10 SECRETS To Become An Advanced RAPPER (For Beginners)

Quick recap

A tactical, step-by-step primer from coach Drew (“big homie Drew” of How To Rap) outlining 10 concrete skills to move a rapper from beginner/intermediate to advanced. Instead of vague career advice, each secret is a repeatable technique with artist examples, practical drills, and a few paid course plug-ins for guided practice.

Highlights — the 10 secrets (what they are and why they matter)

1. Enhance lyrical imagery

   • Paint cinematic, specific pictures instead of vague lines.
   • Why it matters: vivid details make bars memorable and paint scenes for listeners.
   • Examples: Benny The Butcher, Eminem.
   • Practice: write bars focused on sensory detail and concrete nouns.

2. Adjust vocal pitch on individual words

   • Use tone changes and dynamics (even on the last word of a bar) to break monotony and add texture.
   • Why it matters: pitch variation creates emotion and keeps listener attention.
   • Example: Kendrick Lamar (noted mastery of pitch/dynamics).

3. Use multiple rap voices in a single song

   • Create characters or contrasting tones to add depth and narrative.
   • Why it matters: voice-switching can dramatize a song and highlight different perspectives.
   • Examples: Eminem’s characters, Drake’s voice switches.

4. Master freestyling through a full beat

   • Freestyling builds flow, fluidity, and on-the-spot creation skills.
   • Why it matters: improves spontaneity and flow control.
   • Practice: daily freestyle drills; Drew plugs his “Freestyle Fortnite” course.

5. Write more song sections than verse/chorus

   • Add bridges, breakdowns, refrains and other song sections to enrich structure.
   • Why it matters: creates dynamic arrangements and memorable moments.
   • Examples: 50 Cent, J. Cole, Kanye West.

6. Experiment with genres

   • Rap over non-traditional beats (soul, rock, etc.) to expand songwriting and distinctiveness.
   • Why it matters: genre-bending builds a unique sound and broadens creative vocabulary.
   • Example: Tyler, The Creator (Goblin → Igor evolution).

7. Learn to mix yourself

   • Understand compression, reverb, Auto-Tune and basic mixing concepts.
   • Why it matters: lets you shape your sound and communicate clearly with engineers.
   • Examples: Travis Scott and Russ as artists who pace mixing well.

8. Record in professional studios

   • Get industry immersion, networking opportunities, and experience adapting to different environments.
   • Why it matters: studio life and on-tour sessions build real-world skills beyond home setups.
   • Anecdotes: on-tour recording in London, Czech Republic, Argentina.

9. Make music videos

   • Use visuals to refine your aesthetic and translate songs into imagery.
   • Why it matters: videos are a craft tool for storytelling and artistic clarity, not just promotion.

10. Release one single a week - Aggressive output trains emotional detachment, speeds learning, and accepts feedback. - Why it matters: treating music like a schedule beats perfectionism and accelerates growth.

Notable examples & memorable lines

• Benny The Butcher and Eminem bars used as concrete models of imagery.
• Kendrick Lamar’s vocal range (e.g., Family Ties) as the go-to example for pitch and dynamics.
• Drake and Eminem for voice-switching techniques.
• Tyler, The Creator’s genre-bending evolution (Goblin → Igor) as proof experimentation pays.
• Practical on-tour recording anecdotes (recording in London, Czech Republic, Argentina).

Tone and presentation

• Practical, drill-focused, energetic and no-nonsense.
• Oriented toward immediate, repeatable skills rather than abstract strategy.
• Occasional self-promotion for Drew’s paid courses (Freestyle Fortnite, Rap Tycoon / Amateur to Artist).

Personalities mentioned / appearing in the video

• Drew Marcy (host)
• Benny The Butcher
• Eminem
• Kendrick Lamar
• Drake
• 50 Cent
• Tupac / N.W.A. (referenced influences)
• J. Cole
• Kanye West
• Tyler, The Creator
• Travis Scott
• Russ
• Juice WRLD (mentioned)
• Migos (mentioned)
• Baby Keem (implied via Family Ties reference)