He calls himself "an artist who thinks outside the box," and that's an understatement for someone who has achieved a lot of recognition for his talents. Yes, Will.I.Am is "l'artiste extraordinaire," as some French people might call it, and he is considered to be one of the best hip hop rappers in the music industry today.

Just like Will.I.Am and any other rap artists, they had to earn their status in the music industry. Rappers have to face a lot of competition from other rappers who have different styles and flavors of their own. So, in order for you to stand out from among the herd, try to follow some of these tips to get the look of a rapper:

Getting the Look

First, create an alias of your own. Look at the names of the most famous rappers in the industry today: Snoop Dogg, The Game, Chopper, G-Unit, Master P, 50 Cent, Jim Jones, Silkk the Shocker, Rated R and Rich Boy. Their names sound really hip, so put this in mind when creating your alias. Remember this: Your name will make or break you, so be careful in choosing it.

Second, Do the "Thug" Dress Code. The jeans and the whole ensemble should create a feeling of hip-hop vibe, so make sure that they reflect on your choice of wardrobe.

Third, get yourself a "Crew." This is important, because they will be there as an extended family not only for you, but for themselves as well. Their roles are diverse, but most often, they are there to back you up and support you in your dreams of becoming a rap star, so make sure that you choose only the ones whom you trust.

Fourth, maximize your "beefs." The effectiveness of creating beefs should not be underestimated, because creating them is one of the fastest ways to increase your chances of exposure to the press. It's not difficult to do. Just pick out a really famous rapper and get in touch with him. Try to make a scene - bad mouth his gang, talk bad about his record label, or do anything to antagonize him. The object here is to make them retaliate so that people will know who you are. Of course, this is optional. You don't have to do this if you don't have the guts to do so. But, if ever you decide to try it, you'll certainly get results.

Learning the art of rapping

Now that you have the whole look of a rapper, master the technique. Here are some ways to do it.

First, try to listen to some rap artists and see what kind of styles suits your taste and skill. It's also important that you take note of the lyrical content, the flow, speed and vocalizations of the rapper.

Second, do some vocal exercises and tongue twisters to exercise the mouth of your muscles and lips. Rapping requires fast changes in mouth movements, so make sure you have done your vocal exercises so it's much easier to manipulate your mouth.

Third, try to rap along the tunes of the rap artists that you admire. Make sure that you absorb the lyrics while keeping pace with the music. If it's hard for you to rap along, try to build it up slowly first.

The truth of the matter is, it's really easy to rap --- but it's not easy to become a master at it, like the cool Will.I.Am. Learning how to rap takes a lot of practice, hard work, and determination, but the payoffs are equally worth everything.