Massaging your jaw to release tension. Tension in your jaw can have a negative effect on your tone. Take the heel of your hand and, starting below your cheekbone and moving toward your chin, rub with moderate pressure in small circles. Trilling with your lips. Vibrate your lips together with a “h” sound, like a horse nickering, to get your lip muscles ready to spit some sick lyrical rap. Repeat this exercise with a “b” sound, as though imitating a boat sound. Buzzing like a kazoo. Vibrate your lips together and ascend to the upper reaches of your vocal range in a controlled fashion. When you’ve reached your upper limit, kazoo down to your lower range in the same fashion. Repeat this several times.
Experiment with different kinds of rhymes. Traditionally, rhyme structure looks at the sounds shared between two words, but you could make use of near rhymes or rhyme one word with a two word compound. For example, the word “orange” forms a near rhyme with the compound “door hinge. “[1] X Research source Use internal rhymes, like Edgar Allen Poe’s classic poem, The Raven. To take an example of this from the beginning of The Raven, “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary. . . " Seek out rich rhymes. These are often overlooked due to the fact that although they sound similar, they are written differently. Some examples include the pairs: raise-raze, blew-blue, guest-guessed, and so on. [2] X Research source [3] X Research source
Another technique you can make use of to improve enunciation forces your mouth to speak clearly around an obstruction, like marbles, ice cubes, or a cork. In this exercise, you should hold a cork between your lips or a smaller object, like marbles or ice cubes, inside your mouth while speaking. Try to speak clearly around the object to train precision in speaking. You might find that your rapping (and speaking) abilities improve if you practice your enunciation at the start of every day. While getting your day started, say a few of your favorite tongue twisters to yourself. Try to add variety to your enunciation routine. You might alternate fast and slow speeds every other line, you might over pronounce and exaggerate each word, or you could try saying it in a whisper. [4] X Research source [5] X Research source
When your diaphragm is engaged, it pulls down allowing your lungs to draw in air. When it pushes up, the air is forces from your lungs. You should feel the area between the bottom of your rib cage and your bellybutton extend outward slightly when breathing from your diaphragm correctly. [6] X Research source
To improve your abilities and identify areas you could improve, you should read/recite poetry, speeches, or segments from books in front of others. This way you can get feedback on your delivery, rhythm, and also get encouragement about the things you did well.
If you have an especially good recording, or if you have a specific issue you’re not sure about, let a trusted friend or relative listen to your recording to get feedback. Some people naturally have a better ear than others for speech. Use others as a resource to improve. [10] X Research source [11] X Research source
Examine your values to help understand what your message is. What are the things most important to you? What do you hate and want to change? These questions will help guide you in finding out your message. Look through past raps you’ve written or reflect on freestyling you’ve done in the past. Do you notice any themes that occur over and over again? These might also indicate a message or theme that is important to you.
Try to distract yourself from the people and the performance. Focus on your message, on what you are going to say, and on the importance and enjoyment you get from rapping. Use these positive things to overcome your nerves. You might benefit from moving around a bit on the stage, if you have a mic that’ll allow you to do so. When you become nervous, it’s natural to freeze up and feel like you’re paralyzed. Fight that feeling by moving around, using gestures, and engaging your body. [14] X Research source
Progressive muscular relaxation is a 15 minute technique that could also help with pre-performance tension. First, moderately tense specific muscle groups, like your neck, shoulders, arms, and legs. After five seconds of tensing each muscle group, release the tension and exhale as you do. [16] X Research source
A hallmark of talented freestylers is making errors part of the rap. Rapper Eminem is an excellent example when he said, “I take a beat and loop it, / I take a beat and shoop it, / Shoop it? What does that mean? / I don’t know but I got fat jeans on, / And I already said that, / I don’t know where my head’s at. . . “[18] X Research source
Try to walk into your first performances with the perspective that it will be a learning experience. No one expects to be a master of something on their first try, and in this same way, you shouldn’t expect yourself to be perfect your first time on stage.
Poor hydration can lead to permanent damage in your vocal folds. If you plan on rapping professionally, you should take frequent water breaks to protect your voice. Licorice and peppermint teas are recommended for your voice. Peppermint tea will cut down on gnarly phlegm that give your voice a garbled tone, and licorice tea will numb and sooth your throat, which is excellent if you have to perform night after night. [21] X Research source
It’s better to take a few short breaks than lose an entire day of practice/performing because you need to rest your voice. If you feel tightness, pain, or a change in your quality of voice, it’s likely a sign that you need to take a break. [24] X Research source
