NYTimes Vid: Why Rappers Stopped Writing: The Punch-In Method

[Playaz Eyez]

Unless u make music yourself I don’t think y’all understand how slick punching in can be when you are a talented artist. I’m 29 and I come from the era of three verses all written, rap it in one take yadayada. I understand the hip hop purist mentality but recording technology has come a long way and I’m sure some of y’all favorite legacy artist would be punching back then if the knew better and they prolly punch now. If u are strong songwriter it increases the capabilities of some of the schemes u can play with and it makes the art more cohesive cuz I doesn’t come off as stale how writing can sometimes. Just because a rapper records by punching doesn’t mean they couldn’t give u a technical performance if needed. Don’t fight the evolution

I understand what y’all don’t like about it because the rap hustlers use that method. But real MCs make dope music punching in. fukk y’all think Wayne and Jigga was doing, all them songs weren’t memorized, don’t u ever think that

I understand these posts, but I can 100% tell a ton of Wayne songs are punch-ins, cause a lot of it is trash gibberish. Also, current era artists are solely relying on punching in and don’t have a single plan as they come into the studio, and that does directly translate into line performances. Future is still not a very good performer more than a decade into his career. Playboi Carti is absolutely brutal once you remove all the pyro, smoke, and lights from his shows. He had such an embarrassing performance at the Hip Hop Awards years ago.

 

[REAL6]

More like, why did da Joooos that run the media start putting out degrading music and put writing to the back burner.

 

[28 Gramz]

Wayne started this.

 

[boogers]

thats what killed the new killer mike album for me. i can hear him catching his breath and punching in every bar... i hate when they record like that

 

[WIA20XX]

This might be the most depressing thing I've seen all year, and that includes Ukraine, Palestine, and Ant-Man.

 

[Artificial Intelligence]

I know y’all say Drake has writers but his shyt be sounding mad punched in sometimes

 

[Art Barr]

What are your thoughts on doing verses in one take vs multiple edits and layering the track?

Professionally as an emcee and performer. You should be able in one take to drop the verse.
If you drop past one take.

then it should be discussed with the emgineer.
that if you will take two takes. To decide what type of color.
works best for the record on reel to reel.


In the digital edge.
Is when layering arose.

Layering is not needed ever.
Layering is some lacking vocal tonality.
unable to pocket flows amateur shyt.


Ad libs should be dropped with instruction to the engineer.

as an emcee you should know the efx and number.
applied to apply to the recording process.
In your ad-libs to any differentiation of efx and number of efx to your verse.

Edits should be setup by two tracking.
or setup by the emcee.
relaying what needs to take place to lay the verse.
Then if the verse should be edited.
to remove breaths on the take bar to bar. Yet imo, this type of work. only arose in rhe digital edge. Since i arose in the actual reel to reel analog remote controller comptroller era.

this idea of editing past the emcee actually in the digital age. when it arose. it Should actually be done by the emcee. Physically doing these edits themselves.
In my experience I do not trust a producer.
or an engineer to make edits.
or remove breaths.
without my actual input and actual edits myself.
If you are being edited after the session. Then more than likely you are not as skilled.
as needed to be.
to be recording in a professional setting. Edits is some highly technical shyt.
that imo should only be done by the actual emcee Dropping that verse. Where the emcee has setup the forum.
To discuss this ahead of time With the producer and engineer.
then decide if it actually needs that.

as it should not In general.
Be done by someone who is not the artist. As it is too time consuming.
to be done by an engineer. Who professionally is just not the artist. To do something as time consuming to the emcee's recording process and take.
Yet this is different in regards to two tracking.

So if you have a verse.
that was written and needs to be two tracked. That process should be discussed down to the actual bars count of the record.

that will be two tracked in two takes. To make one verse.



Art Barr

 

[DOSDUMUNI]

This is how damn near all rappers record now. They go in the studio and record the shyt piece by piece. Sitting down with a notebook is basically outdated even though a lot of artist still do write. But punching in as you go along has become the standard and it’s been like this for a minute now. Don’t waste your time in any studio trying to explain to these nikkas why they should write because they gonna look at you like you stupid. It’s just the evolution of how people record

Punching in saves loads of studio time and energy vs redoing the same lyrical miracle verse for hours on end.

Can't knock it if u can do it the right way.

 

[Double Burger With Cheese]

Punching in saves loads of studio time and energy vs redoing the same lyrical miracle verse for hours on end.

Can't knock it if u can do it the right way.

It’s not really about having to punch in as much as it is writing the lyrics or being prepared with material before the session. A verse or song written before you go record will allow you to record the lyrics more quickly, as you already know the material. Whereas having to organically come up with the lyrics by punching in piece by piece will definitely take longer.

The argument for creating once you get in the booth and using the punch in method, is that it’s more organic and the music is not being forced. The argument against it is that it’s not efficient and lazy

 

[Double Burger With Cheese]

Professionally as an emcee and performer. You should be able in one take to drop the verse.
If you drop past one take.

then it should be discussed with the emgineer.
that if you will take two takes. To decide what type of color.
works best for the record on reel to reel.


In the digital edge.
Is when layering arose.

Layering is not needed ever.
Layering is some lacking vocal tonality.
unable to pocket flows amateur shyt.


Ad libs should be dropped with instruction to the engineer.

as an emcee you should know the efx and number.
applied to apply to the recording process.
In your ad-libs to any differentiation of efx and number of efx to your verse.

