Alright so I wanna talk about mic holding styles today. Saw a bunch of short clips on my feed – Travis Scott performing alongside other big names. Something just clicked. Why does Travis look so different holding that mic? Felt like digging deeper.
How It Started
First thing yesterday morning, didn’t even finish my coffee. Opened up a bunch of windows on my screen – YouTube, music streaming, whatever I could find.
Goal was simple: find as many live performances as possible. I needed footage, man. Clear shots of their hands on the mic. Wanna see how they grip it, how they move. Searched for:
- Travis Scott live concerts
- Kendrick Lamar performing live
- Drake concerts
- J. Cole performances
- Even threw in some old Snoop Dogg stuff for kicks
Took me like two hours just finding good angles. So many crowds, shaky cams… annoying. But finally got a decent library built up.
The Deep Dive
Time to really watch. Slowed some vids down, paused constantly. Focused purely on the hands around that microphone.
Noticed some clear patterns:
- Travis: Okay, this dude is all over that mic. Fingers wrapped tight low down, almost like he’s strangling it. Uses the whole hand, base knuckles white sometimes. Constantly pulling it away from his face when the beat drops, then yanking it back in. Looks wild, intense. Like the mic is part of the performance.
- Kendrick: Different vibe. More… relaxed grip? Fingers curled loosely. Holds it higher up the shaft, near the head. Clean. Almost looks effortless, like it’s just an extension of his hand. Doesn’t fumble, doesn’t wave it around much.
- Drake: This man holds the mic like a businessman holds a coffee cup. Seriously. Comfortable, secure. Palms it a lot, switches hands easy. It’s there, he uses it, but it doesn’t feel like the star of the show.
- J. Cole: Kinda firm grip? Doesn’t shift it much. Holds it steady, right in front of his mouth. Functional. Gets the job done, reliable. Like, “Yeah, this is a mic, I rap.”
- Snoop: Classic one-handed grip, way low down near the cord end. Thumb looped sometimes. Super relaxed, almost dangling it. Doesn’t even look like he cares if he drops it. Smoothest of them all.
Watched the replays. Watched side by side. It’s the little things! How close they keep it, where the palm sits, finger pressure, how much they swing it around when they’re hype.
My Big Takeaway
After staring at sweaty rappers gripping metal poles for hours? Here’s the thing:
There’s no single “best” style. Nah. It’s pure personality shining through.
- Travis’s grip screams chaotic energy, fits his whole vibe.
- Kendrick’s calm hold feels smooth, controlled, masterful.
- Drake looks effortlessly cool using whatever grip suits the moment.
- Cole keeps it steady, no-nonsense.
- Snoop drips effortless cool.
That mic ain’t just a tool. It’s part of their stance, part of their flow. The way you handle it tells the crowd what kind of show you’re giving ’em. Travis holds it like he’s fighting the mic itself, while Snoop holds it like it’s barely there. Both totally work for them. Pretty wild how a simple hand placement speaks volumes.
Honestly? Was worth the eyestrain. Next time I see a rapper live, I’m watching the hands first. Tells you everything.
