Have you heard of ghostwriting? Do you know what a ghostwriter is? Whether you have or haven't, allow me to share that as I was growing up, the term “ghostwriter” had a negative connotation. And that’s all due to rap.
You see, in hip-hop - where lyrical skills are the highest badge of honor - the last thing you wanted someone to find out is that you don't write your own rhymes. To say it was highly frowned upon is an understatement.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s talk about what a ghostwriter is, really, and then we can get into the complexities of the rap game.
What Is a Ghostwriter?
Let’s start with the textbook definition: Merriam-Webster defines ghostwriter as a person who writes for someone else who is the presumed or credited author.
So, as I mentioned, if you write lyrics for another rapper, then you are a ghostwriter.
If you write social media posts for someone else to post to their own professional or personal page, then you are a ghostwriter.
If you write speeches for a person, be it an athlete, a businesswoman, a politician, or what-have-you ... well, they technically call you a speechwriter. But make no mistake, you are still a ghostwriter. Just one with a fancier title. And therein lies the difference in how ghostwriting is viewed in one environment versus another.
Ghostwriting — From Then ...
I started writing rhymes in high school, a story I've told before on my blog. But what's key to note as it pertains to this topic is that it wasn't just my passion for writing that found me attracted to rap, it was the competition. Rap battles are a staple of the streets. One of the fundamental aspects of hip-hop is battling other MC's at the park, on the bus, standing on the street corners - wherever. That's what showed onlookers how nice you were on the mic.
To be blunt, it's a big a deal to not only win a battle rap, but to do so in remarkable fashion. Meaning you humiliate your opponent with witty bars and memorable punchlines. Now imagine you crush your adversary in front of an instigative and impressionable crowd, only for all to find out not a single word was your own. From a New York perspective, you might have to go clear across the city to find an place to rap again where folks weren't aware of your defilement. If you try to stick around in the same neighborhood, they'll never - not ever - let you live it down. That's how shameful ghostwriting can be when you're a rapper.
... To Now
As a business professional, however, it's a much different story. Like I expressed earlier, freelancers and organizational writers will pen emails, social media posts, speeches, or other forms of communication on behalf of a variety of people (typically company employees in leadership roles). It has been and will remain a very common practice in the business world.
In fact, I myself have written LinkedIn content and have composed keynote speeches on behalf of another. It comes with the job. Though I will admit it gives me a chuckle when thinking of how, in theory, what I do now as a living is no different than what I never would have allowed someone to do for me 30 years ago.
So, Which Is Right?
This question really only depends on how much stock you put into either practice. If you're a hard core rap fan, especially one from the 80s and 90s when ghostwriting was at its most unacceptable peak, then you might say ghostwriting will never be tolerated. If you're not into hip-hop much, therefore you either didn't know ghostwriting was looked down upon or perhaps you were aware but simply don't agree with that mindset, then you're more likely to think the suits and ties have it right.
Either way, it's however you see it. My opinion on the matter: I think both are right. I believe it all depends on the use case. Though it's more accepted now than the century prior, as I vaguely alluded to, there will never come a time where I can subscribe to ghostwriting in hip-hop. Apologies. It's just not in my DNA. The rapper in me won't allow otherwise.
You write your own rhymes. You kick your own rhymes. Period. End of story.
But the business professional in me thinks it's perfectly fine to write copy for senior leadership at a company or, honestly, whomever requires such content written for them so they can share to their respective audience. Does that make me a hypocrite? Well, let's recognize the contradiction of the discussion as a whole. My opinion is merely a reflection of the conversation holistically. And that, my friends, is the true art of ghostwriting.
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