broke af lmaoo im not looking up to bums

[@truesearch69]

You said it..rappers....... a rapper is not an MC, they are two very different things. a rapper is a commercial product an MC is someone who belongs to the culture and contributes to it.

[@Cc10373]

Bro its 2024😂

[@roma5869]

That’s why the songs have no meaning

[@miss.charlene]

💯💯💯

[@pachho808]

why they gotta

[@millyoneyedeaz1350]

yup, cant stick to a subject so every song has the same content smh

[@LIL5LIME5TAR]

music doesnt need substance or meaning all it needs to do is invoke a feeling in you

[@Domzzzz]

​@LIL5LIME5TAR you right. But sometimes it should have meaning, to the artist and to the people. Nothing wrong with having fun. We just want more variety is all.

[@bert3163]

If the engineer is paid by the hour, it’s all love! 😂😂😂😂😂

[@derrickrocco]

“True writers will always reign supreme”

[@dickson4036]

Bank statements are probably saying different

[@myssie-theanimedevourer5835]

I guess they don't need to write it down since they not saying anything. 😅

[@youtuberecommended9183]

🤓

[@resonatingtruths]

Great point lol

[@Madbandit77]

Truth.

[@goldenstar_1007]

😂

[@aick]

Didn't stop you.

[@danillorippel]

This is the best accidental parody that I've ever seen

[@winstonplatt7354]

I kept expecting them to make a case for this style.. nope.

[@JohnGorenfeld]

I did feel like I could picture the Key and Peele version.

[@SuperBen1066]

This is the best comment I’ve seen on this video 😂

[@Sporkonafork1]

Reality is stranger than fiction…

[@FUNKBOOGIE1]

If you write your music or lyrics down on a notebook pad in your own hand writing and sign it. it becomes a museum peace years from now. just like an autograph. Then it can be auctioned off years from now. Rappers who don't write their lyrics down, are throwing away money like a dummy.

[@JonSnowsGhost]

Jay-Z said he didn’t write in the 90s because he didn’t have a pen and paper at all times. He also said he regrets creating a generation of bad writers. 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@Madbandit77]

More like no writers. Rap/Hip Hop was based on slam poetry and you had to write verses.

[@JonSnowsGhost]

@@Madbandit77 That’s not completely true. You still have Kendrick, J. Cole, Conway, Benny, Dave East, Cordae etc. but most of them are over 30. So, in the long run you’ll probably be right

[@astroboirap]

just write on the kfc bucket then

[@aick]

Source?

[@aick]

@@JonSnowsGhost Thank you.

[@WillieDane]

Exactly why alot of them can't perform live. 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@milesblue638]

This glorification of a lack of preparation, care, and purpose has spread across society. AI will only make it worse. We are a post-literate society.

[@ARealPersonNotABot]

This is honestly depressing. It's a reason why the end result is so unimpressive, repetitive, uninspired and monotonous. No soul in it just machine.

[@namespaced4437]

lil wayne doesnt write.. also its more soul cause you are speaking off the top

[@brownie3454]

i feel like spiritual lyrical miracle has less soul because it’s manufactured. i agree with the guy above

[@Chymistry]

@@brownie3454 bad example but do you

[@O.C808]

Why does it upset you when you can always turn the song off and listen to something else. I’m not fussing but I don’t understand why people get upset with what someone else is doing. In my opinion life is too short for that

[@simpleetfunky7062]

@@O.C808because the industry promote the mediocrity , violences and stupidity all around the world !!! They are spreading a negative image of black peoples through medias !!!

[@prodbyyasuke1754]

I do love how she said "we stopped writing a long time ago" like we couldn't tell 😂

[@tsostillalive]

put some respect doechii though she's absolutely cold

[@prodbyyasuke1754]

@tsostillalive She aight shorty, it's hard for me to listen to anyone I write better than. Just being honest.

[@ThePfunkadunkasaur]

She a baddie!

[@Driblefanten]

@@tsostillaliveNo one knows who she is 💀💀

[@tsostillalive]

@@Driblefanten i do bro, go listen to pro freak by smino ft her

[@whiteblue3576]

The punch in method has been in existence for a long time. Rappers stopped writing because certain rappers used to brag about not writing being something to aspire to. The good rappers still write.

[@growngrownman5950]

TRUE! I never hear cats like Black Thought, Canibus, K-RINO, Chino XL, Elzhi, Cambatta, Yugen Blakrok, etc running around talking about not writing. Canibus even pulled out the notebook to let you know what it was, HAHAHAHA.

[@TheRebel-ml6sy]

So lil Wayne and juice wrld aren’t good rappers

[@villainsarentborntheyremade]

​@@growngrownman5950 yeah but he got cooked in that battle😂😂😂

[@yadig.]

