write a rap assignment

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Literacy at Work: How to Write a Rap with Dr. Chris Emdin

In the "How to Write a Rap" episode of Literacy at Work , educator, author, and rap-enthusiast Dr. Chris Emdin shares his lesson on how to write a rap. Learn along with students from Brooklyn Preparatory High School and discover how creating and performing raps can inspire self-reflection, confidence, and an appreciation for writing.

With this video and the resources below, students learn how to transform their unique personalities and stories into a “persona,” the version of themselves they will take on when they perform their raps. Throughout this process, students gain a better understanding of themselves and the act of storytelling. Once they begin writing their raps, students use literary devices including metaphor, simile, and alliteration to bring depth and complexity to their performances.

Ready-to-Use Resources

Our free teaching guide and student worksheet can be used for whole-class instruction or completed by students outside of the classroom.

How to Write a Rap | Grades 6–12

Teacher Guide: Use this guide to teach students how to write a rap using this episode of Literacy at Work. This lesson plan can be used with individual students or for whole-classes instruction.

Teacher Rubric: Use this rubric with the Teacher Guide to assess your students’ written raps and performances.

Student Activity: Students are guided through the process of creating their personas, developing rhymes, and writing their raps. This activity can be used independently or with the Teacher Guide.

Dr. Christopher Emdin is an educator, author, public speaker, and science advocate. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he also serves as Director of the Science Education program and Associate Director of the Institute for Urban and Minority Education.

Learn more about the Literacy at Work web series, an HMH effort to not only help students grow as readers and writers but also show them the lifelong role literacy plays in their lives.

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Write a Rap Song Lesson Plan

Want to help fellow teachers.

Please help us grow this free resource by submitting your favorite lesson plans.

Lesson Plan #: AELP-MUS0207 Submitted by: Bob Urbani Email: [email protected] School/University/Affiliation: Peru Junior High School Date: February 1, 2002

Grade Level: 5, 6, 7, 8

Subject(s):

Duration: 2-3 class sessions

Description: In this activity, students compose lyrics for a rap song.

Goals: National Standards of Music Education published by the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) :

• (3) Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
• (4) Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
• (7) Evaluating music and music performances.
• (8) Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
• (9) Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
• Students will be able to write a rap song that contains rhyming words.
• Students will be able to associate rhythms and counting with words that are used in their song.
• pencils/pens
• The Drug Free Rap

Procedure: Raps are talk songs. They are not sung; they are spoken. They have a very heavy beat and a lot of rhyme. Behind the speaker of a rap there might be original music, scratching sounds, or even parts of other people’s songs. To write your own rap, begin with your topic. You have to know enough about your topic to rap about it.

For this activity, students may work alone or with a partner. You will select one of the following topics to rap about: Our School, Our Team, The Field Trip, 7th Grade (or other grade as applicable), or Your Family. In your rap, you cannot say anything negative about the people or topic! Tell the story of your topic in a rhyme. Most raps rhyme in couplets, which means lines rhyme two at a time. Lines one and two rhyme with each other; but not with the other lines. Lines three and four rhyme with each other but not with other lines, and so on. The two lines that rhyme together are a couplet.

Students should begin their lyrics with a line that has a strong beat or rhythm. Rhyme the next line with the first. Try to repeat the same rhythm in the second line, too. Then begin a new rhyme with the third line. The fourth line should rhyme with the third line. Keep repeating this rhyming pattern. The beat can be different in different lines. Some lines can be short, and some can be long. You may want to have a refrain in your lyrics. A refrain is a group of lines that remains the same and is repeated throughout the song. (Pass out a copy of The Drug Free Rap for students to look at as an example.)

There can be NO double meaning words or grossness in the rap. You must say it to a beat with your partner. You can also put dance moves with it while you are saying it. You can use background music. Today we partner up (you can also solo by yourself) to write the rap. Tomorrow you will perform it and turn in your lyrics.

A Rhyming Alphabet (list of sounds/blends to help students with rhyming): BL, BR, CH, DR, FL, FR, GL, GR, KL, KR, PR, SH, SHR, SL, ST, STR, TH, THR, TR Assessment: Teachers may want to assess students’ raps by using a rubric. ( Author’s Note: Rubrics are now being used in Indiana as assessment tools for interdisciplinary units and for all general classes. The state encourages us to use them for grading.) A sample music rubric is provided below. As an alternative, teachers can grade the rap on a point system (such as 25 points for the written assignment and 25 points for performing. Extra credit could be given if students use a background tape or if the rap is typed on computer or written neatly in pen.)

Music Rubric :

• Level 4 – The student exceeds assignment requirements. The assignment is done exceptionally neatly; there is evidence of originality and/or extra effort in the completion.
• Level 3 – The assignment is completed, the work is done neatly, and the student followed all directions correctly.
• Level 2 – Either the assignment is only partially completed, the work is not very neat, the student followed some but not all of the directions, or there is some combination of these factors.
• Level 1 – The assignment is less than 50% complete, and/or the student did not follow the directions.

Useful Internet Resource: * National Standards for Music Education – MENC http://www.menc.org/publication/books/standards.htm Special Comments: Students really love doing this in all my classes. They can really be creative.

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How To Write Rap Lyrics Like The GOATs — 9-Step Guide

November 3, 2023 / Anton Berner

Credit: Harry Swales - Unsplash

First, to become a great rap lyricist, you need to practice. The ones who are considered the GOATs of this era; J-Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Pusha T, Travis Scott, etc., didn’t wake up one morning and go into the mic booth and deliver platinum-selling rap songs. They spent years perfecting their rap writing skills. 

This article is not going to turn you into the next Nas or Biggie Smalls because those artists spent years on the street corners and parks freestyling, battling, and practicing before ever stepping into a studio. 

Yes, I know that these days, anyone with half a brain and a laptop can make a rap song. Some rappers don’t even write any lyrics down. They just hop on the mic and improvise any words that come to mind. 

But let’s be honest, to achieve legend status, you’ll need to put in some effort. In order to become great at this culture we call Hip Hop, you need to put in the hours. This thing here is no game and only the real ones make it.

So take this guide as a generous blueprint on how to get started with writing your first rap songs. It’s up to you to get good at it.  

If you’re brand new to the world of rap, this short rap glossary might be helpful as you continue reading.

Rap glossary

Rapper: A performer who delivers rhyming lyrics over a beat, often emphasizing flow and rhythm in their delivery.

Emcee: Comes from “Master of Ceremony” - The host of an event or live performance, responsible for energizing the crowd and maintaining the flow of the show. In Hip Hop, it refers to a skilled rapper who commands the stage with their rapping.

Lyricist: A rapper known for crafting intricate and meaningful lyrics, often showcasing a profound understanding of language and conveying powerful messages through their rhymes.

Bars: A bar is a line of text in rap lyrics delivered over four beats. A verse is traditionally made up of 16 bars.

Flow: The cadence at which rap lyrics are matched with the beat. The flow should be on-beat and smooth to listen to at the same time. 

Rhyme scheme: The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line or bar in a rap verse. The rhymes can be the last word of each bar, multi-syllable rhymes (meaning several words rhyme on each bar), or rhyme the words on every other bar.

Always be writing

Ever watched the movie "8 Mile"? Remember how Eminem’s character B-Rabbit carried around pieces of paper with him to scribble down rhymes wherever he was, on his commute, on his lunch break, while watching TV? This should be you! (Minus the pieces of paper since we have smartphones now.)

