The ART of Rap vs the SKILL of Rap

For the longest, I've heard people debate about "lyrical" and "technical" in terms of rapping. It's very interesting topic to me, because most people THINK they know what those terms mean, but their definitions and examples are almost always off. In fact, these two terms are what make the "Tupac vs Biggie" debate so difficult to conclude. Allow me to explain.

Lyrical ability refers to how well a rapper expresses his themes, messages and emotions. Displaying creativity through imagery, storytelling, entendres, wordplay, metaphors, similes, and hyperboles are all elements that play a big role in a rapper's lyrical ability. Lyricism often holds substance and has meaning. Being lyrical in rap is extremely similar to poetry or other forms of art. It has been said that the purpose of art is to convey and draw out emotions and passion, which is why a great lyricist can effectively make the listener resonate with his emotions and visualize his words. (ie. Lupe Fiasco, Jay-z, Wale, Nas)

Example: (Nas on "I Gave You Power")

"I seen some cold nights and bloody days /
They grab and me bullets spray /
They use me wrong / so I sing this song 'til this day /
My body is cold steel for real /
I was made to kill / that's why they keep me concealed
Under car seats they sneak me in clubs /
Been in the hands of mad thugs /
They feed me when they load me with mad slugs"

Technical ability refers to the structure of the rap and how it sounds to the listener. I like to call it the "scientific side" of rap. The use of complex rhyme schemes (internal and external rhyme), assonance, enjambment, paradox, and other literary devices are what define a technical rapper. Unlike lyricism, technical rap does not require substance or emotion to convey its message. It just has to "sound" pleasant to the ear. A rapper's flow and delivery are also a testament to one's technical ability. (ie. Tech N9ne, Chino XL, Twista)

Example: (Tech N9ne on "Interlude")

I’m accustomed / fucking lovin’ nothin’ / but to get your brain
And I be stuck in lust / and quick to bust a nut / and take a nigga’s dame wit’ no shame
When they be bussin ‘nough/ they thinkin’ they thuggin’ tough /
But never do knuckle up / you in the game, you bang /
You druggin' / touchin’ everything, you lame? /
Sucka, you cannot sustain the rain

Now that we have clear definitions, let me proceed to say that Tupac and Biggie cannot be compared! Tupac is probably the the greatest example of a lyricist who had little technical ability. Most of his songs were passionate, had substance, and painted pictures of the hardships faced by those in poverty. He was very poetic with his raps, but his rhyme schemes were predictable, similes were basic, and kept the same flow in most of his songs. Biggie, on the other hand, was a great lyricist, but his technical ability is what separated from the rest of the genre. If you ask an old head what they liked about Biggie, they'll most likely say something like "It was jus the way he flowed on the beat!" and then proceed to spit about four to eight bars from one of his songs (probably getting half of Big's words wrong -___-). His flow and delivery, combined with his punchlines, rhyme schemes and storytelling, make him a fan favorite. Biggie, however, lacked substance in most his music. His songs were mostly belligerent and bravado-filled.

Based off this analysis, one might conclude that Biggie is the clear victor of the debate because he is both lyrical AND technically sound, while Tupac is mostly lyrical. However, a factor that I feel is relevant enough to consider (and that most people omit) is influence/audience. Tupac's music is holy grail of passion in hip-hop. Songs, like "Dear Mama", "Smile", "Thugs Mansion", etc. garner introspection every time you hear them. Even J.Cole said that "'Pac wrote the bible". Tupac made people believe that the "system" wasn't made for people to prosper so we'd have to make a way. Biggie's music was for people who just had dreams of making it from the projects to the penthouse.

Lyricism and technical ability are what separate good rapper from great rappers. The best rappers are those who can't fit under only one of these categories, due to their ability to excel at both. Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Chance the Rapper, Eminem, Andre 3000, Earl Sweatshirt, Drake, Tyler the Creator, Big Sean, Joey Bada$$, and Childish Gambino are all examples of great lyricist who also showcase technical ability in their verses on many occasions.

Examples: (Andre 3000 on "Sixteen")

"I feel right at home, y'all / sitting right at home
All / Kelly green with envy / while I'm jelly beans descending /
Into the palm of a child / looks up at mama and smiles /
With such a devilish grin / like "where the hell have you been" /
She yelling selling's a sin / well so is telling young men /
That selling is a sin if you don't offer new ways to win /
A dolphin gon' shake his fin / regardless if he gets in
Or out of water / most important thing for him is to swim"

(Kendrick Lamar on "Good Kid")

"Look inside these walls and you see I'm having withdrawals / of a prisoner on his way

Trapped inside your desire to fire / bullets that stray
Track attire just tell you I'm tired / and ran away
I should ask a choir what do you require to sing a song / that acquire me to have faith"

Everything that I said in this post is my educated opinion. I suggest that you go do your own research on the topic.

@nubeemac3

do what you want, defy what you don't