@@TheRebel-ml6sy You see how nobody came in here to save you with likes or amens? P.S. Yeah Lil Wayne is good, but an exception to a rule doesn't make a status quo

[@Asanda82]

​​@@TheRebel-ml6sy that's the thing with writing, you don't just spit nonsense, you come with concepts and content. That's why to me Lil Wayne is overrated and to you he sound so dope

[@adanzeu6563]

as an engineer, i despise this method. it's extremely tedious and it takes soooo long (also not a fan of this method as a listener)

[@Official_KC]

I'm not a professional engineer by any means, and even I was thinking about how time consuming this would be. It could be put towards a lot of other things

[@DanielRiera]

Instead of writers writing, singers singing, and instrumentalists playing it’s all been outsourced to the engineer

[@LeNoiraLite]

I heard an engineer say “don’t send me no punch in artist” and I didn’t understand his disdain until I saw exactly what he was talking about start to finish… as a pro though if you’re not booked up for the night you just got HOURS….😅🤷🏾‍♀️

[@adanzeu6563]

@@LeNoiraLite and with every hour ur dreading the next 😭

[@UncleDolph]

YESSSSSS BRO!!!! I hate punching in. Just freestyle at this point 😂😂😂

[@DJCroBar]

When those 'rappers' said "urma rurma mur ur urba mur".....no one felt that.

[@matthewprince9705]

DMX would have run these youngstas out of the studios.

[@rllydude3600]

vultures 2 530

[@DrugzMunny]

It's crazy to suggest that there's no degradation of quality when you don't put any time into thinking through the content of your lyrics. And I think you can just look at the results and see that this is like a 93% drop in quality from what rappers were laying down in the 90's.

[@hayatefaith4273]

Yall entertain average dudes. Thought doesnt need to go into lyrics it actually makes them less real. When I freestyle it's from the gut and I'll clown any writer tf

[@XxgoodbudsxX]

Ok buddy 🤡​@@hayatefaith4273

[@Bella_Rei]

@@hayatefaith4273 sounds like the Dunning-Kruger effect

[@Razaqinnit]

​@@hayatefaith4273 wtf are you saying 😂🤡

[@namespaced4437]

@@hayatefaith4273nah 100% of the time writing clears freestyling if u know what ur doing

[@Suavemcool]

Kendrick and J. Cole write their thoughts down, eventually turning emotions and feelings into songs. Mumble rappers don't. The product speaks for itself.

[@resonatingtruths]

🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯

[@itsX2024]

zero quotables

[@neverhungryagain2187]

It’s all the same thing

[@sailoragitate900]

“mumble rappers” u a cornball

[@purptube678]

​@@sailoragitate900this whole comment section thinks rap is simply just lyrical miracle lmao, they dont know that punch in is literally a rap style

[@YomiAderin]

Just Blaze sitting through that interview tryna sound like he's not hating, but you can tell how he truly feels. XD

[@matthewprince9705]

It's all over his face! He knows and we know he wants to go back to the days of "Pump It Up" by Joe Budden, "React" by Eric Sermon and Redman and "Girls, Girls, Girls" by Jay-Z.

[@dugnice]

Biggie and Jay-Z memorized whole songs in their heads and simply picked beats that best fit the lyrics they memorized. I think what a lot of newer artists are doing is more like freestyling, where they come with new lines on the spot, but instead of actually writing the lines on paper, they just record them, one after another in as many takes is necessary to achieve the desired sound.

[@TheEssence9626]

i’ll never stop writing

[@thisizdub]

The issue is they're trying to follow Jay and Big and now little Wayne but those guys are skilled at it AND CAN ACTUALLY MAKE HITS. Lots of these artist who don't write need to start 😂😂

[@Sporkonafork1]

@@thisizdub it's like when young guys try to emulate their favorite ufc fighters or boxers that happen to spar very little if at all. Problem is, the fighters are able to perform the way they do without sparring ONLY because of the VAST amount of experience and fights that they already have under their belt. It's very similar in rap. You have to work on your writing and sparring first before you can get to that point.

[@tupd]

Big absolutely wrote.

[@iseerashonal821]

Method Man said he saw BIG write down his verse.

[@hayatefaith4273]

No they should keep doing the same, if they aren't good they aren't good pay em no mind

[@RafaelBanks69]

​@@tupdhe stopped after he heard that Jay doesn't write.

[@jesselowe9374]

Bun B says he doesn't like the punch in because he wants to know that he has the breath control to deliver live and remember his lyrics from writing and recording straight through.

[@lucasconrad367]

None of these clowns can perform. They just all use backing tracks and basically just do the ad-libs when they're live.

[@ChrisControversial]

Dont need to write if you have ABC bars. I feel like everyone wanted to be lil wayne and jay z but no one had the skill. Let's not pretend that there arent rappers Today who do write like this and excel. For every lil baby theres a jid.

[@kruxitka]

100%

[@keyscored3710]

true, it's fine if you have the talent to back it up but 99% of rappers aren't jay or wayne

[@namespaced4437]

thing is lil baby can rap his azz off he just became stagnant. his feature on pride is the devil for example

[@Dmaj089]

Jay and Wayne writing or rather non writing process isn't similar. Wayne actually freestyles that's why he says stupid punchlines and bars sometimes. Jay writes in his head but like a poet he always makes sense, if you actually read his lyrics or listen to them and understand them you'll see a genius. You'd think no way he didn't use a pen. But alas, he is the greatest ever with Nas

[@detorreonpla3424]

Its lazy if you don't go back and correct or improve certain bars

[@tonystrong2326]

This is not a flex fr

[@BIGMONEYMEDIA]

I never believed it when Jay said he don't write his raps and lil wayne either. I always felt like they had ghost writers who signed a NDA or memorized bars they already wrote and acted like it was from scratch

[@matthewprince9705]

Music and movies are smoke and mirrors, they'll never give away all of their secrets 😉

[@Jordan-iw1ih]

-murda murda birthday, my birthday's on a Thursday- "keep that." - punch in rappers, probably

[@cferdinandi]

That it's not immediately obvious if this is even satire... 😂😂😂 So accurate it hurts!