Edits should be setup by two tracking.
or setup by the emcee.
relaying what needs to take place to lay the verse.
Then if the verse should be edited.
to remove breaths on the take bar to bar. Yet imo, this type of work. only arose in rhe digital edge. Since i arose in the actual reel to reel analog remote controller comptroller era.

this idea of editing past the emcee actually in the digital age. when it arose. it Should actually be done by the emcee. Physically doing these edits themselves.
In my experience I do not trust a producer.
or an engineer to make edits.
or remove breaths.
without my actual input and actual edits myself.
If you are being edited after the session. Then more than likely you are not as skilled.
as needed to be.
to be recording in a professional setting. Edits is some highly technical shyt.
that imo should only be done by the actual emcee Dropping that verse. Where the emcee has setup the forum.
To discuss this ahead of time With the producer and engineer.
then decide if it actually needs that.

as it should not In general.
Be done by someone who is not the artist. As it is too time consuming.
to be done by an engineer. Who professionally is just not the artist. To do something as time consuming to the emcee's recording process and take.
Yet this is different in regards to two tracking.

So if you have a verse.
that was written and needs to be two tracked. That process should be discussed down to the actual bars count of the record.

that will be two tracked in two takes. To make one verse.



Art Barr

Most these rappers definitely not knowing the effects they wanna use. A lot of them will try to articulate it but they don’t be knowing the terminology. I got an artist and he definitely knows how he wants his adlibs. At this point, he talks to the engineer himself gives him direction. In the beginning me and my business partner would be the ones talking to the engineer.

shyt, im not even sure these engineers are as knowledgeable these days even though they just as good. I remember asking one that we work with a to put a ping pong delay effect on some adlibs and he didn’t know what I was talking about. I had to explain it in a different way. In my mind that’s a regular engineer term all engineers would know. But this guy is a pretty successful engineer and works with a lot of top rappers

 

[Art Barr]

Most these rappers definitely not knowing the effects they wanna use. A lot of them will try to articulate it but they don’t be knowing the terminology. I got an artist and he definitely knows how he wants his adlibs. At this point, he talks to the engineer himself gives him direction. In the beginning me and my business partner would be the ones talking to the engineer.

shyt, im not even sure these engineers are as knowledgeable these days even though they just as good. I remember asking one that we work with a to put a ping pong delay effect on some adlibs and he didn’t know what I was talking about. I had to explain it in a different way. In my mind that’s a regular engineer term all engineers would know. But this guy is a pretty successful engineer and works with a lot of top rappers

The issue with engineers now is.

Many are in general in the digital edge not actually schooled.
So now in the digital you are getting someone with digital equipment. When back in the day an at home studio engineer with a real reel to reel setup. Would be a completely different professional situation.
than in the digital era.

So the change in digital from analog.

Is why a lot of terminology and verbiage is lost In The recording process. Plus it becomes difficult.
To actually record in the digital age. As the actual know how of the engineer.
is not on the same level as in the analog era. Which makes sense .. as the dollar amount it took.
to be an analog reel to reel studio.
Is far and away a lot larger in volume than the digital age.

In every possible way.
from square footage to components need to be operational.



Art Barr

 

[maxamusa]

It’s not really about having to punch in as much as it is writing the lyrics or being prepared with material before the session. A verse or song written before you go record will allow you to record the lyrics more quickly, as you already know the material. Whereas having to organically come up with the lyrics by punching in piece by piece will definitely take longer.

The argument for creating once you get in the booth and using the punch in method, is that it’s more organic and the music is not being forced. The argument against it is that it’s not efficient and lazy

another thing is it doesn't allow people to master their craft.

these guys have no chops.

Its like not being a hustler FR but your big brother is the plug with the only FIRE in town. your success is so dependent.

it REALLY shows if you go see any of this school live.
not that it really matters anymore cause their fans either wanna start a mosh pit or just get flicks for the gram for these types of artists anyways


they be up on stage and barely even use the microphone its weird AF

 

[Heavy_Handz]

This is how damn near all rappers record now. They go in the studio and record the shyt piece by piece. Sitting down with a notebook is basically outdated even though a lot of artist still do write. But punching in as you go along has become the standard and it’s been like this for a minute now. Don’t waste your time in any studio trying to explain to these nikkas why they should write because they gonna look at you like you stupid. It’s just the evolution of how people record

Yeah, I was low key shocked to see Lil Fame record like this when Bun B & Statik Selektah recorded their studio session of TrillStatik

 

[maxamusa]

Most these rappers definitely not knowing the effects they wanna use. A lot of them will try to articulate it but they don’t be knowing the terminology. I got an artist and he definitely knows how he wants his adlibs. At this point, he talks to the engineer himself gives him direction. In the beginning me and my business partner would be the ones talking to the engineer.

shyt, im not even sure these engineers are as knowledgeable these days even though they just as good. I remember asking one that we work with a to put a ping pong delay effect on some adlibs and he didn’t know what I was talking about. I had to explain it in a different way. In my mind that’s a regular engineer term all engineers would know. But this guy is a pretty successful engineer and works with a lot of top rappers

your engineer being a dikkhead.

if you like the way your artist sounds take your phone and go take mad pictures of the vocal chain he running on your guy

then go find another engineer

 

[NormanConnors]

Only punching in/not writing is not for everyone, verses lack sharpness, quality amongst other things.