Instead of scrolling through TikTok and Instagram, pull up your notepad and start honing your craft. Practice clever wordplays, invent punchlines and metaphors, write down clever words that rhyme, come up with themes and hooks, etc. 

Always be writing! This way, you will have plenty of material to turn into songs once you’re in a writing session or recording studio.

Find inspiration everywhere

Just like any art form, creativity needs to be born out of inspiration. Between studio sessions, make sure to take in the world around you through books, other people's music, movies, speeches, the news, conversations with a friend, and your relationships. Find out what inspires YOU and milk it for what it's worth.

For me personally, taking time off from the studio between musical projects has proven to be effective. This way, I can spend time on other things in life and get a break from creating.

I go to the movies, travel, listen to new music, spend time with my family, and read up on what’s going on in the world. After a while, I feel that creative urge come back. And that’s when I go back to the notepad and start writing again.

Find beats or make your own

A rapper without a beat is like a painter without a canvas. You can write incredible rap lyrics without background music, but it’s when you adapt the flow of words to the beat that a rap song really comes to life. 

There are many sources online where you can download free beats or purchase the licensing to use them commercially. You can also look for instrumentals of your favorite hip-hop tracks and write your own raps over them. 

Another way is to create your own beats to rap to. This is done in DAW’s (Digital Audio Workstations) like Soundtrap. Soundtrap has instruments and tools to create beats from scratch, or you can put together beats using loops and samples from the Soundtrap Originals library .

Once you’re done with your beat, you can also use Soundtrap to record your raps over it in the online studio.

A rapper without a beat is like a painter without a canvas.

9 steps to write rap lyrics like the Greats

1. come up with a song topic.

The first thing you need to do is to come up with something to rap about. Some of the greatest rap songs of all time have a topic or a theme. 

Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” was about jumping on the opportunity to succeed. Even the first commercial rap songs had clear topics; Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message” was about the struggles of living in the ghetto. Public Enemy’s “Fight The Power” was about systemic oppression and social justice. 

Your rap song should be about something you care about. What is it you wish to say to the world? Write down a few topics and pick one to start writing around. Now is also the time to pull up your notepad of rhyme scribbles and see what you can use for this topic.

2. Figure out a song structure

Traditionally, rap songs have used a three-verse, 16-bar structure. This means the song has three different verses, each with 16 bars, and a chorus in between each verse.

In today’s world of music streaming and short attention spans, two verses per song have become typical, and 8-12 bars are more common in length per verse.

Separate your writing into verses and choruses. Song bridges are less common in rap, but can definitely be a part of your song. There really are no rules. But a good song structure makes for a more powerful song.

Read more: How To Create a Good Song Structure - Parts of a Song Explained

3. Start with the verses

Start by writing your verses. In rap, a song usually starts with the first verse instead of the chorus. This means your first few bars need to capture the listeners’ attention and motivate them to keep listening. 

Set the tone for the song with your most interesting rhymes and clever wordplay. Let’s look at “Lose Yourself” again. Is there anyone who can’t recite these intro bars from Em’s first verse? 

His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy/

There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti//

He's nervous, but on the surface, he looks calm and ready/

To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgetting//

What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud/

He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out//

He's chokin', how? Everybody's jokin' now/

The clock's run out, time's up, over, blaow//

4. Set the rhyme scheme

Now, the rhyme scheme decides where in the lyrics to place your rhymes. As I mentioned earlier, the most traditional rhyme scheme in rap is the AABB scheme. It means the final word of each line/bar rhymes with the final word of the next one. Let’s look at Flash’s “The Message” from 1980 as an example:

My brother's doin' bad, stole my mother's TV/

Says she watches too much, it's just not healthy //

All My Children in the daytime, Dallas at night /

Can't even see the game or the Sugar Ray fight //

As times evolved and rappers improved their skills, rhyme schemes became more intricate. In addition to using multi-syllable rhymes (rhyming more than just one word or syllable at the end of each bar), the next generation of emcees would mix up and alternate the rhyme scheme throughout the verse, rhyming the same multi-syllable words as many as 2-3 times per bar. 

Again, let’s look at “Lose Yourself” by Eminem which is one of the most complicated rhyme schemes in rap (in my humble opinion). 

His palms are sweaty , knees weak, arms are heavy /

There's vomit on his sweater already , mom's spaghetti //

He's nervous , but on the surface , he looks calm and ready /

To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgetting //

What he wrote down , the whole crowd goes so loud /

He opens his mouth , but the words won't come out //

He's chokin', how? Everybody's jokin' now /

The clock's run out, time's up, over, blaow //

Note how Eminem uses a separate rhyme scheme in between the overarching scheme. “Calm and ready ” and “ on forgetting” are the main rhymes. But in between those rhymes, he sneaks in two different rhyme words: nervous and surface . 

This is a good example of the creativity you can explore in the rhyme scheme of your song.

5. Decide on the rap flow

The flow in rap is just as important, if not more, than the words. And a good rap flow can’t be instructed, it comes from a sense of rhythm and again, practice. 

Study your favorite emcees and pay attention to the way they flow over the beat. Try to copy their flow but use your own words. This is a great way of figuring out your own characteristics and flow patterns. 

If you want suggestions on who to study, I would recommend going to this generation’s greatest flowers; Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Drake. 

6. Use metaphors, similes, and wordplay

Great rap lyricists use these linguistic methods to engage listeners and keep their ears close to the speakers to hear every word. Here are examples of each one: 

If I told you that a flower bloomed in a dark room, would you trust it? - Kendrick Lamar - “Poetic Justice”

Me without a mic is like a beat without a snare/ I'm sweet like licorice, dangerous like syphilis// - Lauryn Hill - "How Many Mics"

“Safe sex is great sex, better wear a latex. ‘Cause, you don’t want that late text. That ‘I  think I’m late,’ text.” - Lil Wayne - Lollipop

You get the gist of it, right?

7. Come up with punchlines

Punchlines are the staples of rap lyrics. You want the crowd to go “Oooohhh!” when you perform your best bars. Punchlines are usually combined with metaphors, similes, and wordplay. Here are some well-known examples from one of the best to ever do punchlines; Big L.

“I knocked out so many teeth the tooth fairy went bankrupt”

"I only roll with originators/ chicks stick to my d**k like magnets on refrigerators."

"And when it comes to gettin' nookie, I'm not a rookie/ I got girls that make that chick Toni Braxton look like Whoopi."

"Big L is the n***a you expect to catch wreck in any cassette deck/ I'm so ahead of my time my parents haven't met yet."

"I'm far from broke, got enough bread/ And mad h**s, ask Beavis, I get nothing Butthead."

“Some say I’m ruthless, some say I’m grim. Once a brother done broke into my house and I robbed him.”

8. Write a memorable chorus

Just like any music genre, a rap song needs a catchy chorus. This is usually the last step in writing a rap song, while in other genres it’s more common to start with the chorus. 

Your chorus should have a hook that captures the theme of the song, uses the best rhymes, and be memorable enough so that the listener can rap along to it. 

With that being said, you can always just put together some catchy words and create a hook out of it. I don’t think anyone can not rap along when the chorus to Naughty by Nature’s “Hip Hop Hooray” comes on.

9. Cap it off with an intro/outro

The final step of writing a rap song is to write an intro and an outro. This part of the song can be a spoken build-up to the verse, the rapper warming up their voice with some adlibs, or something completely different. Find your inspiration and write something that sounds good to you. 

