Ghostwriting in hip hop..when its cool and when its a foh situation.

[Say What]

HipHop is the only music that is afraid to mention that they have contributing writers even when their names are on the Credits. In Rock, R&B, and Pop, artist are expected to bring their voices to the table and it's accepted that they many not have a strong pen game. In HipHop, presence is just as important and a gifted writer may not have the presence of a complete artist which includes their voice, swagger and character portrayal as well as their ability to utilize what's written with oral skill. Still, HipHop ads a gladiator effort and expects one person to contain all those elements for everyone. Even though it is respected that artist in other Genres do their own thing on all levels, it's not expected. I'm not talking having know musical talent or writing abilities, I'm talking being able to step aside and have others work with you including writers to create a hit. That's collaboration rather then Ghost Writing though which is still not as bad as lip syncing but seems a lower respectability then fabricating your life. That probably gives HipHop more credibility when looked at honestly because more is expected at least amongst avid listeners.

In many of those genres they have another talent. Rapping is the talent. Rock also has to play instruments, singers hit notes and sometimes it is better if someone else preformed it.

 

[CirocObama]

HipHop is the only music that is afraid to mention that they have contributing writers even when their names are on the Credits. In Rock, R&B, and Pop, artist are expected to bring their voices to the table and it's accepted that they many not have a strong pen game. In HipHop, presence is just as important and a gifted writer may not have the presence of a complete artist which includes their voice, swagger and character portrayal as well as their ability to utilize what's written with oral skill. Still, HipHop ads a gladiator effort and expects one person to contain all those elements for everyone. Even though it is respected that artist in other Genres do their own thing on all levels, it's not expected. I'm not talking having know musical talent or writing abilities, I'm talking being able to step aside and have others work with you including writers to create a hit. That's collaboration rather then Ghost Writing though which is still not as bad as lip syncing but seems a lower respectability then fabricating your life. That probably gives HipHop more credibility when looked at honestly because more is expected at least amongst avid listeners.

I unno about all that. I get your point, but no. Rappers are essentially selling their words/poetry/stories so it's different. R&B artist sell their voices, Rock sell their instruments together the possible singing/vocals and there is no genre called Pop.

Pop is just short for popular. But since i get what you're saying imma just say that those artists are walking commercials & that's what they're selling. You don't listen to Kesha or anybody else for their voices or words. They just mark a popular look, style, words & whatever else is going on cuz it attracts the biggest market, which is young kids & teenage girls so they can sell a bunch of products or w/e.

 

[mryounggun]

You gon' use a ghost writer, don't act like you don't. That's my only issue. That's why I got no problem with Dre. Niggas BEEN knew Dre wasn't writing his shit since NWA and he never tried to hide it or hit you with the 'I'm the dopiest MC out!' routine.

And I got no issue with a dope nigga sporadically using a ghost writer here and there to tighten his shit up. Whole songs and albums though? Unacceptable.

 

[Ghostdenithegawd]

DIDT SNOOP USE GHOSTWRITERS FOR A WHOLE ALBUM FOR ONE OF HIS ALBUMS YAH THATS A FOH SITUATION

 

[CirocObama]

You gon' use a ghost writer, don't act like you don't. That's my only issue. That's why I got no problem with Dre. Niggas BEEN knew Dre wasn't writing his shit since NWA and he never tried to hide it or hit you with the 'I'm the dopiest MC out!' routine.

And I got no issue with a dope nigga sporadically using a ghost writer here and there to tighten his shit up. Whole songs and albums though? Unacceptable.

Again, you're not using common sense.

The reason niggas been cool with Dre and been known about it is cuz he's a producer. Same thing with Diddy. Diddy has always been an arranger & a mogul so they're more judged by the overall music.

You're talking for yourself, but again, what sense would it make for say Jigga to say that someone else wrote half the songs on Reasonable Doubt? Do not act like you'd be straight with that or that everybody else would. Doesn't make sense, financially nor artistically.

 

[nex gin]

I can't respect a "rapper" who doesn't write his/her own bars. When I listen to a rapper, I want to hear "their" creativity, wordplay, etc. not somebody else's. I'd rather just listen to the nigguh who wrote the bars instead of the next nigguh reciting some shit somebody else wrote. Somebody giving advice or ideas is cool too, but straight up "person A wrote all these bars.......person B recites all the bars that person A wrote???"........foh w/ that bs. Dre and Diddy are cool on the production tip, but I've never respected them as artists. I'm cool w/ somebody assisting w/ hooks and whatnot, but that other shit...foh.

