I totally understand wanting to make “on topic” songs, but to me that wouldn’t be a cypher. Sometimes we get close to it, if the beat suggests topics with the sample it uses (see #NC3 for example) or when people pay attention to what has already been posted before ( some drop their verses on Friday, #NC5 has elements of it).

I like to be surprised by the beat on Friday and the just let it flow without overthinking it. A cypher is just a group of people gathered in circle in the street to spit bars, there is no theme. It’s practice, where the magic often happens. But the magic happens when people feed off each other and the energy starts to resonate, even without a theme.

Cypher rap tends to not have themes, it’s lyrical wordplays, punchlines, bravado, but of course the temptation to spit facts and dwell on issues is always there. Some of these cyphers or elements of them will be turned into tracks, reshaped, polished and all, and some won’t.

What makes a cypher a cypher is the gathering of people to make music on the spot. We have slowed down the process for #nostrcypher. I try to keep the spirit of a cypher by not overthinking my wringing, keeping it succinct and get my stem out as quickly as possible, it’s a different creative experience which can help the creative process overall and other more polished work.

I’m really glad you participated on this one. 🫂 In the end, the cypher happens daily on nostr:npub1stemstrls4f5plqeqkeq43gtjhtycuqd9w25v5r5z5ygaq2n2sjsd6mul5 the instrumental are there, giving birth to multiple songs, being remixed, getting 3rd lives, each at their own speed with their own objectives. I can’t wait for them to start unleashing updates 😬