An intro/outro is of course not mandatory. You can just leave these parts for the instrumental beat to play. Or you can go right into the first verse like in Jay-Z's "99 Problems".

JAY-Z - 99 Problems

There you have it. You should now be ready to start drafting your first rap song. Remember that the GOATs of rap didn’t become GOATs overnight. They spent years perfecting their talent. These steps will hopefully guide you through creating your first rap lyrics, but it’s on you to take it further. 

We hope that you found this blog post useful. Please let us know once you’ve created your first rap song, tag us on socials, or reach out to us with your project link in Soundtrap .

About the author

Anton Berner is a music producer, audio engineer, and songwriter from Stockholm, Sweden. He's produced hip-hop & rap music since the early 2000s and his expertise is in vocal mixing and sample-based beat production. Anton is also the SEO & Content Manager @ Soundtrap and manages the blog and newsroom.

Get started with Soundtrap today!

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How to Write a Rap Song

Last Updated: October 22, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Tanisha Hall . Tanisha Hall is a Vocal Coach and the Founder and Executive Director of White Hall Arts Academy, Inc. an organization based in Los Angeles, California that offers a multi-level curriculum focused on fundamental skills, technique, composition, theory, artistry, and performance at a conservatory level. Ms. Hall's current and previous students include Galimatias, Sanai Victoria, Ant Clemons, and Paloma Ford. She earned a BA in Music from the Berklee College of Music in 1998 and was a recipient of the Music Business Management Achievement Award. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 14 testimonials and 84% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 2,485,179 times.

Rap songs often come off as effortless, but they actually require a lot of time and effort to write. You need lyrics that are catchy yet real. You also need top-notch rhyme and rhythm. In a way, writing rap is not all that different from writing poetry. If you are struggling to write a rap song, then this wikiHow is for you.

Things You Should Know

• Brainstorm lyrics and develop a catchy, unique hook. Choose words from the brainstorm that inspire you and craft a song from those ideas.
• Pick a pre-made beat or try making your own beats with a computer or sound equipment. Add in the melody and find a melody-beat combination you like.
• Structure the song into verses with 16 bars each, then refine and revise it until you have a finished product. Find a producer to record it or self-produce the song!

Writing Lyrics

• Pour out all the ideas you have whether they're single words, phrases, or full sentences.
• Let your ideas brew for a while. Carry a notepad around with you so that if you get a flash of inspiration while you’re on a bus, working out, or buying groceries, you can capture the moment and hopefully expand on it.

• If you’re having trouble coming up with something out of the blue, riff off of or respond to a line you love from another rap song. Just don’t copy anything outright or you may find yourself in legal trouble. "Drop it like it's hot" was originally a throw-off line from a Hot Boys single in the early 2000s, but Snoop Dogg turned it into a huge hit several years later!

• Stay out of your own way. The biggest mistake you can make when you first get started writing lyrics is that you want to "say" something, and force abstract concepts into your lyrics. Be specific. Use concrete words, phrases, and images in your words to keep your idea in the background.

• If you really want to write a rap about something you don't do, make sure you make them as ridiculous as possible. Buff up the braggadocio; exaggerate to insane levels. Don't do it often, and not in serious songs, but have fun with it. Be creative.

• Focus on the most memorable lines and images, and cut out everything that doesn't match that theme, that tone, or that story. If you're having trouble figuring out what works and what doesn't, try to rewrite the song from memory, without looking at it. This will act as a kind of strainer--you won't be able to remember the less effective bits, and you'll have to fill in stronger material for what you can't remember.
• The average song will have 2-3 verses of 16-20 bars each, and 3-4 chorus sections of a variable number of lines. Try to aim for trimming down your output to that amount.

Picking Beats

• Find a producer online who makes beats and listen to several of them until you find some you like. Commission particular sounds or styles from the producer to get an original track. If you like samurai samples and old-school comic book references like the Wu-Tang Clan, send the beatmaker some examples.
• Even if you have a kind of idea forming for a kind of song or topic you'd like, try to come up with at least three possible beats before settling on one. Matching content, words, and music is a complicated process. Don't rush it.

• Start by sampling the break from an R&B or soul song you really like. The Meters were a relatively obscure New Orleans funk band from the late 60s, who became famous after being heavily sampled as the tracks for great rap songs. Chop the beat using GarageBand or other free software on your computer.
• Create beats with a programmable drum machine. The Roland TR-808 is the most iconic drum machine, used in many classic hip-hop and rap tracks. It features a wide variety of bass kicks, hi-hats, hand claps, and other percussive sounds that you can program in different patterns. You can also process and manipulate these beats on your computer.

• Record a "scratch track" of yourself singing nonsense words on top of the beat to help find and remember the melody. It doesn't matter if you're a good singer, because this won't stay on the song. Just allow yourself to explore the beat and find a melody in it by free-singing, humming, or vocalizing.

• You may not have any clue where the song is going as you listen, and that's ok. Go with your gut. If a beat "speaks" to you--it's time to start making music.

Putting it Together

• Middle 8 (a.k.a. breakdown)

• Put your music on platforms like YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify, iTunes, and DistroKid. Create an account, edit your profile, then upload your track. Remember to use hash tags. Be online every day to get people's attention and reply to every question you get from anyone.

Sample Rap Songs

Become a Rapper with this Expert Series

Community Q&A

• If you can't think of good lyrics, don't give up! Just go for a walk or listen to some more music and then go back to it later with a fresh mind of ideas. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
• Never give up! Just try to bring that inner rapper outside and one day you may become a professional rapper. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Try to make it reflect a personal experience as that will give it more passion. Don't just rap about generic topics that fit a persona or could apply to anyone. Reflect on past pains and joys. Try to rap about something you have passion about. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• I'd say make music because you love it and want to share it, not to get famous or make money. That way your music stays real no matter what. I just do it as a hobby to express myself and show off now and then.
• Try to avoid basic, nursery rhyme-style rhymes. Come up with creative rhymes for tough words like "orange" — maybe "door hinge" or "four binges." Expand your vocabulary.
• Carry a notepad and jot down ideas whenever inspiration hits. Use the catchiest, most memorable parts in your songs. Every idea counts when you're brainstorming.
• Listen to great rappers like Eminem, Drake and Twenty One Pilots. Their relatable songs mix rapping and singing to inspire beginners.
• Control your breathing when you rap fast. Don't push past what your lungs can handle. Work within your abilities.
• Picture how you'd dance to your song before writing lyrics. Then fill in movements, gestures and poses that fit.

• Don't diss other rappers until you are good at freestyle, have developed a unique flow & have your head around good lyricism. Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 1

Other wikiHows

• ↑ http://www.powerpoetry.org/actions/7-tips-writing-rap
• ↑ https://www.lessonface.com/content/how-write-better-hook
• ↑ https://lsa.umich.edu/content/dam/english-assets/migrated/honors_files/WEINER%20The%20Authenticity%20of%20a%20Rapper.pdf
• ↑ https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/the_art_of_rewriting_songs
• ↑ https://blog.discmakers.com/2011/07/building-hip-hop-beats-9-tips-from-multi-platinum-producer-johnny-juice/
• ↑ https://www.prohibitionbigband.co.nz/dance-musicality-finding-the-beat/
• ↑ http://www.flocabulary.com/basics-hip-hop-songwriting/

About This Article

To write a rap song, start by brainstorming and writing down whatever comes to your mind without overthinking it. Then, go through your list and pick out the words and phrases that inspire you the most to help you write a chorus. Once you've written a chorus and know what your song is going to be about, come up with the verses for your song. As you're writing, try to tell a story or use metaphors so your rap song has a deeper meaning to it. To learn how to come up with a beat for your rap song, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Rap Song: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Lyrics are essential in any genre, but perhaps they are the most important when it comes to building a strong rap song. After all, rap songs and hip-hop music rely heavily on lyrics, rhythm, and rhyme, whereas other genres divert more attention to melody.

