Royce Da 5’9″ Prefers Flow Over Subject Matter
March 29, 2010 @ 11:21 AM EDT
News
In another audio interview from the book How To Rap , Royce says he favors an ill flow over subject matter. Personally, I’d have to agree. I’ve always believed that it’s not what you say, but how you say it. What some artists lack for in lyrical ability, they make up for in flow. For some reason, Peedi Crakk comes to mind. He’s not the greatest rapper, but he could ride a beat like a pornstar. Peep how he kills this SMACK freestyle. On the flip side, take an artist like Papoose who has decent subject matter, but with a deadpan delivery. It’s all subjective. Just try not to get lost in translation.
So B.Dot prefers the Busy Bee’s of the world, the party emcee….who can make a song about anything at all what so ever, but if its catchy its good? This is why Hip Hop is dead.Papoose – FLOP, Peedi Crakk – NOBODY , Royce – Internet Buzz, and thats it.
Lyrics win everyday, we recite Jay-Z,Biggie Lyrics…not there flow.
who can make a song about anything at all what so ever, but if its catchy its good?
^
No. Being “lyrical” isnt the end all be all. U can have the dopest concept for a song, but it the flow is one dimensional, the track’s gonna suck.
^yeah…but when you use Jay-Z and Biggie as an example of lyricists, you have to remember they have two of the greatest flows in hip hop ever.
biggie was just on some other shit.
jay just…”none got more flows than young, plus got more flows to come”…i don’t know if i’ve ever heard that nigga deliver two verses like one another.
two flow monsters. bad example.
I feel you need both concepts to really make a song be a great song, flow & lyrics…not just one…beat selection matters too.
Thanks for your opinion though, and the un hateful comments…lol
I think b dot meant if he had to have one or the other. Was any song on doggystle about anything in particular? if I had one or the other, I’d go with what I could vibe with.
The legends have both, eminem, pac, biggie, jay
Co-sign B.Dot & Royce. Peedi comes to mind first. Young Chris in his early years. 90’s Prodigy. 90’s NORE. And even though Black Thought and Mos Def have good subject matter, their flows are what captivates people. 50 Cent and TI as well. Who the fuck cares if you can spit 1000 bars of lyrical wizardry if it’s not good on the ear?!? (See Canibus, Papoose, MF Doom, Sheek & many more). Max B held down a wavy flow as well. Rappers should try to be good at both in my opinion. That’s why battle rappers don’t become shit. Eminem learned that EARLY! Expanding his flow took his career to a whole new level.
Doggystyle? bad example……How many phrases,trends etc came out of that album? More than we can count…..not many albums are about anything, there not a movie! Snoop had some great records on there, and a great flow……..
Bottom line….if you all you have is flow, you won’t go nowhere…..if all you have is lyrics, you won’t go anywhere…..its like a ball player, he can play D yea, but can he score too?
I stick to what i said 100%, we recite lyrics, we remember hot lines…not flows…the flow just puts the icing on the cake. In my opinion anyways.
if u ask me i say flow n concepts rely on each other i aint gonna choose its just your average listener will like a song if its flow crazy but yh flow is definetly important tracks gonna sound dead without it
and this is exactly why Diggy Simmons has a pass. I’ve never appreciated KiD CuDi so much right now.
I have no preference. I take what the artist gives. If its hot, I’m fucking with it. Simple as that.
Things usually sort there way out. Writers, Lyricist, Rappers, and so fourth.
it depends.. E.g w/ royce.. some of the shit he says make me cringe cos its so bad that i cant fully agree.. But its all opinion cos even tho royce works hard on his flow.. Some ppl just dont like it
Hell No!!! Lyrics over Flow everyday of the week!! Flow is important, but how many artists have a good flow and don’t really talk about much? The majority!!!
i think the subject was FLOW and SUBJECT MATTER.
there are some real lyrical cats who don’t be talking about jack shit most of the time. Canibus.
then you have the lyricist with subject matter galore. Andre 3000 (although andre’s flow has always been ridiculous)
there is a distinction to be made.
Teejay u gay for forgetting nas and pun….
there’s very few great lyricists, but a TON of dudes with great flow & very little content. I say lyrics, BUT flow is important…lyrics don’t sound as good, or make the point clear unless there delivered on point. To me, a true MC has both.
Lyrics >> Flow. A wack rapper is wack regardless of how he decides to deliver his raps.
A balance is needed. A lot of people have something to say but in hip hop how you say it matters.
i might be mistaken, but i feel theres more to it than just flow or subject matter. if anything, i think rhyme structure is extremely important. i wouldn’t be surprised t if the interviewer asked royce to choose between the 3, that his response might have been different. in terms of crafting, i think subject matter is the least on the hierarchical ladder..just a thought
@jhooka
While many phrases came from that record, it wasn’t exactly deep on an intellectual level, no social commentaries or introspection. The record was huge because of snoop’s personality and flow, not because he was touching hearts.
