Flow can be generalized as hip-hop songs’ lyrics and how they interact.
A Rapper’s flow is their ability to adjust the timing, rhythm/speed, and pitch of their voice to any given song in such a way that the beat becomes synchronized, almost perfectly sounding, with the voice. It is all about being able to execute your lyrics (both on beats and acapella) in a way that is: Fluid, Clear, Intricate, and Rhythmic.
Flow is how words sound as they are spewed out. There are several different ways one can manipulate voice and words to give various impressions. Influxes in tone, stretching words out, and mispronunciations, are all techniques used to alter a flow. Just as with bodies of water you have different ways water can flow the same is said for rap flows.
Some of the rappers with the best flows have attempted many different types of music and specific sounds but still make great music. Their flow can smoothly transition between bars while using clever wordplay, in a unique pattern that stays on beat.
A few brilliant examples of rappers who flow well are Manifest, Khaligraph Jones, M.I., Sarkodie, Vector, Nasty C, and Blxckie.
In 2019, BET Hip hop awards introduced a new category called the Best International Flow which Sarkodie won as the first-ever winner. The rapper beat out the likes of Falz the Bahd Guy, Ghetts and Little Simz, Nasty C, and Tory Lanez to take home the award for the newly created ‘Best International Flow’ category.
The following year 2020, Stormzy from the UK won it to become the second artist to ever win the category. British-Nigerian rapper Little Simz is the current holder of the category.
In 2022, nominations for the best international flow were announced as BLACKIE (SOUTH AFRICA), BENJAMIN EPPS (FRANCE), CENTRAL CEE (UK), HAVIAH MIGHTY (CANADA), KNUCKS (UK), LE JUICE (FRANCE) NADIA NAKAI (ZIMBABWE) and TASHA & TRACIE (BRAZIL) and BLACK SHERIFF FROM GHANA.