Hence, you don't just need to know how to write a song in order to create rap songs, you need to know specifically how to write a rap song. Thankfully, we've built a step-by-step guide so that just about anyone can become great at writing rap. We'll cover what makes a great rap song, how to make rap music and a few helpful pointers below.

What Makes A Good Rap Song?

In order to understand how to write a rap song, we need to take a look at what makes a compelling rap song first. Here are some of the music industry standard elements you'll want to include in all of your tracks:

Hip hop music and rap music encompass "telling your truth." In many ways, these genres can be more vulnerable than others since you're essentially putting the story first. The song structure is typically relatively simple, but the rap songwriting process depends heavily on the story of the speaker. In order to write rap songs that hit home, the listener needs to believe you. Everything stems from a story.

Rap songs depend on flow more than any other genre of music. Not all does your own style have to be catchy and unique, but your cadence needs to be meticulously crafted, with each lyric hitting the beat exactly as you intended. Vocal delivery practice is a must since so much of rap music is built on your expression.

Lyrical Style

When writing rap and hip hop verses, you'll need to employ plenty of literary devices. On top of rhyme, incorporating double entendres, idioms, metaphors, etc. really make a rap song impactful. A great rapper knows that clever wordplay will help his or her personal experience connect on a stronger level with listeners.

When it comes to how to write a rap song, you need rap verses and a great beat. While verses come first, don't underestimate the power of production! A strong beat can easily carry a rap verse to mainstream success, simply because it sounds good.

You can lease a beat online, find a producer, or learn how to make your own beats. While rap music beat styles vary greatly in sound, classical hip hop tracks often incorporate samples from previously released songs into the beat. Sometimes rappers will build their beats around a sample or incorporate the chorus of a song into a hook.

How To Write A Rap Song In 8 Steps

Are you ready to write a rap song? Here's how to start building a banger, step by step. Remember that these steps aren't necessarily set in stone. In fact, your creative workflow could easily change when you start writing a new song. Think of these steps as a basic framework for learning how to write a rap song, but don't let them constrict your creativity.

1. Figure Out Your Message

Great rap songs have something to say. In order to write something impactful, you'll need to write about something you know. Listeners will undoubtedly be able to hear whether or not you're writing a song from the heart or just trying to write a rap song filled with generic ideas and inspiration.

Are you setting out to write a diss track? Do you want to write a rap about your come up? Whatever it is, speak to what you know. Before you do anything else, it's all about landing on the right idea. It doesn't necessarily have to be "deep", but make sure your idea of choice is authentic to who you are as an individual.

2. Build A Beat

One of the best ways to get your creative juices flowing is to write to a strong beat. It's a lot easier to come up with lyrics, rhyme words, and build out your rap song if you have this initial piece of the puzzle figured out.

If you can learn how to become a better producer by spending time on your own beats, you should. This can help a lot with the writing process since you'll be able to structure your track according to your own cadence and flow. New rappers might not be willing to put in this effort, but it's good practice. Plus, many of the greats (think Kanye West, Tyler the Creator, J.Cole, and Eminem) make their own beats. It's a good skill to have.

Alternative options include enlisting the help of a friend, purchasing a beat online on a place like Beat Stars , or hiring a producer in your area to help you make your tracks.

3. Find Your Hook

When it comes to learn how to write a rap song, you need to know how to craft a compelling a hook . This is the section of the song that sticks with the listener long after the listener has finished jamming out. Hooks are catchy, short sections usually in the chorus of a song that help express the overall theme of the track.

Think of the infectious chorus of "C.R.E.A.M" by the Wu-Tang Clan. Even though this hook is short, it's effective, and it certainly sticks in your head:

Hooks can also be sung instead of spoken. For instance, let's look at the classic "Ms. Jackson" by Outkast:

Your hook should be short, to the point, and encapsulate the main theme of the song. One strategy is to write a couple of hooks and then leave a little time in between. That way, you can have a stronger perspective on which hooks are catchy versus which ones might need some rework. Hooks almost always contain some sort of rhyme scheme and have a simple melody, if any, that listeners can easily latch on to.

4. Work On The Rhythm

Now that you have beat and a hook, it's time to figure out the central parts of your song structure. While a lot of a great song comes down to great lyrics, rap songs need great rhythmic cadence in order to be appreciated properly.

Don't worry if you haven't come up with lyrics just yet. Instead, open up your voice memos app, loop your beat, and start improvising. You could start rapping with random words, nonsense syllables, or any sound you can think of. The point is that you map out the rhythm and cadence for your raps.

Take care to listen to others rapper ideas. When you record, try out different types of cadences and flowing from one verse to another. Notice how others rappers experiment with different inflections and emphasis on certain beats. When writing a rap song, try your best to start writing with these subtle differences in mind. Just as a drummer would work on their beat emphasis, work on building your rhythmic structure.

5. Write Lyrics

Now that you have the basic rhythm and song structure put in place, it's time to fill in the blanks and start writing lyrics if you haven't already. If you need a place to start, begin with brainstorming everything you want to talk about in your song. Then, decide if you want to write the verse or chorus first.

This is not the time to be over critical about everything you've written. Let your creative juices flow and fill up the page with lyrics. It's important to incorporate a strong rhyme scheme, but other than that, try not to overthink this part of the process.

Tracks that sound good are effortless, and you don't necessarily need to sound like other rappers. In fact, most of the famous rappers we cherish today got there by marching to the beat of their own drum. Write as many words as you need to and know that you'll have time to revisit your writing further down in the process.

6. Practice Your Flow

You've built a beat, have a solid rhyme scheme, and authentic lyrics. Now, it's time to practice your rapping flow. This will make excellent practice for the recording process and can pinpoint weak words or musical elements that need improvement.

Record yourself rapping to the beat. Listen back, and think about what lyrics you need to annuncieate more and where you can place emphasis to improve your flow. After all, rapping lines sounds completely different from one rapper to the next, so it's important to cultivate your distinguished style.

The art of writing a rap song always comes back to using your authentic voice and ideas to hook your listener.

7. Rewrite and Edit

When you make a rap song, it's easy to stop there and become clouded by the process of creation. It's understandable since learning how to make a rap song comes with a lot of time and emotional investment. However, don't let this stop you from realizing your track to it's full potential.

Once you have a solid draft of the writing, instrumental, and flow, it's time to enter the editing process. Are there any words you want to change before you record? Are two lines not rhyming the way you thought they might? Should you explore alternative rhyme schemes?

Believe it or not, plenty of popular music goes through revisions before ever hitting the listeners' ears for the first time. Have the courage to take a critical look at your song and edit as needed. If you can't do it yourself, enlist the help of a friend. You can also use online forums to obtain honest feedback on your writing and raps.

