August 01, 2006 @ 6:09 pm

The Art of Emcee-ing by Stic.man

Felicia Pride

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The best emcees are professional artists that study their craft. This is the point that stic.man, one-half of the revolutionary but gangsta duo, Dead Prez, is trying to get across in his book. Published by his company, Boss Up, The Art of Emcee-ing is a straightforward primer for those wanting to break into the rap game.

The best emcees are professional artists that study their craft. This is the point that stic.man, one-half of the revolutionary but gangsta duo, Dead Prez, is trying to get across in his book. Published by his company, Boss Up, The Art of Emcee-ing is a straightforward primer for those wanting to break into the rap game. In an encouraging tone that lacks any hip hop arrogance, stic.man navigates prospective artists through conceptualizing a song, picking a banging beat to rocking the studio booth, moving the crowd, and getting money from royalties and licenses. right The book begins with fundamentals, the difference between a rapper versus an emcee. stic.man writes, “A rapper is to an emcee what an average street fighter is to a trained martial artist.” He’s clear that he isn’t interested in disputing the type of rapper one should strive to be. “It is not my intention in this book to provide the ‘backpacker’ versus the ‘bling’ type of artist argument, he writes. “It think it is divisive and counterproductive. All artists should be respected for their contribution to the profession. Commercial success and artistic integrity are not mutually exclusive.” As he should, he devotes a great deal of the book to developing lyrics and song concepts, understanding standard musical terms and the various parts of a song and how aspects of a beat should be considered when writing. He also provides priceless advice on developing flow, utilizing different rhyming techniques, and vocal preparation/health. “One of the most common traits of a ‘wack’ rapper is sloppy delivery,” he writes. “Words come out unclear, rushed and jumbled. Be disciplined in your choice of words. It’s not just the words you say but the space you leave silent that creates your cadence.” You can practice both your flow and cadence to the CD of ten free beats included with the book. The last chapter about artist rights, resources and responsibilities is one of the most important although it could have been more in-depth. Too often artists get cheated because they don’t understand the business aspect. Bottom line: don’t sell out your publishing rights to a record label, manager, or performance rights organization. Educate yourself, start your own company and control your grip. While The Art of Emcee-ing, isn’t the end all be all text on emceeing for beginners, it’s a worthwhile introduction. Even those who’ve already put out a few mixtapes may find a tip or two to step up their game. So pick up the manual. It’ll show that you’re serious about pursuing a rap career. Cause one thing’s certain, you can’t sell dope forever. Read More vibe.com reviews

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