[@FrancisWilly96]

The editing really makes the satire of punching in golden! Someone give the editor a pay raise lol. These days, the rotation is Lupe Fiasco, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, and Vince Staples.

[@prodbyyasuke1754]

@@FrancisWilly96 Good taste

[@ryankellz]

How do you write that and not include AB-SOUL. HE DONT WRITE, HE MEMORIZE AND 1 TAKE. NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS FROM OTHER ARTISTS SAY AB-SOUL DOES THIS. NO WRITING AND 1 TAKE. AND ONE OF THE TOP LYRICST IN HIPHOP

[@christopherseanwilliams5914]

Check out Billy Woods.

[@thecunninlynguist]

outside of Jay and a few others, the ones that brag that don't write either have ghostwriters, or are so terrible they need to start writing. All great rappers write. Don't get fooled by Jay/Biggie/etc. saying they don't writ. They write, just not on paper. Punching-in doesn't substitute writing. So this video is kinda oddly titled.

[@nilespeshay1734]

The video is made by people who MIGHT understand rap, for people who definitely DON'T understand rap. They COULD have just shown the video of Rick Rubin telling Beastie Boy (Mike D.?) that Jay Z +wrote+ the ENTIRETY of 99 Problems in his head just before he went into the booth.

[@aick]

@@nilespeshay1734 Rap is a lot like poetry, I get a lot from rap, and it ain't the "lack of writing" neither. Not all poets spend hours refining every single phrase because we've already done that a thousand times before, it becomes like a muscle memory. And yes, you can write in your head, you can write with your voice, you can write by dancing, whatever. It's language, call it writing to satisfy the Europeans (they're simple folk)

[@neverhungryagain2187]

@@aick💯😳

[@72vince27]

@@aickhmmm I hear you

[@hayatefaith4273]

You're so wrong. I one take freestyle everything because I wrote through all of middle school and high school. You don't know every rapper out here let alone a fraction

[@Hypno_BPM]

Just Blaze you’re wrong , rap didn’t evolve it devolved.

[@Pyro-Moloch]

Wow, this explains so much

[@ItsDJNuName]

I still write & its so much better than trying to think about it on the fly. Most of these guys and girls NEED to write cause these bars don't make any sense.

[@another_useless]

Both

[@ItsDJNuName]

@@another_useless No. just write bro. Once a person gets the structure and foundation down, then you can cheat the process a bit cause you have the foundation. You can’t bend the rules if you don’t know them.

[@prezidentjeff]

As a producer this is my biggest pet peeve

[@ArodMadeThat]

I can't stand it lol

[@ExpatPlans365]

This only works if you actually have talent as a Lyricist which a lot of young rappers, don’t have nowadays. Jay-Z Lil Wayne Biggie didn’t have to write because they actually had talent.

[@namespaced4437]

yeah lil wayne was already a skilled lyricist before he stopped writing

[@Idontevenknow-l3j]

JUICE WRLD

[@namespaced4437]

​@@Idontevenknow-l3j juice fully freestyled most of his songs but we're talking about rappers that write in their head

[@Bbb82744]

all of them were skilled lyricists through writing. they later stopped writing once they perfected their craft. these new rappers want to skip all the hard work and just start 'punching in' bars

[@dreadeddeadman6511]

​@@Bbb82744this is the key difference

[@Daniel_Capital]

I’m being 100% serious: This is mind-blowing. I finally see why modern rap sucks. I thought the human beings were dumber. But now I know it’s the method they use to create

[@u.sbanban]

its being lazy. dare i say: a method of eksploitation... thats why mfs dont bar out no more also. instead of them sitting for hours, wracking their brains for words that meld well together; they just let the engineer sit there and piece their thoughts together for them. people who engineer for rappers that work ekslusively through this method should be paid more especially if the person aint doing it with intent (like with Thug using the method to come up with inventive melodies and flows and Kanye coming up with song drafts and demos through it) goes to show the effect of market oversaturation as well as gentrification (dilution) of the genre. a lot of choice. but it all sounds the same so no choice really. and the artists also need to keep up with the demands which are never sated so they start cutting corners like this. its just all bad yasis

[@newera5238]

💯🔥💯🔥 This comment is Top Notch

[@resonatingtruths]

This is what’s slowly killing the genre. You can listen to the music and tell no effort or thought was put into it. This is why we don’t have mega hits that appeal to everyone anymore. Flip through the radio for 10 minutes and everything sounds the same. It’s microwave music for the microwave generation.

[@thecunninlynguist]

this has no relation to punching in. Punching in has been around forever. Eazy E punched in. Pun punched in.

[@resonatingtruths]

@@thecunninlynguistEveryone clearly isn’t Eazy E, Wayne, Jay Z or Pun.