8. Rap It Up

The best way to become a great rapper is to write a song, and then write some more! The writing process can be more tedious than expected, but it's important that you finish your idea from inception to professional release as much as possible.

Not only is this good practice, but choosing to make your way from the start to the finish line will help you learn so much faster than trying to create one "perfect" rap song. Write consistently and rap often to become of the strongest rapping forces to reckon with.

Tips for Writing Rap and Hip Hop

You now know the basic formula for building rap and hip hop, but don't let that stop you. Consider these few tips when writing your next set of bars.

If you're ever feeling low on inspiration, just look to other art. All great artists learn from those who came before them, so do your part to engage in this type of active listening, too. In fact, it's great to have a reference track for every songs you create. That way, you have something specific to look back to you if you feel lost in your creative process.

Also, take the time to study when you're not creating. Whenever you listen to a great rap song, try to learn from it. What is it about the lyrics that is so impactful? How does the melody of the hook work with the rest of the song? What rhymes stood out to you the most?

There are plenty of free resources on sites like Youtube designed to help you build your ear. You can even practice rapping along to your favorite verses or look up the written lyrics of a song to see how the speaker builds his or her case.

Experiment With Different Rhyme Schemes

Raps are all about the rhymes. Make sure you make an effort to keep things engaging for the listener and switch up your flow or rhythmic emphasis every couple of lines or so. You can also try out entirely new song structures, like swapping the typical 16 bar verse formula for an 8 bar verse.

Try Out Different Styles

It's easy to forget that rap is the dominant genre of so many other subgenres that are definitely worth exploring. To name a few, just listen to how different emo rap sounds from mumble rap sounds from conscious rap. There are so many different ways to implement your voice and verses as an artist, so don't be afraid to experiment with different beats, new inspiration, and new styles.

While it's important to find a way of rhyming that's authentic to you, know that you don't have to be confined by one particular style over another.

Be Vulnerable

Don't forget that rap lyrics need an element of authenticity. Challenge yourself to go beyond your comfort zone. Remember that being vulnerable often leads to a deeper connection with your listeners.

Hopefully, this guide makes it easier for you to write your own rap song! Just remember that practice makes perfect. You're sure to write outstanding lines and rhymes in no time at all with the help of these tips.

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Update: Winners have been announced.

For the sixth year in a row, we’re inviting anyone 13 to 19 years old anywhere in the world to write a rap about the news that mattered most to them this year.

To help, we’ve published a special News Quiz with all the top stories of 2016 . We also have a lesson plan below, and a rubric to give teachers and students some guidance in the rap-writing process.

So whether you choose international or national news, politics or education , sports , science or technology , the arts or fashion , we invite you to post your entry by 7 a.m. Eastern on Jan. 10, 2017 . Then, the educational hip-hop experts at Flocabulary , our annual partner for this contest, will choose their favorite rhymes to publish both here and on their site.

Here are all the rules , and you can find links below to the work of our 2011-15 winners for inspiration.

Happy rhyming!

The Contest Rules: Write Your Own ‘Year in Rap’

1. The rap should be 12 to 16 lines long.

2. Students should choose at least four important New York Times stories from one of the news categories listed below.

It’s fine to focus on a smaller topic found within a section in The Times. For example, you can write a rap based the 2016 presidential race rather than the whole range of national or political news this year.

Or, you might focus on 2016 movies or football rather than covering other news from the Arts or Sports sections. But you should also feel free to include as many, and as wide a range of, news stories from a particular section as you like. (More about narrowing your choices can be found in the lesson plan.)

Here are the sections from which you can choose:

Obituaries (from 2016 only)

3. The rap should be original and must follow Times commenting standards , which means no profanity or vulgar language.

4. Submissions must be from students who are 13 to 19, but can come from anywhere in the world. You are welcome to post your last name if you like, and teachers can also have students add a class code. (For example, “EthanCHS112.”)

5. Submissions are allowed from partners and teams as well as from individuals. (You can submit all of your names in the body of the post, even if only one of you is represented by the username you register under.)

6. One submission per student, please. If you’re submitting as part of a team, you should not also submit as an individual.

7. Raps must be submitted as comments on this post by 7 a.m. Eastern time on Jan. 10. If you have questions about the contest, please feel free to post them in the comments section as well, and we’ll answer you there.

8. The top five raps, as judged by The Times and Flocabulary staff using this rubric , will be featured on both The Learning Network and Flocabulary.com. Because of privacy rules that apply to students under 18, we are asking for only your lyrics, not videos or audio.

9. Want inspiration? Here are the winners from 2015 , 2014 , 2013 , 2012 and 2011 . Can you top them?

The Lesson Plan: Rapping About the News

By Flocabulary

Overview | In this lesson, students reflect on the top news stories from 2016 and create original lyrics for a rap around the category of news that interests them most. They determine factors that make a news item a top story for the day, week or year, and analyze the top choices of Flocabulary and The Times. Students then choose at least four significant news stories, and write a short rap reviewing the key points of those stories.

We encourage students ranging in age 13 to 19 to submit their lyrics to the Flocabulary-New York Times Learning Network Year in Rap contest. (Students can also enter the contest without completing the full lesson below. Just direct them to the contest rules above.)

Note: This lesson works well as a full class activity, but you can also assign it as an independent or take-home assignment. Students who would like to create the raps on their own time should not have a problem following the rap section of the lesson independently.

Materials | Student journals, computer(s) with Internet access, projector, copies of the Flocabulary 2016 Year in Rap work sheet and rubric , access to The Learning Network’s special Year-End News Quiz for 2016 and Flocabulary’s Week in Rap archives ; optional access to a rhyming dictionary or website .

Warm-Up | Tell students to respond to the following prompts in their journals:

What makes one news story more “important” than another?What are the characteristics of a news story that might make it important for more than one day?What would be on your list of the top 15 to 25 news stories of 2016? Why?

Next, have students share their answers and jot down two lists — one about the qualities of an “important” news story and the other a list of 2016 stories they mention as top news this year. Remind students that “importance” is a subjective idea, and that the qualities that make a story important can vary.

Related | Explain to students that they will now look at stories chosen over different time periods to consider the differences in judging the importance of a story: The Times’s front page for the day ; Flocabulary’s Week in Rap and The Learning Network’s Weekly News Quiz .

As they read and watch, students should discuss what, if any, similarities they saw, and what they might add to the list of criteria for an important story. (Please note that to gain access to all of the Week in Rap archives, students or teachers must sign up for a free trial.)

Questions | For discussion and critical thinking.

Which story on today’s front page of The Times did the editors consider the day’s most important news? How do you know? Are there stories on the page that you feel might not be “front-page worthy”? Why? (Note: The article published in the upper right-hand column of the print paper each day is that day’s top story.) Would you include that story in a year-end news quiz of the 50 or so most important events this year? Why or why not?How do you think The Times’s editors decide on the front page balance each day? How is that process different for thinking about the NYTimes.com homepage ? How do you think the Flocabulary staff decide on its Week in Rap and Year in Rap selections? In what ways might the decision-making process be similar for The Times’s editors and Flocabulary staff? How might it be different?

Activity | Explain to students that they will now use what they learned to select the top stories from 2016 in one news category. Once they select their top stories, they will write a Flocabulary-style rap to summarize those stories.

The Research

Go to the NYTimes.com home page and review the different categories of news, listed on the top of the page (World, U.S., Sports, Arts, Science, among others).

