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This is how you rap good.

The first time I ever heard Snap rhyme, was around 1999 or 2000. DJ Cipher, one of the main conduits of the Houston Hip Hop scene, would hold weekly ‘sessions’ at the Beat Farm in 3rd Ward on Sundays. The crew would show up at Cipher’s home/studio and talk music, argue music, record music, play Tekken on Playstation and just hang out ’til late in the afternoon listening to breaks and samples. At the Beat Farm is where I met most of the artists featured on this site since its inception.

Verses

One Sunday, Snap & Wraithe came through with a CD of music he’d recently completed with a Rap-A-Lot (?) producer Blue (sp). Best rapping and music I’d ever heard (exaggeration, but I really mean it). I had no idea what he was talking about, probably like the first time you heard Supreme Clientele (watermelon chunks?). The flow—fluid, complex, sharp, and at the same time nebulous and elusive. I had no idea what he was talking about, but the flow never stopped and the beats complemented his style and you were nodding as soon as the first snare hit.

He’d brought over the CD-R to Cipher’s for his opinion, as most folks working on music in the crew did. Cipher, besides having one of the most expansive physical music collections of anyone I know, and probably one of the few people whose outlook on music helped fine tune and focus mine (on the surface a hater, but way more open minded and tolerant than suspected). I don’t really remember anyone’s feedback that day, I just remembered being amazed that Snap was this dope and no one had mentioned him to me before and that he was unsigned (back when being signed was actually a bragging point). I don’t think I ever actually held a conversation with him until maybe a year ago and had no problem being a fan boy on the phone, considering for all that time he’d been my favourite lyricist and I’d only heard his output that one Sunday. I’m not too cool to tell somebody they got a gift when they got a gift. I ain’t no hater. Something happened with the tracks he rhymed on on this CD-R and the music was never released/heard (by my ears) again.

I put the track in a choke hold / your flow is so-so / now let a pro go

Snap, like many of my other favourite emcees, just makes English sound fun. It amazes me that we’re all armed with the same weapons (words) and some people just use them better. While some people where throwing rocks at each other, someone was sparking two together to make fire. Some people just see things differently.

Here is a collection of tracks and sketches over beats that Snap recorded and somehow found their way into my possession. He’s like a secret I shouldn’t keep to myself.

Snap the rap catalyst, amateurs have a fit, after I grab the mic device, the votes are unanimous!

Focus your cameras… *CLICK*

You don’t wanna miss when I spit on some Godzilla and Gamera shit.

This is for those that remember a time when it wasn’t a detriment if you rapped good.

FWMJ

Founder of Rappers I Know and Art Director to the Stars...of the Underground. Follow him on Twitter @fwmj.

20 Comments

  • Alex says:

    Thanks, this is great

    I linked to it on steadybloggin.com, giving proper credit of course, I hope you don’t mind.

  • FWMJ says:

    no, please spread it around and thanks

  • CaslonPro says:

    I’ll say it straight up with no doubt, Snap is not only my favorite rapper but one of the best out there period!!! I say this and at the same time I get infuriated when I listen to the Niyat and Snap in solo projects because they are not getting any pub for the hard work they are puttin in and these T-Pain – soul-ess – ja boys are running around makin millions. It pisses me off to no end. We have to elevate the real cats. I actually called into a radio station recently and asked them to play the Niyat and some others I love. (of course I knew they didn’t know who they were) Dude’s reply was “I don’t know who they are.” My reply was “You need to F’in find out cuz these cats murder anything you’re playin right now.” the DJ actually asked me where he could go to listen to it.”

    That’s it right there. If all of us would bombard these wack ass stations and keep hittin em daily? Then who knows? A movement is a constant, resilient, and relentless force that requires a certain amount of discipline to support it. In order to change public opinion and perception, we have to be willing to constantly inform the outside world about what they are being denied. I feel this way for a reason and hope that we can help change the culture.

  • jcrillz says:

    I copped this when you posted it a while back. Dope project. When is Pivotal Moments coming out?

  • *downloading* this shit gone be HOT

  • vic says:

    i can’t believe i missed this. still jammin old vector prime cd chris (wraithe) gave me ages ago. haha. thank u for this website. real talk. i haven’t listened to the radio since flo rida and soulja boy topped the charts. sad times. this is what the hell should be on the radio. b e z. peace!

  • wiseworth says:

    ” be a smart patient let the DOC finish his operation,It’s not a job – it’s an occupation. Stop the hating.” Doppppppppeee asssssssssssssssssss line……

    2. Cherish

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