So, you want to become a professional rapper - or at least get good enough at rapping that you COULD start making money from the bars.
In today’s episode of How To Rap, we’ll provide you with a little-known and under-utilized secret on how to not only get the honest feedback on your music from your friends that you’ve always wanted, but how to do it in a way that actually turns them into your #1 fan over time.
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Start A Rap Career In 6 Weeks Or Less (COURSE I MENTIONED): htr.freestylefortnight.com/se...
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
0:59 Rap Career Course
1:40 The Problem With "Friends" As Fans
4:00 Step #1: Make It Easy For Them To Be Honest
5:38 Step #2: Prepare Your Music For Feedback
7:43 Step #3: Ask Them In A Low-Pressure Way
9:08 Step #4: Learn From Their Feedback and Space It Out
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So, you're aiming to be a professional rapper or at least improve enough to potentially profit from your craft. Yet, you find yourself without a clear path to acquiring genuine, actionable feedback, especially from friends who tend to avoid giving you the raw truth you need to excel.
In today’s "How To Rap" episode, we’re diving into a lesser-known technique that not only helps you receive the honest feedback you crave from your friends but also gradually turns them into your biggest advocates without any undue pressure.
The issue many budding rappers face is the initial reliance on friends for support and promotion. While friends are a natural first choice for building a fan base, this strategy is fraught with complications.
Friends often struggle to provide genuine feedback due to their emotional ties with you, potentially leading to dishonest praise just to maintain the friendship.
This dynamic can also make social interactions uncomfortable, associating them with an obligation to support your musical endeavors, which might not always be welcome.
However, friends also have a deep understanding of your personality and style, placing them in a prime position to offer valuable insights.
Unlike family members, who might steer you towards more conventional career paths, friends can provide a balance of support and candid feedback.
The challenge lies in fostering an environment where friends can be forthright without risking the friendship.
To encourage honest feedback, it's crucial to set clear expectations and create a low-pressure environment.
This involves sharing specific aspects of your music rather than entire tracks, focusing their attention on particular elements you aim to refine, such as flow, lyricism, or delivery.
Here’s how you can effectively engage your friends for feedback without overwhelming them:
Identify Specific Skills: Pinpoint the exact areas in your rap skills you wish to enhance. Break down these skills-whether it's your rhythmic timing, vocal tone, or lyrical content-and prepare snippets that showcase these elements.
Simplify Feedback Sessions: Instead of playing a full track, share a brief clip that highlights the skill you're working on. Ask specific, easy-to-answer questions like, "How is my timing on this verse?" or "Does my voice sound clear and strong here?" This method focuses their feedback and reduces the burden of critiquing the whole piece.
Incorporate Icon Analysis: Align your practice sessions with the styles of rappers you admire. For instance, if you’re inspired by Kendrick Lamar's lyrical depth, tailor your snippets to emulate his style and ask your friends if your piece resonates with similar complexity.
Frame Feedback Requests Effectively: When you ask for feedback, be concise and direct. Limit your requests to one or two elements at a time, making it easier for your friends to provide useful and precise feedback.
Learn and Adapt: Take your friends’ feedback seriously and use it to refine your skills. Demonstrate your progress in subsequent sessions, showing them that their input has a real impact on your development.
By following these steps, you not only make it easier for your friends to provide honest feedback but also involve them in your growth as an artist. This approach can transform friends into genuine fans who feel invested in your success as they see their suggestions being implemented and improving your music.
Remember, the goal is not just to improve your music but also to maintain and strengthen your friendships by respecting their perspectives and appreciating their contributions to your artistic journey.