How to get into hip hop: find the rhythm and the rhyme

If opera is singing, acting and dancing all rolled into one, hip hop calls for similarly eclectic talents. “Rap, breakdancing, DJ/scratching, graffiti art – they all contribute to the spirit of hip hop,” says Cork man of Nigerian descent, Kestine Ugbodu.

Sounds like a lot of skills, do you train from the cradle?

A passion for music helps, but Ugbodu started out getting his kicks as a Michael Jackson imitator dancer. “I was teased and mocked in primary school due to the MJ accusations,” he says. His father taped music videos of rappers such as 50 Cent and Eminem to help his son learn English. “I immediately picked rap up to feel more accepted in primary school and have stuck with it since.”

Can anyone do it?

“I’d be lying if I said yes, but I will say everyone is gifted with different skills.” Essentially you’re looking to develop a vocal performance that rhythmically goes to a beat. If you get into production or mixing, you’ll also need a DAW (digital audio workstation). Ugbodu recommends FL Studio, and you can get a demo version for free at image-line.com. But you can start with nothing more than a pen and paper.

Pen and paper I have, what else do I need?

“Flow, confidence, good timing, unique cadence, good word play and, of course, the ability to rhyme.” It’s also worth exploring the history of the genre and listening to as much as you can. Take a very quick gallop through the steps at careersinmusic.com, but, better yet, find out what Ugbodu is talking about with his own work, including I’m Good, Friendzone, U.N.I.T.Y. and Tale of a Black Irish. You’re in for a treat. “The ability to create from what I feel and have this feeling resonate with an audience, on stage or on the streaming platforms, that feeling is magic.”

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Magic is good. What about the pitfalls?

“Comparing yourself and your level to somebody else,” says Ugbodu. “Work on what makes you unique and special, and look to consistently improve yourself. I’m a rapper that wants to fuse passion and soul. This has a market but may not get as much attention as a rapper who portrays the ‘turn up’ or the financial gains of rap. I have to remind myself to work on what makes me unique, and have faith an opportunity to show my gifts will come up.” Ugbodu’s unique approach is influenced by his background: “I grew up playing the piano in church, as my dad is a pastor of a Pentecostal church.”

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You mention a market, how do you get your work out there?

Ugbodu spent a year initially gigging for free but, he stresses, it all relies on making high-quality music in the first place. Even when your music is epic, he cautions, “anybody starting off needs to understand and be humble to the fact you will more than likely not be known, and you will have to prove yourself”. He recommends open-mic gigs, poetry gigs, “anything close and intimate, when it comes to starting off as a rapper. An impressive performance will spread by word, so if you can consistently do this more performance opportunities and gigs will come your way.” He recommends Cork’s Outsiders Ent (find them on Facebook) to see who’s coming up down south.

Get inspired with Kestine Ugbodu’s music on YouTube, SoundCloud and Spotify. His third EP is due this October.