[@thecunninlynguist]

@@resonatingtruths where did I say they were? Punching in has nothing to do with your point of contention. Even if they weren't punching in, they'd still have terrible lyrics. So how can punching in be the thing killing the genre? I'm not disagreeing it's the microwave generation and all that, but to say punching in is what's killing it is just hilarious.

[@soundsshadey9153]

I loved every album y'all put out. Oneirology is just a genius compilation.

[@TinyMeatGaang]

Never heard microwave generation before. That's a new one.

[@jmg999]

This makes total sense. Someone should correlate this to the application of nonsense lyrics in rap. I'd be willing to bet that this lead directly to that trap/mumble rap style. It's a lot of unintelligible lyrics, repeated phrases, and incomplete tracks. I even heard Lil' Yachty say that this was intentional.

[@Cassaelet]

There's room for everyone . The trap slander is unnecessary.

[@thecunninlynguist]

punching in has no correlation.

[@cw2962]

Rapping 5-8 words every 15-30 seconds and still can't perform it live

[@Throwin_pesos]

Hating is bad for u

[@neverhungryagain2187]

I don’t know because biggie punched in too but had top notch de😅

[@DawgCompany]

This is explains why the quality of hip hop has gone down from the 90s.

[@betsyrocks]

Yep. When the quality goes down and the consumer (fans) don't know any better, they will just accept any old trash as "good".

[@arikahmed33]

you just listen to wack rap bro hate the player not the game

[@Madbandit77]

​@@betsyrocksThat's why the old school still works.

[@wintercapsenty]

No it hasn't. You just aren't looking for good music and have a surface level taste in hip hop.

[@Erik291098]

That's only true for mainstream hip hop, but there's a lot more hip hop artists creating exciting and innovative stuff today than during the 90s.

[@quanchinut]

They don't realize Jay just moved the writing to his head instead of his pad

[@tahajfirst6836]

As a lyric writer, I get it , but also can see the potential limitations... A) artists are more likely to create things that they are unable to perform technically without multi tracking, making performance a challenge B) content becomes limited by ones ability to follow one train of thought improvisationally, meaning that you get a lot of "fun lines" strung together, but not many complete thoughts in multi bar stanzas...you end up with a bunch of "clever couplets" basically...which kinda only works when rapping at a certain level of "depth" and would be difficult to convey complete, complex ideas or convey deep emotion.

[@rastaskate4546]

As a fellow writer, producer and singer, I agree. When you go through the process of writing, revisions that make the text more cohesive and versatile matters...

[@mattostrander5454]

Many of the rappers featured in this video are not known for their lyricism and maybe they should start learning how to write something down

[@aick]

Like Jay-Z?

[@neverhungryagain2187]

@@aick?

[@realspitter2727]

For who you?

[@AngeBiampandou]

​@@aickAre you okay ?

[@hayatefaith4273]

Or just go listen to someone you like

[@bobbymgaming]

That’s why Rap is rubbish nowadays. People think they can do that, even the weak rappers. And also the fans hyping us rubbish rappers and that fills their egos thinking they can drop anything and it’ll be a hit. These weak rappers need to be checked and get told the harsh truth. If your music is weak it’s weak no in between

[@RealLaone]

Let's face it, they do not write as an excuse to be whack, because they know they gonna look stupid when they invest so much in writing their lyrics and still can't come up with anything of value to say that has weight. Good on them for making money though, but it's sad for the quality of rap.

[@hayatefaith4273]

You're wrong I one take freestyle and it's all conceptual

[@RealLaone]

@@hayatefaith4273 which is exactly why I have to hear of you from you.

[@hayatefaith4273]

@@RealLaone so you've heard of every rapper that writes? Lmao. And every dude you never heard of sucks too that makes sense

[@hayatefaith4273]

@@RealLaone like what kind of illuminati ish you on to disrespect everybody making real music that isn't being talked about. You a slave to the hype? Then wonder why the quality is degrading...

[@RealLaone]

@@hayatefaith4273 that's exactly what anyone who doesn't bother to think through what they're saying would think. You're too ahead of yourself, chill with the assumptions and let the skill do the talking. We're in an era where it can still blow up whether it's good or bad. You can put out great work freestyling but once you write there'll be a noticable difference depending on who you are and the depth of concepts you'd come with when you get more time

[@ivanmeyers2660]

3:55 Lady, it is not impressive at all. SMH

[@psitsnate954]

People don’t get that Jay didn’t write because of necessity and he literally trained his memory to be extremely strong. When he was out on the streets he would essentially write out whole verses mentally and memorize them but once he got home, he would still write it down on paper. Eventually his memory got so good remembering his verses he made in his head, he didn’t need to write them down. He just had a memory bank of entire songs in his mind that he could call up at will.

[@psitsnate954]

Source: Jay-Z’s autobiography “Decoded”

[@triplethevibe]

Being on point is what made you sharp. Mastering the technique.

[@eddieleonard6925]

The great jazz singer Nancy Wilson once said that the invention of the multi-track recording studio in the '60s was the downfall of music. Instead of a live band playing at once with a vocalist...you could record one part at a time. This made it easier to "cheat." What she failed to realize is that technology paves the way for new techniques and forms of expression. That's why we have the the creative studio albums of the Beatles, Pink Floyd, & everyone on Motown. Imagine a real songwriter uses this punch-in method to fully optimize their speech patterns, rather than these simple popcorn rappers they used in this video? The content shown here might be lacking, but the technique is actually quite innovative.