Tell students to choose one news category to focus on using the list in the contest rules above. Remind them that they can choose subcategories from larger categories, so that they might, for instance, create a rap from the World section, but just on events in China; a rap featuring 2016 news from the U.S. section, but focused on education; a rap about the Sports section, but detailing 2016 news about professional basketball; or a rap using the Science section, but focused on stories about climate change from 2016. Give them time to click around and decide on the larger topic, and possible subtopic, that interests them most.

Next, give students time to review the Week in Raps from 2016. Because the Week in Rap covers news in all categories, ask them to look through the Week in Rap archives and the Learning Network’s 2016 Year-End News Quiz and Weekly News Quizzes with their news category in mind. (Please note that any Times article linked from The Learning Network, including the News Quiz, is free and outside the digital subscription service.)

Have students add to the list on the board, compiled during the warm-up, any key 2016 stories they found as they perused The Times, The Learning Network and Week in Rap archives that weren’t previously mentioned.

Next, ask students to narrow their choices to four or five top stories and record them on their 2016 Year in Rap “Brainstorm the Top Stories” activity sheet . Once they have selected their stories, they should be able to explain what qualities make it a top news story. Students should then search The Times’s archives from the past year to learn more about their chosen stories. In the last column, they should list keywords, like names, places, technical terms or other details related to their topic to include in their rap.

Writing the Rap

Tell students that the goal of their rap is to select their top news stories from 2016 in one category, then share the important parts of that news story with their classmates through a rap. We’ll feature the lyrics to the top five student raps on the Learning Network and Flocabulary.com, as described above.

This aspect of the lesson plan is modified from Flocabulary’s Writing Academic Rhymes lesson sequence . Students can also use this method to help remember important information for any subject.

Make sure that students have the 2016 Year in Rap handout . The chart takes students through the steps of writing a rhyme about their first story. They can repeat the steps for their other stories or give more information about their first story. (Note: If students want to write their rap over beats, they can choose from 20 original beats on the Flocabulary website .) Encourage students to peruse the Flocabulary Week in Rap archives for examples on how to set up rhymes.

List the first news story. Rewrite the line so that the most important part to remember is at the end of it. This will help you and your audience remember it better. List words that rhyme with the final word or words. Students can also list slant rhymes, or words that almost rhyme.Students should write a rhyme for the line from Step 2 that gives more information about the news story. It is important to make sure that the tone of the rhyme matches the weight of the story. For example, a humorous tone would likely be inappropriate if students are talking about a tragedy. If they are having trouble coming up with a rhyme, they can try retooling the first line.Students should repeat this process to give more information about the news story.

Share the rubric (PDF) that we’ll be using to judge the winners of the 2016 Year in Rap contest with your students. Even if they don’t submit to the contest, you can use it to help guide students toward creating stronger raps, or even to give them an assignment grade.

To go deeper with writing rhymes and raps in the classroom, explore Flocabulary’s Lyric Lab , a tool that provides students with rhyming word suggestions and definitions as they write. Lyric Lab also offers dozens of Flocab beats for students to choose from so they can perform their raps live.

Going Further

As students research news stories to cover in their raps, review the 5 W’s of a story with Flocabulary’s video “ Who, What, When, Where, Why .”

Finally, share the raps with the class in a performance. If your students are 13 to 19 years old, submit them to the Learning Network by posting them in the comments section.

More About Flocabulary

Flocabulary is a web-based learning program for all grades and subjects that uses educational hip-hop music to engage students and increase achievement. Teachers in more than 60,000 schools have used Flocabulary’s standards-based videos, instructional activities and student creativity tools to develop core literacy skills and supplement instruction across the curriculum.

4 Steps for writing academic student raps

• June 10, 2022
• Flocabulary Team
• Lessons and Ideas

Over the years, we have seen some amazing student rap creations through our annual rap contests . Want to have students make their own raps or videos? Here’s everything you’ll need to get started.

1. Choose a Beat

Have students check out these free Flocab beats . Once they find a favorite, right click on the beat title at the bottom of the page and click “Save Link As” to download the MP3.

2. Write lyrics

Start with our lesson plans for writing academic rhymes . You’ll learn how to lead students through writing rhymes, incorporating figurative language, and more. Have them choose their own topics or work with specific concepts from their coursework.

Students can use Lyric Lab on specific lesson with relevant vocabulary words, or select any lesson to create their own rap. With Lyric Lab, students can write raps line by line using a word rhyming generator. Once their rap is complete, they can select which beat they want to use to present their masterpiece.

3. Record

Want to record the track as an Mp3? On a Mac, students can use the free app GarageBand  to record and mix their raps. They can simply drag the Flocab beat Mp3 into a new project and start rapping over it. For PC users, Audacity is a great free recorder and sound editor.

Students can stop after making the Mp3, or can take the project further. You can make a playlist of class projects in iTunes  or Spotify and listen back. Students can also use the Mp3 as the audio track for their own rap music videos.

There are many ways to record students’ performances. Students can use computers, smart phones, and tablets to record. The quickest, easiest way to make a video is to play the beat in the classroom and record students rapping over it. For a more in-depth project, students can record audio separately, then sync up audio and video together using free editing software.

On a Mac, you can use the video feature in the Photo Booth app that comes with the device to record. Then you can edit your movie using the free  iMovie  app. On a PC, you can use Windows Video Editor . Click here for a list of other free video editing tools .

4. Upload

Students can easily upload their videos to YouTube to share with the world. Click here for instructions on how to upload videos . To share audio, you can create a free account for your class on  Bandcamp to share students’ videos and songs. (Provided you have parent and student permission, of course!)

It’s that simple. Students can express themselves, collaborate, practice using figurative language and learn more about a topic in one fell swoop. Share your students’ creations on social media and tag @Flocabulary to be featured.  We can’t wait to see what your students come up with!

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How to Write a Rap Song in 7 Steps

Rap and poetry are actually the same thing. Rap is short for rhythm and poetry. As a poet, you’re already familiar with some elements of rap but not all of them.

Rap is different because it’s constantly full of rhythm and rhymes. Not all poems follow an inherent rhythm, and oftentimes today, they don’t adhere to classic rhyme schemes . Rap, however, is rhyming poetry smoothed over a beat.

If you’re a poet branching out into rap, you’re also going to have to switch up your poetry. A sonnet on a page may be abundant with visual metaphors , but when writing rap, it needs to sound good. It needs to appeal to the ear with a concise message--all while keeping rhythm. 

How To Write A Rap Song in 7 Steps

Ever wondered about the concrete steps to write a rap song? Here’s how.

1. Find your topic or inspiration. If you already have something you want to to write about, great! If not, it’s helpful to brain dump, or write down all the things that come to mind. Once you do this, you can pick a topic or subject that you feel most connected to. That’ll help you get going once it’s time to write lyrics.

2. Get familiar with structure . You can find rap songs using all sorts of different beat patterns and structures, but if you’re just getting started, stick to basics. Most raps have a verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, then chorus. The verse is a space to tell your story and its details. Each verse tends to lead nicely into the chorus, which is often the song’s most memorable chunk. The bridge, which is optional, can be a place to switch up the melody and include your song’s revelation.

3. Sit down and write lyrics, or "bars" in rap lingo. Keeping your topic and the general structure in mind, you’re ready to write lyrics. If you feel stuck, get in the zone. You can do this by setting a timer on yourself as you write. This pressure will help you focus on your flow of words. Or, listen to some of your favorite or some new artists whose work may inspire.

