How to Rap

How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC is a book on hip hop music and rapping by Paul Edwards. It is compiled from interviews with 104 notable rappers who provide insights into how they write and perform their lyrics.[1][2][3]

How to Rap series
Volumes:
How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC
How to Rap 2: Advanced Flow & Delivery Techniques
AuthorPaul Edwards
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreNon-fiction hip hop
PublisherChicago Review Press
PublishedDecember 1, 2009 (sequel was published on September 1, 2013)
Media typePrint (paperback)

How to Rap 2: Advanced Flow & Delivery Techniques is a sequel to the book, also on hip hop music and rapping by Paul Edwards. It includes more insights from the interviews done from the first book.[4]

Publication

How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC was published by Chicago Review Press on December 1, 2009 with a foreword by Kool G Rap.[2][5][6] Publishers Weekly states that it “goes into everything from why rappers freestyle to the challenges of collaboration in hip-hop”,[7] and Library Journal says, “instruction ranges over selecting topics and form, editing, rhyming techniques, putting words to music, collaborating, vocal techniques, studio tips, and performance”.[2]

How to Rap 2: Advanced Flow & Delivery Techniques was also published by Chicago Review Press on September 1, 2013 with a foreword by Gift of Gab of Blackalicious.[4][8] In the sequel, reviewers note that, "Edwards asks advanced wordsmiths for advice on rhythm, melody, pitch, timing, enunciation, percussion, playing characters, rhyme schemes, and rhyme patterns."[9]

How to Rap is published in the UK by Random House on their Virgin Books imprint.[10] This edition is also published by Random House in Australia.[11] It was translated and published in Japanese by P-Vine Books in 2011[12] (part of P-Vine Records) and translated and published in Korean by Hans Media, also in 2011.[13]

Artists interviewed

The book is compiled from interviews with rappers; the interviews comprise the majority of the book's content.[2] The following artists were interviewed by the author:[3][6]

It also includes information on other artists, who are commented on by the interviewed artists, including:[3][6]

Reception

The book was positively received by critics and press outlets.[14] Library Journal says it is, “filled with real tools and overflowing with inspiration… a good read even for nonartists interested in learning more about hip-hop creativity, personalities, and history, this offers insights into music and poetry. Highly recommended,”[2] Hip Hop Connection called it “a complete guide to the art and craft of the MC, anyone who's serious about becoming a rapper should read this first… a vital and vibrant expose of a much misunderstood art form,”[14] and Campus Circle give it a “Grade: A+”.[15]

XXL magazine said "over 100 rappers have offered their insight on the artform for aspiring wordsmiths",[16] while Yale University Press's Anthology of Rap referred to How to Rap's "rich array of interviews with old school and new school artists,"[17] and Oxford University Press's How to Fix Copyright recommended How to Rap for a good "general" overview.[18]

Dana Gioia, poet and former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts wrote, “How To Rap marks a cultural coming-of-age for Hip-Hop… [it] is the first comprehensive poetics of this new literary form. …Edwards has made his bid to become the Aristotle of Hip-Hop poetics”.[14]

It also received positive comments from hip-hop journalists and authors such as Kembrew McLeod, Dan LeRoy, Alex Ogg, Mickey Hess, Russell Potter, and Pancho McFarland,[14] and from artists such as Georgia Anne Muldrow, Egon of Stones Throw Records, Badru Umi, and Speech of Arrested Development.[14]

In a review of a Kanye West album, news outlet The Daily Beast praised the book, saying: "In Paul Edwards’s comprehensive tome How to Rap, the author surveyed a plethora of rap emcees—104, to be exact—in order to demystify the rap process."[19]

Notes
  1. "Chicago Review Press". Chicago Review Press. 2009-12-01. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  2. "Xpress Reviews-First Look at New Books". Libraryjournal.com. 2009-11-20. Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  3. Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press.
  4. "How to Rap 2". Ipgbook.com. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  5. "How To Rap: Kool G Rap (Foreword)". Rap Radar. 2009-12-03. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  6. "How To Rap". Howtorapbook.com. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  7. "The Song Remains the Same". Publishersweekly.com. 2009-09-07. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  8. "Gift of Gab to Write Foreward [sic] of Paul Edwards' How To Rap 2: Advanced Flow & Delivery Techniques". HipHopDX. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  9. "Hustle and Flow: Hip-hop Theory and Praxis". Roy Christopher. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  10. "How to Rap : Paul Edwards". Randomhouse.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  11. "How to Rap". Random House Australia. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  12. "「HOW TO RAP 104人のラッパーが教えるラップの神髄」ポール・エドワーズ 著". 「HOW TO RAP 104人のラッパーが教えるラップの神髄」ポール・エドワーズ 著. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  13. "국내 최초 랩 입문서 '하우 투 랩' 출간". Hiphopplaya.com. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  14. "Reviews". Howtorapbook.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  15. "How to Rap: The Art and Science of the Hip-Hop MC". Campus Circle. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  16. "Clipse, Mobb Deep & Pharoahe Monch Teach Fans "How to Rap" in New Book". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  17. Adam Bradley, 2011, The Anthology of Rap, Yale University Press, Introduction, p.xlvii.
  18. William Patry, 2012, How to Fix Copyright, Oxford University Press, p.283.
  19. "Praise 'Yeezus': Kanye West's New Album is an Eclectic Tour de Force". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
gollark: But it's hip and cool to have your toaster be mining bitcoin!
gollark: I think we need an off-the-shelf solution to adding blinky LEDs and shininess to existing non-IoT products... hmm.
gollark: Just stick some blinky LEDs on the outside.
gollark: I'm sure you can buy an aluminium case.
gollark: Duct-tape a raspberry pi to it but don't actually have it control anything?

References
  • Edwards, Paul (2009). How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC. Chicago Review Press, ISBN 1-55652-816-7.
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