 

[Jabu_Rule]

HipHop is the only music that is afraid to mention that they have contributing writers even when their names are on the Credits. In Rock, R&B, and Pop, artist are expected to bring their voices to the table and it's accepted that they many not have a strong pen game. In HipHop, presence is just as important and a gifted writer may not have the presence of a complete artist which includes their voice, swagger and character portrayal as well as their ability to utilize what's written with oral skill. Still, HipHop ads a gladiator effort and expects one person to contain all those elements for everyone. Even though it is respected that artist in other Genres do their own thing on all levels, it's not expected. I'm not talking having know musical talent or writing abilities, I'm talking being able to step aside and have others work with you including writers to create a hit. That's collaboration rather then Ghost Writing though which is still not as bad as lip syncing but seems a lower respectability then fabricating your life. That probably gives HipHop more credibility when looked at honestly because more is expected at least amongst avid listeners.

I unno about all that. I get your point, but no. Rappers are essentially selling their words/poetry/stories so it's different. R&B artist sell their voices, Rock sell their instruments together the possible singing/vocals and there is no genre called Pop.

Pop is just short for popular. But since i get what you're saying imma just say that those artists are walking commercials & that's what they're selling. You don't listen to Kesha or anybody else for their voices or words. They just mark a popular look, style, words & whatever else is going on cuz it attracts the biggest market, which is young kids & teenage girls so they can sell a bunch of products or w/e.

Rap is a huge popularity contest and a battle of machismo or at least that's how it started and that's it's main focus even today. If they aren't selling an image, then what are they selling? I know pop isn't a Genre but many times the music that is in what is labled pop can sound like a particular genre. Nsync, backstreet boys, Britney spears. What would you label them as? Contemporary? What does that even mean? Rap artist have as much of a voice to sell as a crooner vs a soprano. Just ask Boosie. A terrible delivery, a awkwardly noticeable lisp, or just a plain horrible sounding voice or accent can sink a rapper so it's more then just words on paper at play.

 

[Jabu_Rule]

HipHop is the only music that is afraid to mention that they have contributing writers even when their names are on the Credits. In Rock, R&B, and Pop, artist are expected to bring their voices to the table and it's accepted that they many not have a strong pen game. In HipHop, presence is just as important and a gifted writer may not have the presence of a complete artist which includes their voice, swagger and character portrayal as well as their ability to utilize what's written with oral skill. Still, HipHop ads a gladiator effort and expects one person to contain all those elements for everyone. Even though it is respected that artist in other Genres do their own thing on all levels, it's not expected. I'm not talking having know musical talent or writing abilities, I'm talking being able to step aside and have others work with you including writers to create a hit. That's collaboration rather then Ghost Writing though which is still not as bad as lip syncing but seems a lower respectability then fabricating your life. That probably gives HipHop more credibility when looked at honestly because more is expected at least amongst avid listeners.

In many of those genres they have another talent. Rapping is the talent. Rock also has to play instruments, singers hit notes and sometimes it is better if someone else preformed it.

You don't think it's better for a certain rapper to vocalize lyrics with their ability to manage cadence and delivery? A rappers voice and rap deliverance skills is as important as what that rapper is saying. You don't have to play an instrument in rock or even sing. Look at Limp Bisket or the Beastie Boys even though you would consider them rappers also.

 

[mryounggun]

You gon' use a ghost writer, don't act like you don't. That's my only issue. That's why I got no problem with Dre. Niggas BEEN knew Dre wasn't writing his shit since NWA and he never tried to hide it or hit you with the 'I'm the dopiest MC out!' routine.

And I got no issue with a dope nigga sporadically using a ghost writer here and there to tighten his shit up. Whole songs and albums though? Unacceptable.

Again, you're not using common sense.

The reason niggas been cool with Dre and been known about it is cuz he's a producer. Same thing with Diddy. Diddy has always been an arranger & a mogul so they're more judged by the overall music.

You're talking for yourself, but again, what sense would it make for say Jigga to say that someone else wrote half the songs on Reasonable Doubt? Do not act like you'd be straight with that or that everybody else would. Doesn't make sense, financially nor artistically.

I'm confused. At what point did I say I'd be OK with that? In fact...I said the exact opposite. 'Whole songs and albums though? Unacceptable.'.

What exactly are you trying to say here, son?

 

[Mr. Rich Pryor]

u have to give da credit where credit is due all da time!

u cant be actin all cocky & shit like i did it all on mah own when we know dats bullshit!

sort of like how cube deserves all da props fo all da nwa shit!

 

[Sweat jones]

Never cool

 

[Paul Hate.]

Yeah i think doggumentary was all ghostwriters thats foh to me as well.

Nwa to me was like a group effort im sure ren ghostwrite for the others as well and they prolly picthed ideas to eachother.

Yo it aint ghostwriting if an mc and a producer collabo or two artists share hooks and verses and concepts on a song.

Ghostwriting is rapper a sliding tracks to rapper b signed sealed and delivered.

The minute rapper b even remixes the track takes the verses outta order or shortens/lenghtens the track its no longer the same song so its co written not ghostwritten per say.

Like i cant a cat like bow wow saying hell no ..telll tip i k nocked out a different hook and we switched the beat im letting da brat spit what she want in the third verse.