4. Rewrite and refine. Once you have your lyrics down, it’s important to go back and edit keeping this in mind: rap is abundant with rhymes and melody. If your first draft isn’t catchy or full of clever rhymes, that’s okay. Now is the time to add them, and you can use tools like a rhyme dictionary.

As you edit your rap, read it out loud. As you listen to it, make edits wherever it’ll help the rap keep rhythm. As you listen to it, think about what story it’s telling, what mood it’ll put people in, and what rhymes it needs.

5. Practice out loud. Nothing you write will ever be perfect, but when you’ve got a rap you’re satisfied with, start practicing out loud. Most people who are starting out find it easier to practice alone. If that’s you, practice with no mirror first then do it in front of a mirror. You can record a video to watch your evolution over time. If you feel comfortable, practice with someone you trust who will support you while giving constructive feedback.

6. Memorize! Here’s a fun challenge. Once you’ve written your rap and practiced a few times out loud, try memorizing and recording it. This will help build your confidence around your lyrics and your voice. You can develop this “memorizing muscle” and make it easier to memorize your raps over time.

7. Yes, share it . You deserve this. You’ve put hours of work and practice into this! Sometimes sharing your rap can feel like the hardest part of the process, but you should push yourself to share your art with the world (or a very small slice of it). This can be a fun way to tell people what you’ve been up to, build a community, or gain a following.

It’s time! Now that you know how to write a rap song, get writing. Maybe you’re the next Jay-Z or Nicki Minaj? The next 6LACK or Doja Cat? Or just the next and only you? Share your work here on PowerPoetry.org or check out an online rap battle .

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How to Write Your Own Math Rap

The Rappin’ Mathematician presents a step-by-step guide to creating an academic rhyme.

This how-to article accompanies the feature " Rapping Math Teachers Bring It ."

Want to rap a math concept for your class, but not sure where to start? Alex Kajitani, the Rappin' Mathematician , breaks down how to write a rap.

Step 1: Identify Your Concept

What do you want your students to learn? Successful math raps have been written on concepts such as fractions, negative and positive numbers, and integers.

Step 2: Find Your Rhymes

Write out all the key words related to your concept. For a rap about the order of operations, Kajitani lists operations, order, parenthesis, exponent, multiply, divide, add, and subtract.

Then find what rhymes with these words. Kajitani recommends going to Rhymezone.com and plugging in your word: "Divide" brings up 400 results. He chooses the rhyming word guide.

Not every word needs to rhyme perfectly. Kajitani also uses words and phrases that sound similar, such as exponent and "own it," to form a rhyme. If you are writing a four-line rhyme, the second and fourth lines should rhyme.

Step 3: Craft the Hook

A catchy hook -- a rhyme repeated at the beginning, middle, and end of the rap, like a refrain -- is essential to a good math rap. It quickly explains what the rap is all about.

Using the rhyme he found on Rhymezone.com, Kajitani shows how to craft a hook that explains the order of operations:

Parenthesis then exponents, Multiply and divide, Then add and subtract PEMDAS is your guide.

Step 4: Back It up with a Beat

No rap is complete without the musical beat behind the words. A Google search for "free rap beats" could provide some leads. Garage Band , a Macintosh app that you can download for under five dollars, can also be used to create rap beats. Kajitani will buy beats for about $20-$100 per song to use commercially from sites such as Gotchanoddin.com .

Kajitani suggests sampling some background music and practicing lyrics to different songs until you find a combination that feels right. Any music software will allow you to shorten the beat's track -- Kajitani notes that a math rap doesn't have to be long -- to fit the length of your math rap. (One option is the free, cross-platform Audacity Sound Editor .)

Step 5: Perform

Kajitani says you might start a math lesson with your new rap. Or you may want to record your voice into a computer and bring a recorded version into class. (Garage Band can also be used for this type of recording.) Your students might also enjoy performing the rap.

Now that you have a new learning tool, it's time to show it off.

Extra Credit: Make the Video

The after-school video club at Kajitani's school, Mission Middle School , in Escondido, California, produced his video So Many Lines . The students drew a storyboard of the scenes for the video, selected actors for the various parts, and then filmed and edited the piece themselves -- and their creative efforts didn't go unnoticed: They won the 2007 iVIE award for the most innovative video in education.

The school was so impressed with the students' work that they created a regular video-technology class during the school day. This year's class may make another video for Kajitani's song " The Itty Bitty Dot ." After that project, the students will surely remember Kajitani's hook about adding and subtracting with decimals: "Just line up the dot and give it all you've got."

The Ethan Hein Blog

Music and related topics, i am making my students write raps and i wrote one too.

The hardest songwriting assignment I’m giving to the NYU Pop Music Practicum is to write and record a short original rap verse. The students come from classical, jazz and musical theater backgrounds, and while many of them enjoy listening to rap, almost none have tried making it. So we are all outside of our comfort zones.

Students have the option to write their verses from scratch, or to use existing verses as a template– Toni Blackman recommends this one and this one . They can rhyme over an existing instrumental or create their own beats, but they are not allowed to rap unaccompanied, because I don’t want them doing slam poetry. There is nothing wrong with slam poetry, but the purpose of this assignment is to experience the joy and terror of trying to ride a beat.

I thought it would be only fair if I did the assignment too. Here’s what I came up with.

Here are the lyrics:

I’m here at NYU Steinhardt, teaching music as a fine art Teaching teachers how to be teachers, how to reach us We are broke as a joke but we stay woke You don’t have to be a worrier, be a warrior Knock down the barriers, stop the nefarious lies Let’s build relationships, not manipulationships Let’s not be afraid to be a little ridiculous

I recorded over the Funky Drummer beat , and then put in samples of Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 prelude . I had watched Hamilton on Disney+ several times in the week leading up to it, and the voice of Lin-Manuel Miranda was loud in my head as I was writing, encouraging my nerdiest wordplay. After some initial hesitation, I had a great time coming up with the rhymes; I wrote most of them on my phone while walking around my neighborhood. I didn’t plan out the rhythms in much detail, I figured I would just work them out in real time while recording. As a result, my flow is choppy and unstructured. If I were to turn this into a “real” song, I’d put in some quality time adding and removing syllables to get the lines to have more metrical logic to them.

I am not the right person to be teaching rap, which is why I’m bringing Toni herself in to guest-lecture this week. The main thing I have to contribute is the perspective of a white outsider who is making a good-faith effort to represent a culture that is not my own. I am strongly convinced that my students need to experience hip-hop from the perspective of creators.  White people shouldn’t do rap covers , and passive listening isn’t enough. I want to believe that it’s okay if we rap in our own voices from our own perspectives, provided that we do so with love and respect for the medium, and for the culture that gave rise to it. I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with.

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That was quite beautiful – in concept, in spirit, and (most importantly) in practice. Kudos.

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Chase March – Official Site

Wedding DJ for Sarnia, London, ON. Writer, Educator, Radio Host, Hip Hop Headucatorz

Writing Rap Songs With Students

This is the fourth lesson in my unit on Rap Music.

In this lesson, I set the parameters of the rap songwriting assignment, I share a few examples of rap songs, and then I put the students into groups and have them start writing.

You can download the Smartboard file of this lesson for free to use in your classroom.

In the last lesson, I shared a song from Run-DMC so the students could see how the two rappers in that group took turns saying rhymes and lines of their songs.