[@CeaSeMusic1]

Interesting points 👍 I think what Just Blaze said was true in that with each evolution there are positives and negatives. I'd say it's important to reflect so we can maximise the good and limit the bad. Like cellphone help us communicate, but too much screentime can be damaging. But that doesn't mean throw the baby out with the bath-water, which is the attitude some from a previous generation sometimes have.

[@bobmuzaik]

they do lmao, it's called vocal comping and most artists nowadays do that

[@StephTerry-c2y]

@@CeaSeMusic1 In this case the negatives out weigh the good. most of these dudes see music as a hustle and a means to get social clout not a passion or a higher purpose.

[@TheMasabaa]

Punching in is not new.

[@KareemDaKing]

The art of. Composition is lost with punch in. Composition is seeing the fullness of the concept thru all time. Composers make the greatest music because they tell the whole story.

[@quentonwillis3846]

"We don't come under the umbrellas of people who write raps like J. Cole, or Kendrick Lamar". So two of the top three rappers of this generation. You would think that's a red flag for punch-in rappers.

[@ItsWesSmithYo]

I write, rap, revise, rap, 10X and try for one take. Usually need 2 or 3 but feels better to me than punching in. Enjoy the ride.

[@KryzzzzTOPHER-ze1sn]

Always

[@KrispyCereal007]

Yes sir... 110% 👁️👁️

[@drwhite3]

It makes perfect sense! This is why I don’t feel most new “rap” everyone stopped writing and it all got dumbed down, no lyrics, no substance, no thank you

[@GavinPascal]

"Punching in and out" is a well known recording technique. I can understand how these rappers are using it. More than improvisational I would define this approach as "I have a new line in mind, let's record it". Real improvisation involves no punching in/out.

[@ChetHanks-eh1md]

yes its just digital recording. Improvisations involve no stops.

[@oneoftheskull3158]

They don't make music anymore, they make content. Huge difference.

[@theseventhammer]

The content sucks

[@DaKurupt19]

Nah, they're making music. Don't be elitest.

[@kiwiladi]

@@DaKurupt19 people forget the most important thing about music is sound.

[@nickmura]

@@kiwiladiuhhh yeah that’s why they make can’t write it down because it’s so fire it will light the notebook up

[@nihiqallam5616]

Music is subjective not everyone is going have same opinion

[@derekgibbs365]

They don't write because they don't know how. Some can't even read.

[@kollusion1]

Most can't form words . . . So you can forget about sentences.

[@Jjules48]

Racist ahh voment section

[@ItsDJNuName]

@@Jjules48 Only if its not true....some really can't read. That's not an exaggeration...

[@Jjules48]

@@ItsDJNuName wowee some people MIGHT not be able to read. just as a artist MIGHT not have both of their arms stfu lmao. i really dont think this helps ur argument in this context....i..........think........you cant use common sense.

[@stephenrochester6309]

@@Jjules48 I don’t know how tf you came to that conclusion home boy

[@keontaiewatson9557]

Back in the day you didn't really have to write like 4-5 flows or cadence's /melodies per song You can write them words down and not remember the subtle melody changes ... Its really a art in itself Respect to each era including this one There is some really jaw dropping stuff being created And not to mention some of the people of today are mixing, mastering, Producing, writing, and rapping and singing they're own stuff 😅

[@fdfischer]

So this is the birth of mumble rap?

[@thecunninlynguist]

unching in was way before. Some of the greatest punch-in. but this is a terribly titled video.

[@ALIELTabanca]

Facts 😂👏🏾

[@aick]

@@thecunninlynguist Punching in has been going on since the first recording studio, but now it's an excuse to attack hip/hop so yaaay.... it's new and there were definitely never session musicians who didn't write their own music down or something.... never in Nashville. :P It's all racism, far as I can tell.

[@thecunninlynguist]

@@aick it's a weird video...and all the commenters blaming punching in on the fall of hip-hop is hilarious. These crappy rappers would still be crappy regardless if they punched in or not.

[@aick]

@@thecunninlynguist Exactly. If they're talented and they can't show it, they'll be sorted by the lack of fans, anything else is just decoration or nitpicking, IMO. I like good music and I just don't listen to stuff I don't like, it ain't that complicated.

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

As a songwriter, I both improvise on the spot and write out a full track. Both are effective, but I think both also have to be present for a genre to grow. Same with melodies and song structure. Jay-Z is first and foremost a prolific songwriter like Dre. They happened to be great artistic talents as well.

[@akashicpriestess]

"We stopped writing a long time ago, not many people write." This shows in the end result! Rakim writes, Nas writes, Big Daddy Kane writes, billy woods writes, Aesop Rock writes, Big L wrote, Queen Latifah writes, Rhapsody writes, Medusa writes, Bahamadia writes, Black Thought writes, Pharoahe Monch writes. Need I say more?

