Basically since most people come around asking for help with Trance, Techno, and other popular genres in this site, I'm here to help assist anyone who needs help with all your hip-hop needs. I'll try to be as active as possible as to helping people out, as well as trying to bring a few of the big names from the HH section to assist with all your questions regarding sampling, breakbeats, scratching, and even just trying to lay down a groove. Remember, Hip-Hop is one of the most diverse genres, so practically anything can be labeled as Hip-Hop, as long as it has a few of the correct elements.
Step 1.
General Equalizing.
Volumes are important here, because you must make sure vocals are clear without actually drowning out the instrumental, or even vice versa. Taking the time to pay attention to the volume levels can make the biggest difference in any track. So it's great to keep that in mind.
Step 2.
Not all Hip-Hop is about the same shit.
If you want make Hip-Hop, it's best to go for what you feel. Of course you can go on the whole "crunk, money, bitches, and cars" style, though it isn't recommended here because that usually shows stereotypes. Using emotion is a key factor when creating ANY kind of music. It just doesn't happen as much in Hip-Hop. So actually using raw emotion to create a Hip-Hop song can get you noticed for being different.
Step 3.
Lyricism.... cat, hat bat, rat... no.
If you're trying to write lyrics, it's best to get motivation first. It's very easy to use the same line someone else uses, so it's best to do some research for word availability. Last thing you'd want is someone saying you "bit off" another rapper.
Key factors of lyricism : Flow / rhythm; Wordplay / usage of multi-syllable rhyme schemes; Punchlines (similies, metaphors, the works...); Vocal delivery (make sure you memorize your lyrics before recording. Helps out A LOT); and last but definitely not least.... Breath control. No one wants to hear you trying to rap while having an asthma attack.
For people who want to learn, I'll be more than happy to help you out if you leave a PM in my inbox. Lately, I've been busy, so I really can't guarantee that I'll be on AIM ( sn = LyricalVisionary ), but it's worth a try anyways.
Also, lets try to keep the "I hate Hip-Hop" posts to a minimum. Not often someone from hip-hop talks about another genre when they're trying to assist people. I'm only doing this to increase the output of the Hip-Hop section to give it a better reputation. ^_^