Rapping is an art \u2014 and mastering it doesn\u2019t just require amazing vocal skills, but also creative flow. While nobody can expect to write a masterpiece the first time they try their hand at rap, everyone has to start somewhere. As with everything, constant practice will help you improve.<\/p>\n
Ready to get started with your very first rap song? Give this handy guide a once-over first!<\/p>\n
Rap \u2014 also often called spitting, rhyming, or MC-ing \u2014 can be defined as a lyrical art that relies heavily on rhyme, rhythm, and street language. Rap is, if you like, spoken word poetry with music. Although rap is heavily associated with hip hop culture, it\u2019s important to be aware that rap can be used in numerous other styles, as well, and they historically include jazz and blues.<\/p>\n
As you attempt to write your first rap, it is important to familiarize yourself with as many examples as possible. This will allow you to get a feel for the rhyme, rhythm, and vibe. Check out All I Need<\/em> by Method Man ft. Mary J Blige, What U See Is What U Get<\/em> by Xzibit, Fu-Gee-La<\/em> by The Fugees, and Stan<\/em> by Eminem, for instance.<\/p>\n You will quickly notice a powerful, hard-hitting, rhythm throughout the genre. Admire the beat in Eminem\u2019s Stan<\/em>, for instance (and no, don\u2019t just read it \u2014 listen to the rap at the same time!):<\/p>\n Dear Slim, I wrote you<\/strong>, but you still ain't callin'<\/strong> Are you hoping to get creative? Never limit yourself to the most common themes found in rap \u2014 you can write a rap about absolutely anything you want! Some of the most common themes used in rap are, however:<\/p>\n Rap is essentially about life<\/em>. This means you\u2019ll always have built-in inspiration as you give writing a rap song your best shot, because you\u2019ll have experience to draw on. Don\u2019t force yourself into existing themes. If you already have other ideas that fall way outside the norm, go right ahead and pen a rap about it. Perhaps you want to write a rap about your cat, for instance, or about the way in which your neighbors keep you up at night with their constant partying. There\u2019s no rule against that.<\/p>\n Rap songs are divided into \u201cbars\u201d. They\u2019re lyrical lines that last four seconds or counts (a 1-2-3-4 beat), and you\u2019ll usually have 16 of them. You might have two or three verses, as well as a chorus of either four or eight bars that appears throughout the song.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how that beat works out in Eminem\u2019s Stan<\/em>:<\/p>\n Each beat ends with a stressed syllable for an extra verbal punch.<\/p>\n It\u2019s up to you to decide how to structure your rap song \u2014 you are writing it, so you are in charge. To make sure your song is recognizable rap, though, it can help to use an established structure, especially at the beginning. Here\u2019s a quick look at the elements found in most rap songs.<\/p>\n Writing an Intro for Your Rap Song<\/strong><\/p>\n Not all rap songs feature intros, but if there is an intro, it\u2019s usually short. Keep your intro to two, four, or eight bars (or \u201clines\u201d). An intro doesn\u2019t have to have lyrics \u2014 more commonly, it will only have sounds.<\/p>\n Penning Verses for Your Rap Song<\/strong><\/p>\n Verses \u2014 bars that fit together \u2014 are almost always 16 bars long in rap. How many verses should your rap song have? That\u2019s up to you. Some raps are very long, while others just have two or three verses. As a beginner, you will probably want to keep it short.<\/p>\n Writing Your Chorus<\/strong><\/p>\n A chorus, which is also called a hook in rap, is a set of bars that repeats throughout your song. Rap hooks are used to channel the overarching feeling of the song, and you\u2019ll slide your hook in between verses. Here\u2019s a cool tip \u2014 you don\u2019t have<\/em> to rap your chorus. You can choose softer vocals instead to balance your rap out.<\/p>\n Transitioning from a verse to the hook can be tough, and that\u2019s why you\u2019ll want to include a so-called bridge<\/strong>, too. These two bars signal that your rap is about to move into the chorus.<\/p>\n What About the Outro?<\/strong><\/p>\n Finish your rap with the same note on which you started it!<\/p>\n Maybe you have some cool lyrics already, but you have no idea how to get started with a beat. Perhaps you\u2019ve got the right beat, but you\u2019re not sure how to push your thoughts into the right rhythm. These tips will get you on the right track!<\/p>\n What musical instruments are used in rap?<\/strong><\/p>\n Drum machines, turntables, keyboard or piano, and virtual music tools are most commonly used in rap. Beat boxing is encouraged, too!<\/p>\n Do I have to swear in rap?<\/strong><\/p>\n Absolutely not. Just ask the Christian rappers out there. Use the language you\u2019re comfortable with to create a rap that\u2019s authentically yours.<\/p>\n Can I write new lyrics to an existing beat?<\/strong><\/p>\n Of course! You\u2019re just learning to rap. So long as you are not intending to publish someone else\u2019s intellectual property, which you definitely can\u2019t do, using existing beats is an incredibly useful tool that will teach you a lot.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rapping is an art \u2014 and mastering it doesn\u2019t just require amazing vocal skills, but also creative flow. While nobody can expect to write a masterpiece the first time they try their hand at rap, everyone has to start somewhere. As with everything, constant practice will help you improve. Ready to get started with your […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2674"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2674"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2674\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2741,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2674\/revisions\/2741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2674"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nI left my cell, my pager and<\/strong> my home phone at the bottom<\/strong>
\nI sent two letters back in autumn<\/strong>, you must not've got 'em<\/strong>
\nThere probably was a problem<\/strong> at the post office or somethin<\/strong>'
\nSometimes<\/strong> I scribble addresses too sloppy<\/strong> when I jot 'em<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nCommon Themes in Rap<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Writing a Rap Song: How to Get the Rhythm Right<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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How to Structure Your Rap Song<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Tips for Writing a Rap<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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FAQ<\/strong><\/h2>\n