PHOTO : SEBASTIEN BENOIT
VOCALS
Phatt Al has released five albums with the JUNO-nominated NuFunk band God Made Me Funky . He is currently a member of The Second City Toronto ’ s Educational and Family Companies and the instructor of The Second City Training Centre ’ s “ Yes Yes Y ’ all ” longform improv hip-hop class . He has appeared in various commercials , TV shows , and movies internationally . For more information , follow Al on Twitter @ phattal3000 or visit www . godmademefunkyband . com .
By Phatt Al
ImproVoice
When I was a kid , I used to watch SCTV and Rap City every afternoon when I would get in from school . Never in my wildest dreams would I have believed that these two different worlds would combine to formulate my career as an MC / actor / improvising instructor . But , in all actuality , this makes perfect sense .
Improvisation Improvising is simply the art of performing without a script or sheet music . It ’ s a staple in many forms of modern music ; jazz , soul , R & B , funk , rock , and hip-hop are all hotbeds for musicians and vocalists to go off script and create moments of free jamming that showcase the synergy between the player and their instrument . It ’ s art on the spot in its purest , most organic form .
Jam bands such as The Grateful Dead and Phish have amassed huge followings ; audiences want to experience their performances knowing that their jams will never be performed the same way ever again . Likewise , when you experience an MC freestyling about the people in the room , there is a visceral awe that you will never experience that particular moment ever again . It wasn ’ t written and now it ’ s gone , but you got to share it with that artist .
That tradition has been carried on in acting in the form of improvisation , where the actors will work from a suggestion provided by the audience and create a scene that has never been written or performed .
As a kid in the lunchroom , we would take turns freestyle rapping back and forth about each other ’ s clothes , teachers , and of course who liked who but was too afraid to mention it . We spent hours and hours rapping and beat boxing . We had no idea we were putting in so much rehearsal time .
Fast-forward to August 2007 when I was driving by The Second City , thinking to myself , “ You should go in and see what that improv stuff is all about .” That day , I went in and signed up for my first level A class . I quickly realized that they had somehow managed to apply many of the freestyle methods I utilized as a kid into a classroom of adults learning to have fun as we made up stories around each other ’ s cultures , perspectives , and of course , who liked who but was too afraid to mention it .
Here are some things that will help you with your ability to make up rhymes on the spot :
Rhyme Circle Have a friend give you a one-syllable word , and you match it to three different rhyming one-syllable words . Then a new one-syllable word is introduced by your friend , and you cycle three rhymes again . Five cycles of three rhyming words .
I Like Butts A two-bar rhyming couplet wherein you say the pre-written phrase “ I like butts ...” and add a descriptor ending in a rhyming “ A ” word . The second bar starts again with the pre-written “ I like butts ...” and you add a descriptor ending in a different rhyming “ A ” word . Then the prewritten words “ I like butts ” are repeated once per bar in a two-bar phrase . “ Butts ” always lands on beat one . For example :
“ I like butts that are walking by , I like butts that are very fly ” “ I like butts ( 2 , 3 , 4 ), I like butts ( 2 , 3 , 4 )”
Saying “ Yes and …” The basic rule of improv is “ yes and …” It ’ s a simple rule utilized to keep the scene moving . It literally means that whatever your scene partner offers , you are willing to say “ yes ” to “ and ” add one more thing to that offer . If you are willing to “ yes and …” an offer from your scene partner , you will end up in situations that will exhilarate you and mesmerize the audience . Like a Hendrix guitar solo , it will seem like magic .
The “ yes and …” rule can become addictive . Once you realize that you can create almost anything on the spot with no script , you will start to crave that freedom in everyday life . As children , we lived in a “ yes and …” world where there were no limits and our imaginations and trust were all we needed to be happy . One of the side effects of “ yes and …” is that you will bring that almost childlike exuberance back into your life outside of the classroom and offstage . It ’ s truly liberating to realize how far a “ yes and …” lifestyle will carry you . And , the amount of opportunities that you will say “ yes ” to increases exponentially and allows for more failure to lead to success .
You Have to Fail to Succeed Improvising only works if you are willing to fail . You have to be so willing to fail that you realize it ’ s the only way you can succeed . In my long form hip-hop class “ Yes Yes Y ’ all ,” one of the first things I have to get students to realize is that they all have the ability to create hot rhymes as long as they have the willingness to fail . It becomes a matter of trust – trust that with each attempt at success , they will get better , even if they don ’ t see that success immediately , and trust that the audience will appreciate the attempt just as much , if not more than the perfect rhyme every time .
As musicians , we practice so that come show time , we are no longer thinking about the performance , but living in the moment .
32 • CANADIAN MUSICIAN