The Era That Killed Lyricism

The "decline" of lyricism in hip-hop can be traced back to a pivotal moment: the day Jay-Z revealed that he no longer writes his raps but freestyles them instead. This shift in his creative process was groundbreaking for the culture, and it didn’t take long for Lil Wayne, another rap legend, to follow suit. With two of the greatest in the game making the move away from the pen and pad, it set off a ripple effect that changed the way many rappers approached songwriting.

This transition was made even easier by the evolution of technology. Back in the day, rappers had to record on tape, which left little room for error, forcing them to perfect their bars before stepping in the booth. But as Pro Tools and other digital recording tools became more popular, they allowed for more leniency in the recording process. Instead of needing everything locked in beforehand, artists could punch in on the fly—fixing mistakes or, as many have now adopted, creating entire songs line by line.

While this method opened doors for artists to experiment and create in a more fluid way, it also paved the way for lesser-skilled rappers to slip into the game. Punching in has allowed some to fumble their way through songs without truly mastering their craft. Although it’s not the only reason there’s a correlation between the rise of this technique and the lower bar for skill in the industry.

That said, punching in isn’t inherently bad. Talented songwriters still exist, both among those who write their lyrics beforehand and those who don't. The debate isn’t black and white. Artists like Young Thug, Veeze, Juice Wrld, and Doechii are perfect examples of the creativity that can come from punching in, showing that talent and skill aren’t necessarily sacrificed when the pen is dropped. Punching in is simply a tool, and like any tool, it’s all about how it’s used. The question is, with punching in now being the most popular form of song creation, has it elevated the art or watered it down? The answer is for you to decide: Is this shift helping or hurting the evolution of hip-hop?

0:00 Blame Jay
1:10 GOAT Influence
2:19 Why were we writing?
3:43 New Era of creating
5:42 Freestyling
6:53 Skipping steps
8:30 Positivity