Becoming a true Emcee.

Being an emcee is so much more than just being able to rhyme words over a beat....if those were the only standards, anyone could be a rapper. There are many elements that are not to be overlooked. The ability to rhyme multi-syllabic words and phrases, while still matching different tempos and rythims.The art of freestyling, and having the ability to rock a crowd is huge! Wheather it be in front of 30 people or 30,000 people, you have to have that built into you. You need to dig into Hip Hops' roots first and take a look at where the word Emcee stems from. Emcee or M.C. stands for Master of Ceremonies. By definition, a master of ceremonies is a person who acts as a host at formal occasions. Obviously the definiton changed a bit when it was incooperated into Hip Hop linguistics....but, it all goes back to the live element...which is crucial in the game now a days. If the live show element is not a part of your game, you are not eating off rap....a real Emcee knows you ain't making any money just by sitting at your computer promoting your shit on Facebook. You have to get out there and market yourself. There are rappers that make a living off of touring. In most cases, in order for an artist to make  money off of their music they have to be touring, or atleast be playing shows locally. And this is because after all your friends and they're friends buy your album, your record sales will stop. Anyone with half a brain isn't going to buy some guys cd they never heard of. Common sense right. Unless your frigin Eminem or Jay-z, u ain't eating off of just record sales. So get on that...now, being able to freestyle and rock a crowd is crucial....but just as important, is having the ability to write and make a record. I've noticed alot of rappers that just freestyle, or that have been on a battling tip most of their rhyming career, cannot make a record for the life of em. They get into the booth, and its like watching the new kid at your school. They just look clueless and scared. That's not always the case, but probably more often than not. The Studio is an amazing experience but you need to find a studio where you feel at home. Find a studio that lets you play by your own rules, that way your creativity level will be at it's peek. You do not want to feel like your being judged the entire time, or feel like your not doing things right. Stick to what you do best, but always be open to other peoples opinions, especially if they are more experienced. The studio can make a great rapper sound even greater, and make a horrible rapper sound good enough to be played on the radio...*cough* soldier boy......ahem..