[@namespaced4437]

lil wayne dont write, king los dont write, black thought doesnt need to write but he does,

[@henryhill92]

Shout out billy woods, maybe the best writer in hip hop EVER

[@selwynandrews7716]

​@namespaced4437 but they DID write, and elevated to a new level. That ain't these new rappers, they ain't put years into the craft as a writer and then elevate beyond the need to do so.

[@Smouse168]

Eminem

[@HookahAnonymous]

It took away from music. Everyone think "not writing" is cool but it takes the meaning and substance out of it. This why most of them that "dont write" now, their music sound the way it do lol. Saying the same sh*t over and over

[@nated4395]

I'm 40 and been writing and making music for leisure since I was 15. I've always gone to the studio with all my raps written or I write in the studio. That process is an art form for real. Not writing your rhymes is impressive if you're not punching every bar and the finished product is dope. I always hate punching in when I'm spitting due to mispronouncing a word, breath control, or a tongue twister. Sometimes I'll take it from the top but if I'm feeling lazy, I'll punch in. Like Blaze said, punching is to correct a mistake. Not everyone is Jay or Wayne. Please start sitting down and focusing on putting words together on your screens before getting behind the mic because "the problem is you don't use us to write the raps anymore" Lupe Fiasco. "Precious Things"

[@kleenbeats]

“Punch-ins” in Hiphop are a legitimate vocal recording technique. Engineers used to, and still do, punch tape but it’s much more of a skill and it’s time consuming. It was originally used to fix minor sections of a vocal take, but it evolved to larger parts of a verse (sections) to allow greater focus on delivery (as opposed to just reciting words on a page). Some would even commit the majority of what they had written to memory, so when they hit the studio the focus was entirely on the delivery (from my experience, this yielded the best results). Todays (modern) emcees don’t write or can’t write (literally), they have no message, have no sense of syllabic structure (no vocal rhythm), no sense of tonality or key and are lyrically lazy. So in all seriousness, what does modern rap offer?

[@verseessential]

Exactly

[@willx_1]

I agree, one adjustment to consider, look at it like there are emcees, rappers, and hip-hop artists. For example, would one consider Missy Elliot a dope emcee or hip-hop artist? Just like with DJ's, some just talk and play the music, then you have turntable-ism, e.g., The X-Ecutioners.

[@kleenbeats]

@@willx_1 Good point! I was born in 83 so think of hiphop as the 5 elements, emceeing (rap) deejaying, breaking, graff and beatboxing. All have continued to evolve in unique ways over the years and to varying degrees (if you haven’t seen breakdancing in a while, search Crashfest 2023, wow!). The one element that has the least connection to the foundations of hiphop (these days) is Rap. This, in my opinion, is the underlying reason why it sucks in 2023 (despite a few recent shining figures like Ez Mil who are keeping with evolution). As for what makes a great hiphop artist, rapper, emcee, lyricist etc, it all comes down to context. Drop Missy/Timbalands “Work it”in a club (or at a wedding these days, haha) and people start moving. Drop Immortal Techniques “Dance with the devil” and you’ll likely clear the dance floor (stick it in your headphones though and you’ll feel like your reading a book in your mind). You want to hear some great emcees during your commute in a car, bus or train, put on some Wutang, Xzibit (speed of life), God father Don or any other 90 NY hiphop. If someone wants to learn the art of the emcee/lyricist put on some KRS, Chino XL or even early Eminem. From the 80s to the 2010s rap even had regional identity and that often defined what people considered a great emcee (the unique sound of a unique neighbourhood). So the artists I mentioned, the ones that influenced me, could be totally different depending on a persons region and/or influence (it was like a sport and it made everyone better imo) In summary, by classical hiphop standards, a dope rapper, emcee, lyricist etc is defined by where you are and where you’re at (the same could be applied to movies and actors). Modern Rap, however, does not follow these standards and hence breaks from 40 years of evolution (“If you don't know where you've come from, you don't know where you're going”). I have hope, but until this train starts moving again I’m hitting replay on the past 99% of the time (do it better or don’t do it all right?!)

[@TheCreatorNFE]

#FACTS

[@CeaSeMusic1]

​@@aickwhat's thw confirmist coloniser way? Just trying to understand, thanks

[@kjjohnson24]

Illiteracy is so cool.

[@aick]

Oo look, a bigot bragging about a privilege!

[@jfedol7760]

LMAOOOOOOO

[@SirDemonitized]

Juice is defintely the best at this from the new generation. The fact that he was so good at freestyling, it made him able to just go in the booth and spit whenever.

[@bes03c]

His hour long freestyle on Tim Westwood proves it

[@David.Isaac.147]

Juice had so many mediocre songs. Yes he was talented, but many of his songs would be better if he had put more effort into them

[@SirDemonitized]

@@David.Isaac.147 I def don't agree. I want you to listen to Rental, Barbarian, and Carry It

[@Potato_Quality7]

@@David.Isaac.147 Agreed. He had a lot more potential. He was a hit or miss. No consistency.

[@Potato_Quality7]

@@SirDemonitized Mediocre. He could do better. This dude was really talented. You think him being high, saying the first thing that comes to mind is the best he could do? Really?

