[ACTIVATE SELF]

Hmmm… so I’m not totally sure what you mean by “Do topicals matter?” but I’ll give it a shot.

In the big picture, nah, they don’t really matter much anymore. The crowd for this kind of rap has shrunk a lot—maybe just a few hundred people around the world, if that. Topicals came about back when most hip-hop heads didn’t have the tools, skills, or platform to record and share their raps, so they would post their lyrics on message boards. Over time, these lyrics turned into something unique, a blend of storytelling, clever writing, and hip-hop lyricism in text form.

They were still rooted in hip-hop, but they became their own thing, more intricate and complex. Some topicals told detailed stories or explored character-driven plots, while others went for more abstract or freeform topics. Fast forward to now, and platforms like SoundCloud and new music software gave people the tools to make and share music, so online forums where people used to post topicals and text battles started dying out. Plus, most writers grew out of it as they got older, and the scene hit a creative ceiling. There’s really no “endgame” for topicals—no big professional opportunities or financial rewards, unless you count traditional poetry. I’ve never seen a book or pro performance based on topical style writing. It’s pretty much peaked and is slowly fading away.

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But locally, or within specific communities like Netcees, topicals still matter a little, but not really. To me, a good topical should stick to the theme, especially in a competitive setting. If the topic is a photo, quote, or concept, the writer should create something that really connects to it…build a world around it, tell a story, or show that they’re thinking about the topic seriously.

From a technical side, a good topical should have solid mechanics, sharp writing, and clever lines. Without that, it’s just freewriting. That said, some topics can be more abstract or experimental, and that’s cool, as long as it still ties back to the original topic.

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For open-mic writing, topicals should still be tight. You need a strong rhyme scheme and some storytelling. If there’s no rhyme or weak rhymes, it’s basically just poetry. If there’s no clear topic, it’s more like rambling or stream-of-consciousness, which can be interesting, but it’s not really a topical.

Swag and flow, though, those are more like your standard rap verses, just flexing with style, I guess. But I wouldn’t call those topicals.