by S. L. Wheeler

Created on: June 17, 2009

Rap music, like any other genre has many components. From the track, also known as (the beat) to the tone of the artist's voice, also known as (the vocals) but rap, unlike any other genre of music has the flow. It is the flow that separates the boys from the men in the world of Rap music.

Just as a painter's work can often be recognized by the thickness in which s/he applies paint to the canvas or by the boldness of their color choices, a rapper's flow also defines his work; it is often his signature, his trademark.

The Rapper's flow, the ease, precision and timing with which he spits lyrics are all key components in Rap music. The more effortless it sounds to the listener, the better the rapper's flow usually is.

Some rappers in this generation have taken their flow a step further and like poets, their lyrics are laced with similes, metaphors and various other forms of poetic expression.

These artists such as Jay-ze, Naz, the late Tupac Shakur and the late Biggie Smalls all have one thing in common, their ability to take listeners on a journey throughout the course of one song.

Their uncanny ability to tell a story with their word choice, their ability to paint a vivid picture using nothing more than a microphone, these rappers not only epitomize flow, they have all taken it to another level.

In recent years it seems as though a lot of up and coming rap artists have focused more on their tracks and less on their actual flow. Many of these rappers have left a lot to be desired when it comes to their lyrical content; perhaps leaving some with the impression that rap music is simply about rhyming words and a strong base line but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Rap which began over 35 years ago and started out as a means for young urban youth to express themselves and share stories about what was happening in their day to day lives has evolved tremendously.

The stories that Rappers tell are no longer just based on what they see in the streets of the inner cities, it is much deeper than that. Rap has evolved in a major way; its content now encompasses everything from politics and world views to the environment. It tells stories about the dynamics between families and the struggles that often take place in relationships.

Rap music is not random words uttered aimlessly over a track, it is a craft that encompasses lyrical content, melodic rhythms, and most importantly the flow. It is an art form and those that have mastered this art form are artists and their flow is undeniable.

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