[@leunammetherapper3723]

This explains the beginning of 1)mumble rap and 2) watered down lyrics....all I can say

[@musiconanotherlevel]

The fact is they don't write because they CAN'T write because they are too HIGH they can barely talk.

[@Happy_Bnzo_Puppy]

They should have never stopped writing lyrics down... Explains a lot.

[@skoolhitdabutton]

we stopped writing a long time ago.....sounds like it Son !

[@Allious131]

Yea somebody should have stepped in and said we can tell you all don't

[@jordanuji2978]

It’s fine in mainstream imo but it seems like fans are getting tired and want to hear something new and innovative. Alternative rap is alive and well because those artists often use the pen to make more intricate, thought-out, intentional lyrics. With writing down lyrics comes the capacity to improve your lines where you see fit. Favorites rn are earl sweatshirt and mach-hommy

[@TheCreatorNFE]

I stopped listening to Earl long ago, but Mach is dope. However, I'm very fond of folks like Elcamino and Flee Lord.

[@neverhungryagain2187]

Overrated

[@yearningthevoid]

None of these are innovative, these beats could be from the 90's. Innovative is Moor Mother or JPEGMAFIA

[@TheCreatorNFE]

@@yearningthevoid 90s beats are the best. Personally, I don't look for innovative, just dope lyrics. However, I can't vibe with certain production even if it is reminiscent of that Boombap sound. Some folks' beats are too dull for me.

[@theobservr_]

@@TheCreatorNFEi agree with that and I love new guys like lil baby but their production is lame ash and dumbed down so if I want bars and production the only place to go is the 90s and 2000s

[@desean3402]

Wayne is legit a top five most influential rapper of all time and the influence isn’t always positive.

[@Hypno_BPM]

It’s funny all the few rappers that do write (Cole,Kendrick,Kanye,Drake) have been the top rappers this past decade easily. anything meaningful won’t be done off punch ins imo. I’m sure Pusha T, Big Sean etc. write , their metaphor game is on point. this trap era is just fast food music , all they care about is a catchy nursery rhyme hook

[@richardrodriguez6689]

And that’s why most song are garbage.

[@Derekmeetsworld]

I can appreciate the creativity in "written" lyrics, I don't appreciate what passes for rap nowadays as it's just stand-in for noise to my ears

[@ajnewell2693]

I would give this a million likes if I could!

[@youngrichvamp]

@@ajnewell2693old heads

[@lisettes.9598]

They sound like they're reciting limericks

[@boycottactivision]

This is Jay-Z's Fault, he made this popular.. Sht is lazy

[@inverseK]

"It's about getting the best end result" - unfortunately hasn't been happening. You want deep insights you gotta scuba dive. Surfing is fun but it doesn't contribute to a better understanding of what's down there. I view most rap as just music - lyrical jazz, don't worry about the meaning. Then there's the deeply considered poetry that advances ideas. Still isn't as explicit as an essay, and shouldn't be - that's the beauty of the art form - but at least there's something more than ephemeral/fleeting flow. And when that ephemeral flow is a mix of desensitizing chemicals, autotune, and a fundamental lack of insight to begin with...sadly, that's what I see as so much of where rap has gone. But I say: Rap is a style. Poetry is a lifestyle. I'm not here for rap. I'm here for hiphop. Just revisited Aesop Rock's latest album ITS last night. He and several others (sadly, a severe minority) are continuing to evolve while advancing ideas. Not just bopping along to beats. I occasionally enjoy scatting. Very occasionally. I lament the fact that rap as a genre has transitioned into semantic scatting. But hey - so it goes.

[@connor18]

What a lazy misguided piece. Theres something interesting to say here about this recording practice and how it is has basically created whole new genres based around de-emphasized lyrics with increased focus on melody and flows. Instead, NYT uses it to get some cheap jabs in at the "mumble rappers"(the "subtitles" at 2:26), and act like there's not still tons of rappers who write their bars down. This video is doing great with the crowd that wants to reaffirm their hate of modern rap and learn nothing new though, so keep up the good work!

[@artcamp7]

really fascinating great video

[@dillardo]

Not just Rap, all music is punch in method. 😬

[@k.im.b9205]

Basically going in the studio and saying whatever random GARBAGE that comes yo mind...thats rap now?😂😂😂

[@cferdinandi]

"We stopped doing that a long time ago. Most rappers don't write." Yea, it shows.

[@cferdinandi]

Evidenced by Veeze specifically name dropping dudes who DO still write, and they're all the top tier artists.

[@nendu4316]

@@cferdinandi not everey one need to write, i agree but some people are just samrt and quick of the dome. think comedians that do crowd work, improv, fre stylers that actually free style OTD . doechii is just one of those people. but i would agree that most aren't and need to start getting out their notebooks and learn to edit. Cos ye it shows and shows hard.

[@cferdinandi]

@@nendu4316 Oh for sure! And I think folks like Lil Wayne and Hov (and many others) prove that it CAN be done. But not everyone is at that tier, and the overall quality of rap has suffered as a result.

[@2KGrind09]

the new artist can't spell or write .... that's why it's alot of gibberish now.

[@Hollylivengood]

That's just sad. The reason people like rap, or used to like rap, is because they had something to say, and they spoke clearly so you could hear it. Words as music. Not the same quality now. Also, I'm willing to bet most of these guys get their material from ghost writers, but that wouldn't sound half as edgy as saying they "punch it in."

