Battles are the foundation of rap music. In a confrontation between rappers, the one who offers the best performance and lyrics and which solicits the strongest reaction from the audience usually wins. To survive a freestyle rap battle, follow these tips and techniques.
Steps
Step 1. Watch online battle videos, or try watching live battles near your home
Visit sites like rapt.fm. Study freestyle raps proposed by famous artists known for their skills in this specialty. You can learn a lot from rappers like Eyedea, Atmosphere, Tech N9ne, AMB, Nas, Eminem, Tupac, Jin and Biggie. Good examples of battles you can study include HBO's Blaze Battles and Scribble Jam among others. You'll also find a scene in the 8 Mile movie that fairly faithfully depicts a real rap battle. Pay close attention to the techniques these artists use in battles, and try to imitate them to improve your skills.
Step 2. Start writing rap songs
Write down everything that comes to your mind and try to rhyme it. Write some rap lyrics and then choose the best rhymes that can complement them. Consider buying a rhyming. Knowing how to write an effective rhyme for a battle will help you a lot when you are on the field. (Note: some rappers shy away from writing rhymes to force themselves to talk only about "real" topics) Don't always try to force a rhyme though. Let them arise naturally.
Step 3. Train in freestyle
You should be rapping without a previously written text, improvising whenever you can. When training, also try to come up with rhymes that you could use in battle. For example, help yourself by looking at a photo, thinking about your ex or imagining a future opponent, to find clever new ways to insult. When you think you have nothing left to talk about, just keep going; the more you try to rap without stopping, the more trained and flexible your mind will be.
Step 4. Start participating in rap battles
The best way to start is to challenge opponents for fun. Have battles with your friends who won't take it for insults. Clash as often as possible, especially if you can find a capable friend who can help you improve. When you feel confident in your skills, test yourself at rap parties and concerts, other places where you can practice your techniques before a real battle.
Step 5. Relax
Staying calm will allow you not to get angry when your opponent insults you, and to focus on the best possible response. Also, if you are calm, your execution will benefit too, which can make a difference: since the key to a good execution is timing, if your mind is not clear, your rhymes will be affected.
- Breath deeply. Deep breaths stimulate the vagus nerve, which has a calming effect on the body and mind. In fact, some researchers believe that getting used to relaxing and breathing deeply can change the way genes express themselves, making a person calmer overall.
- Choose keywords to return to. These words will help you if nothing comes to your mind. Learn which words rhyme with your keywords, and you can use them more often in your raps.
Step 6. If you are the first to speak, take advantage of it
While it may seem harder to start because your opponent will have plenty of opportunities to respond, you can stop them by self-criticizing. Self-criticism can greatly surprise an opponent who is trying to find your flaws. In the final battle of 8 Mile, for example, the protagonist B-Rabbit (Eminem) had to speak first, and he decided to insult himself before his opponent Papa Doc had a chance ("Yes, I'm white, I'm al green, I live in a trailer and my mom takes drugs … So what? "), leaving Papa speechless.
Step 7. Use comedy in your rhymes, especially if your opponent is very serious
Irony can be lethal; Making the audience laugh by taking the turn of your opponent is a great way to deflate him - especially if he is laughing too. If you can create rhymes that your opponent agrees with, you are making great strides towards victory.
Step 8. Don't worry if you lose your first real battles
The important thing is to constantly train yourself to freestyle and write. The more you practice, the more you will improve, so keep insisting.
Advice
- If you make rhymes before battle, don't follow them too slavishly. You will often find the best material at the moment.
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When facing a rap battle, you should make sure your verses include these three basic aspects:
- Similarities - compare your opponent to something that offends him. Try to compare it with something current that everyone knows.
- Insults - you will have to insult your opponent on general subjects (his clothing, his way of speaking, rapping, walking, and acting) and on personal matters (his past, his lifestyle and other character weaknesses).
- Comedy - make the audience and the judges laugh and maybe even your opponent. In some cases this will be enough to win a battle.
- Try to stay calm and focus on rap and not who is watching you.
- If someone beats you and you feel frustrated, train even more until you feel ready. Then challenge him again: if you win, you will earn a lot of respect. It's a great feeling, and you will attract a lot of acclaim.
- Rap battles are made up of two parts: the preparation and the catchphrase. Preparation is an opening verse or rhyme for your catchphrase (which will include the insult). The catchphrase should be a line that will contain a metaphor, an insult, or anything else that might strike your opponent.
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Example: In the Nas Ether song (a famous rap battle directed at Jay-Z), the singer says "Put it together (the preparation), I rock hoes y'all Roc-Fellas " (The catchphrase is an insult that uses Jay-Z's label name and implies that Jay-Z prefers men to women.)
- Don't look down. When you look down, you look defeated.
- Hit your opponent with the catchphrase. A good text is important, but three or four effective sentences will ensure you win.
- In your rap battles you should prefer facts and truth, which can lower your opponent's self-esteem.
- Make sure you drink water and hydrate yourself before and after a battle.
- Don't brag, just tell the truth.
Warnings
- Make sure you never copy someone else's lyrics.
- If you feel bad before a battle but want to participate anyway, try not to show your physical condition, as your opponent could take advantage of it.
- Never have a fight with a person who could react violently to a defeat.