Lol if anything he prolly spits whatever given to him word for word down to the flow and delivery.which is true ghostwriting.

I say at least a third of these niggas big records been co written by prodcuers or other artists.

 

[32DaysOfInfiniti]

I say its only acceptable for the hook or if the artist is under 14

 

[poindexter2]

It was probably cool when you could write a verse or two or three and get a $250k-$500k check 3 months later, but now I doubt it because rappers writers or producers aint eating like that now. its more FOH these days

 

[CertainSoul]

Ghostwriting is always a foh situation in m opinion. Hip hop aint supposed to be fake. If you can rap, rap. If you cant, then produce, if you can't do that, DJ then, if you cant do that, then you need to find something else to do, point blank.

 

[sully]

This is the IC, soooo....

When it's cool: When Nas does it.

When it's foh situation: When Jay-Z does it.

 

[djraycool]

If you using a ghost writer I dont wanna hear that ish..thats as fake as Rick Ross persona. Beats and rhymes real rhymes thats what im about..we aint justin bieber over hear

 

[CirocObama]

You gon' use a ghost writer, don't act like you don't. That's my only issue. That's why I got no problem with Dre. Niggas BEEN knew Dre wasn't writing his shit since NWA and he never tried to hide it or hit you with the 'I'm the dopiest MC out!' routine.

And I got no issue with a dope nigga sporadically using a ghost writer here and there to tighten his shit up. Whole songs and albums though? Unacceptable.

Again, you're not using common sense.

The reason niggas been cool with Dre and been known about it is cuz he's a producer. Same thing with Diddy. Diddy has always been an arranger & a mogul so they're more judged by the overall music.

You're talking for yourself, but again, what sense would it make for say Jigga to say that someone else wrote half the songs on Reasonable Doubt? Do not act like you'd be straight with that or that everybody else would. Doesn't make sense, financially nor artistically.

I'm confused. At what point did I say I'd be OK with that? In fact...I said the exact opposite. 'Whole songs and albums though? Unacceptable.'.

What exactly are you trying to say here, son?

Didn't you say that if they had ghostwriters that they at least should be honest about it?

 

[CirocObama]

HipHop is the only music that is afraid to mention that they have contributing writers even when their names are on the Credits. In Rock, R&B, and Pop, artist are expected to bring their voices to the table and it's accepted that they many not have a strong pen game. In HipHop, presence is just as important and a gifted writer may not have the presence of a complete artist which includes their voice, swagger and character portrayal as well as their ability to utilize what's written with oral skill. Still, HipHop ads a gladiator effort and expects one person to contain all those elements for everyone. Even though it is respected that artist in other Genres do their own thing on all levels, it's not expected. I'm not talking having know musical talent or writing abilities, I'm talking being able to step aside and have others work with you including writers to create a hit. That's collaboration rather then Ghost Writing though which is still not as bad as lip syncing but seems a lower respectability then fabricating your life. That probably gives HipHop more credibility when looked at honestly because more is expected at least amongst avid listeners.

I unno about all that. I get your point, but no. Rappers are essentially selling their words/poetry/stories so it's different. R&B artist sell their voices, Rock sell their instruments together the possible singing/vocals and there is no genre called Pop.

Pop is just short for popular. But since i get what you're saying imma just say that those artists are walking commercials & that's what they're selling. You don't listen to Kesha or anybody else for their voices or words. They just mark a popular look, style, words & whatever else is going on cuz it attracts the biggest market, which is young kids & teenage girls so they can sell a bunch of products or w/e.

Rap is a huge popularity contest and a battle of machismo or at least that's how it started and that's it's main focus even today. If they aren't selling an image, then what are they selling? I know pop isn't a Genre but many times the music that is in what is labled pop can sound like a particular genre. Nsync, backstreet boys, Britney spears. What would you label them as? Contemporary? What does that even mean? Rap artist have as much of a voice to sell as a crooner vs a soprano. Just ask Boosie. A terrible delivery, a awkwardly noticeable lisp, or just a plain horrible sounding voice or accent can sink a rapper so it's more then just words on paper at play.

I don't think you get what i'm saying bruh.

I was talking about the art of rappin'. A rapper is someone who's supposed to control the crowd with his words essentially, right? So that's their instrument, their words. How many R&B artists sing about love & break-ups & still have people listening? That's the point. Because Whitney isn't Keyshia Cole, Keyshia Cole isn't Beyonce etc. So their instrument is more about their vocals, hence the name "singing". Now, their stories might be different but it's still about how they sing. So therefor someone expected to rap/emcee the crowd with his story, his words & style & doesn't even do that then what exactly does he do? So obviously there's more expectations for a rapper to write his own lyrics than a singer, rock band or w/e.

I think you're talking about it from more of a business stand point but i'm talking about the art of it.

 

[keez.]

:-q As an aspiring rapper myself, ghostwriting is one of those things I can't roll with.