[@blexyyt1887]

Everyone can do punching,2:25-2:40-3:00 but people don’t understand how it works & try to separated it from right down lyrics.it’s just recording & thinking out loud just like righting & thinking in your mind what’s next after this part. Example of Punching⬇️ Okay so u know how u open notes to right ur lyrics & delete what u don’t like. Punching is recording lyrics & deleting what u don’t like.it’s not freestyle ing,cuz you not singing water comes to your mind & keeping it,your right down ur lyrics & deleting what u don’t like, only difference is,instead of riding them down ur singing them & saving them down.& keep thinking what’s next just like when you right down & think what sounds good w this part instead of thinking they thinking out loud in the mic & then they say what they came up with.& ask or delete what they said out loud when they was thinking like in.2:25-2:40-3:00 he keeps saying run it back & sings what he thought of. then keeps thinking out loud.everything else he said well thinking out loud into the mic gets deleted/edited out in real time & keep the real lyrics. How to start listening to music to topic u wanna make a music about head phones on or not.then sing they music & ur thought/right them down out loud don’t right I’m saying sing ur thoughts out loud when u get stuck don’t mumble rap to see what works in ur mind sing them out loud like when ur freestyleing & get stuck just keep thinking out loud.it only works if ur reading u have to record tossi away s does this look him up he records what he thinks out loud & edits the music himself.

[@eyeinsee]

💯 the recording software just replaced the paper. While rapping your delivery is just as important as your rhymes.not writing anything down allowed me to focus more on delivery which was always a weak spot for me. You ever write a rhyme down then go to spit but the rhyme doesn’t work out loud like it did in your head? Doesn’t happen when you get rid of the paper.

[@johanvanhuyssteen9217]

I'm sorry to disagree with the artists here, but their stories sound flat and lifeless. Perhaps thinking and writing would help the stories come to life again.

[@JacobAndJamal]

Too much modern rap is non sensical and just punch lines. Rap use to tell stories and have points and themes . All the people co signing this “punch in” “mumble” mush mouth rap is not cool . 🙄

[@IsmailAbdulMusic]

I write all of my songs and lyrics and format them. Pen and notebook 📓📒 paper

[@oggirf]

this comment full of dusty ahh 50 year olds bro

[@MJ-bn4tf]

fr!!😂😂😂

[@theonewhoknocks3107]

Found the mumble rapper

[@oggirf]

@@theonewhoknocks3107 okay the one who knocks 3107

[@magsmags4534]

Engineer since 1998 and I remember doing this on ADAT! That was a nightmare! At least we have Protools now. Ultimately I'm in a situation like, I hate punching but I love my clients and Its whatever the client needs. Most of the hours per week are mixing so I'm lucky I guess.

[@nocap7044]

protools came out in 1991, i mean there was a lot of software in 1998 like cool edit pro people used lmao

[@Gman2002]

@@nocap7044and cakewalk Miss those days

[@smokescythe8880]

Jay-Z ruined the game witht that foolishness.

[@ogiqc]

So that's why music became garbage, make sense now!

[@Healerluv]

Kavi or hookah in ancient Indian literature were poets-musicians who created poems and songs on the go. They were known for their talent in poetry and music, and often sang songs of praise about their patrons or important events. Kawi played a significant role in Indian society as custodians of culture, knowledge and traditions. Their poetry and music were very valuable and respected in society.

[@jeremiah5798]

Whatever works for you honestly, if you write that’s fine, if you freestyle and punch in that’s fine, if you freestyle then write above your freestyle that’s also fine. In the end it doesn’t matter just make music. The ending product is what matters.

[@BigSnipp]

The end product is awful.

[@ItsDJNuName]

The sales and overall decline of rap today says otherwise sir...

[@crayonparfait]

That explains all the mumble rap. Funniest part is saying you used to only have one take. Nope, that definitely not true. You did have to pay by the hour though.

[@585grizzley]

There’s no such thing as mumble rap. 😂

[@crayonparfait]

@@585grizzley I’ll let this one slide. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumble_rap

[@aick]

So you've never been a struggling musician, check. I have personally encountered limited takes in a recording studio in the 1990s. You?

[@crayonparfait]

@@aick that’s irrelevant but also most musician’s beginning. I started recording on a karaoke machine, layering one track at a time on a cassette tape. In the early 90’s. It’s funny you think prejudging my experience makes my point any less accurate. By the way, a struggling poet is nothing like a musician with gear: mics, amps, mixers, endless cords, guitars, pedals, stands and all the like I had to struggle with on top of being a poet. How hard was it to show up to a gig with all your memory? You should write a book.

[@aick]

@@crayonparfait I've written several, clown. And it's not irrelevant at all, in fact it perfectly deflates your stupid little argument here. Cute, you had a karaoke machine, we used a 4 track recorder and a Korg synth. And also, who says I'm struggling now, kiddo? 🤣🤡

[@kylerichardson7302]

Oh ok that’s why they mumble so dam much lmao nothing like the good old days

[@randytipene2918]

Think some of these rappers should write there raps 😂

[@broms316]

That's why they sound so hollow now.