Songs and albums with lyrical conscientiousness are never appreciated in the mainstream because they make people think too much. Flow is much more important in becoming popular because it is easier to create and takes no effort to recognize or listen to
Good MCs have both!
Peedi killed this —> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY8Xjq8_F_8
@MC
What the hell is a wavy flow?
A flow is like a melody. It’s important that it’s catchy so that people are drawn to it off the bat. What hooks people for a long time though is the subject matter. As many have mentioned, the best, most successful rappers can do both. (Biggie, Eminem, Jay, Pac)
When did i say “Snoop was touching hearts”
LOL>..hes a rapper, not a hallmark card.
PS…not many rap records touch hearts…..its Snoop Dogg, not Susan Boyle.
@ Eric if flow(essentially melody) was easy to create then why don’t more of the ultra-lyrical cats have incredible flows? You’d think with the intellect it takes to come up with complex lyrics, it would be a breeze.
Talib Kweli has incredible lyrics but flow has remained stagnant for years. I think some of the ultra-lyricists downfall comes from them thinking lyrics are the end-all be-all of making a song when it’s clearly not. They jam pack each bar with so many words to where the only flow you can have is a stiff/ monotonous flow. Stiff/monotonous flow = boring song. Boring song = no one’s going to pay attention long enough to hear your incredible lyrics.
Insightful, great argument, this is an example of how to actually have a conversation, without calling someone a name, thank you Rap Radar Commenters for giving me the feeling that sooner or later this will all make sense (kidding) good conversation though
Flow is everything, they way a beat is demolished just gives it extra, like ya boy Drake, he can ride the hell out of a beat, J Cole, the rest I never heard, well most of them, but it is like Drake vs Cory Gunz, Gunz is a spitter and when you here him, you go, nice, but Drake is a flower, the way he rocks, make you love the joint vs loving what he says, which is not all that bad either….
@MC
What the hell is a wavy flow?
^^^^^
Listen to a Max B mixtape and you’ll find out nigga!
@ MC
I was thinking of how to word my opinion but you nailed it.
and Eminem’s flow is second to none
DONT PUT JAY IN THE SAME SENTENCE AS BIG UNLESS YOU SAYING BIG IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE BETTER THEN JAY….
LYRICISTS DONT GET THE PROPS THEY DESERVE. BECAUSE OF THIS THEY SAY JAY IS BETTER THEN NAS…. DONT EVEN MENTION LUDA WHEN THEY TALK TOP 5 OR 10 & THINK SLAUGHTERHOUSE IS WACK. BUT MOST LYRICISTS HAVE BETTER FLOW THEN ALL THESE POP RAPPERS.
Most of u young transexuals wouldn’t know a dope flow if it bit u on the ass…
great opinions…
Wordplay – playful use of words : verbal wit
Subject Matter – matter presented for consideration in discussion, thought, or study
Flow – 4 a : to proceed smoothly and readily b : to have a smooth continuity
Sound –
^3 social elements needed to be considered a classic. It was already mentioned but 2Pac, Biggie, Big Pun, Big L, Big Daddy Kane, Jay-Z, Eminem, T.I. (Yes, I do give this guy credit), Kanye West (hate to admit it), and a plethora of others, (DMX, the list goes on and on), are all the very best examples of a person embodying all 3 elements, combining them and creating a unique sound. What you get is multi-platinum selling artists, because that music will appeal to ears first. Same thing with sesame street as a child, or even Barney..fuck it…the songs that are played embodies all 3 including sound, and captivates the listener..in that case a child. But you tend to get the point. We all still know the Barney song, why? Because it flowed correctly, the words used we’re identifiable, and it was talking about something – love – …witta a catchy tune, so the sound was on point. *singing it now*….props to all of the GOOD MC’s, that actually LEARNED this game they call Hip-Hop. Yeah you can rap, and rap ya heart out some more…but without all of these combined you will surely meet your demise.
[…] @ Double R In another audio interview from the book How To Rap , Royce says he favors an ill flow over subject […]
Ummm……so where does Rakim fit in??? The MC may like flow because you don’t have to think that hard!! And Royce is a lyricist!! Is that what he likes from other MC’s??
The greats all have both Lyrics and flow mastered………You cant be too far to one side
Nelly has impeccable Rhythim and flow, but his content is booty
Canabis has Lyrics and knowledge for days, but his flow will put you to sleep
You have to meet in the middle
^
agreed
@MC
No thanks nigga. I’m not gonna waste my time listenin to some dumbass who’s stupid enough to call himself “Biggavelli” and has never dropped an album..so his WAVY flow must be Gucci mane wack
@Jaybyrd
Rakim is known as the re/inventor of modern lyrics, unlike those simple early 80’s lyrics which were primarily for fun and party so he’s primarily a great lyricist but he has a good enough flow to make you listen.
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