I heard about this documentary Something From Nothing: The Art Of Rap from an interview by the director rapper/actor Ice T. It is about the beginning of hip hop with the people who started it and its growth ever since then. Of course it starts off in New York where he interviews guys like Big Daddy Kane, Afrika Bambaataa, Chuck D, Dana Dane, Marley Marl and Melle Mel. This is just a small example of the guys he talked to. He spends time with them on the streets and in the studio seeing their notepads and what type of environments they want to write in.
Hearing about the kinds of places and moods rappers need to be in to write is awesome. Some like Snoop Dogg says he has to be high and have good looking women around. Immortal Technique says that he exercises and almost starves himself to get into the mind frame to write. Some guys require silence. When Dr. Dre is interviewed he talks about how Tupac would just walk into the studio, hear a beat, record the song, and fifteen minutes later ask for another beat.