I have another example of this to share with them today.

Right up front, I let the students know the five elements I will be focusing on when I mark their performances. I want them to speak clearly, to have creative lyrics, to adhere to the four bar structure of rap, to stay on beat with their lyrical delivery, and to be a good audience member for all of the performances.

Audience etiquette is something that we should teach and reinforce in class. Making it part of the mark stresses its importance.

This slide was part of the last lesson but I included it here again to help students remember to stay on beat.

To show them a good way to find and keep the beat, have them use both hands to tap their lap on beat 1, to clap on beat 2, and then repeat these two steps for beat 3 and beat 4.

The rhyming words should fall on the claps.

I then share with them one of the songs I did with my rap group Mission 5.

I used to go by the name of DJ Unconventional and I shortened it down to Uncon. I was the lead rapper in the group.

Abomination was our DJ.

Rime-On is my younger brother and he and I trade rhymes back and forth in this song. My lyrics are in red and his are in blue.

I display the lyrics to the first verse as the students listen to the song. I then stop the MP3 and break down what those lyrics mean.

When I say “Kill that noise,” I really am telling people to stop all of the negative talk and to just listen to the music.

We then see that the 5 in our group name doesn’t refer to the number of group members. It shows that we were trying our best to get a 5-star rating in magazines.

We all like football and include that interest in our rhyme.

When Rime-On says “You see me you say, ‘Uh-oh!’” It shows that we are tough to compete against.

We then compare ourselves to the Wright Brothers. The line is even more effective since we are actually brothers.

Our tracks are so explosive you get hit with debris. This is an effective image since we can shorten down our deejays name to A-bomb so we are talking about a bomb or an atomic bomb.

As you can see, we did a lot in that short rhyme. We traded lines back and forth. We used multi-syllable rhymes.

We used slant rhyme by rhyming “afternoon” and “game or two.” This works because of the ‘er’ and ‘oo’ sounds in both rhyming words .

We used internal rhyme. “gusto” and “trio” were said in the middle of the line. “uh-oh” was said in an end rhyme but all these rhymes fell on the snares.

We use simile – “taking off like the brothers from Ohio”

And we use metaphor by suggesting our tracks fly like airplanes.

In the chorus, we repeat the title of the song on every snare. It’s a catchy hook that is memorable and helps set the mood for the piece. It helped us write the lyrics for the entire song.

Some rappers start with the chorus just for that reason.

I love the chorus to this song. It really sounds like the words are falling down. It’s brilliant!

This song also starts out with the chorus.

NGA is a friend of mine and a very talented musician. I was also to share some of his creative process with my students.

I have rapped my song “Time is the Fire” to the class a few different times this year. Now, I get to share with them the inspiration behind it.

Of course, some students will have no idea where to start writing so I gave them a few basic themes here and ideas on how they could write something about those themes.

I close with this doctored Calvin and Hobbes comic. I can just imagine Hobbes being the beatboxer and Calvin kicking some rhymes.

This almost makes we want to write a rhyme about comic strip characters becoming rappers. Hmmmm! Maybe I’ll do just that.

Inspiration can come from anywhere after all.

I wanted this to be a group assignment because I know some students will be too shy or nervous to perform raps by themselves.

I decided to partner up students instead of letting them choose their own groups. This way I was certain everyone would end up in a group.

I did give them a little bit of choice with the groups though because I then let them join with another partner group to make a group of 4.

For the most part, this strategy worked well.

Download the Smartboard file of this lesson for free.

Chase March

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Songwriting Advice

How to write raps.

• March 11, 2024

So you want to write raps that will leave an impression in the minds of your audience? You're in the right place! While it might seem like an overwhelming task, writing rap is a skill that can be learned, honed, and mastered with time and practice. To do that, you need a solid understanding of rap structure, rhyme schemes, and how to express yourself in a way that is authentic and unique. In this article, we'll take you through the steps to get you started on your journey to writing your next killer verse. And, if you need additional help, remember that Lyric Assistant is here to help you write your perfect song.

How To Write Raps Table of Contents

1. understand the structure of a rap verse, 2. choose your topic, 3. write the catchy hook, 4. find your rhyme scheme, 5. experiment with wordplay and metaphors, 6. make it personal and authentic, how to write raps example, frequently asked questions, want to write better songs try lyric assistant today.

Before you begin, you need to know the basic structure of a rap verse. Most rap verses have 16-bars, with each bar representing one measure of music. This means that you have 16 measures, or segments, to deliver your lyrics and express your thoughts. However, this can vary depending on the sub-genre, artist, or beat.

The first step in writing a rap verse is to brainstorm and choose your topic. This can be anything from your personal experiences, current events, social issues, or even expressing your feelings about a certain subject. Make sure to choose something that you are truly passionate about, as this will shine through in your lyrics and make it easier to write.

The hook is an essential part of a rap song, as it's what grabs the listener's attention and keeps them engaged. The hook should be catchy, memorable, and express the main theme or idea of your rap. It's generally 4-8 bars long and repeated throughout the song. Experiment with different melodies, repetitive phrases, or wordplay to create a hook that sticks.

Rap is characterized by its rhyme scheme – the pattern of rhyme that occurs throughout the verse. The most common rhyme schemes are AABB, ABAB, and AAAA, but there are many others you can experiment with. As you write your lyrics, pay attention to your rhyme scheme and make sure it flows naturally with your chosen topic.

One of the key elements that make raps memorable is the clever use of wordplay, metaphors, and similes. This helps create vivid imagery in the listener's mind and keeps them engaged. Make sure to use these techniques to elevate your lyrics, making them more powerful and thought-provoking.

To make your rap stand out, it's essential that you draw from your life experiences and express your emotions in an authentic way. This is what helps connect with your audience, as they can feel your passion and relate to your story. Be honest and open about your thoughts, and don't be afraid to show vulnerability.

Imagine you want to write a rap about overcoming obstacles in life. Start by thinking of personal experiences and examples which you can use in your verse. Next, craft a catchy hook that illustrates the idea of triumphing over challenges. An example might be:

"Broke through the storm, I'm on top of the game,

Ain't no obstacle too great, made a change in the game."

Now, create your 16-bar verse using a rhyme scheme and incorporating wordplay and metaphors. For instance:

"Crashed into barriers, but I pushed on through,

Life tried to bury me, but I proved I grew (A)

Every challenge faced, every tear I shed,

Only made me stronger, soldier, born and bred (A)

A tornado couldn't break me, I'm a mighty oak,

Through the fiercest storms, I rose from the smoke (B)

Leaping over obstacles, like a high jumper,

My scars and battles just add fuel to my hunger (B)"

Now that you know the steps to crafting a rap verse, don't hesitate to put your newfound skills to the test. Remember, practice makes perfect, and the more you write, the more natural it will become. If you ever find yourself facing writer's block or struggling to find inspiration, remember that Lyric Assistant is here to make writing your next song a breeze. With Lyric Assistant's help, you'll be able to create your perfect rap song in no time. So, sharpen your pencil or power up your laptop, and create that unforgettable verse today!

What is the basic structure of a rap song?

The basic structure of a rap song typically includes an introduction, verses, choruses (or hooks), and a bridge or break. Verses are the main part of the song where the rapper delivers most of their lyrics. Choruses are repeated sections that maintain the song's theme. A bridge offers a contrasting section to break up repetitive patterns.

How do I get started with writing rap lyrics?

To get started with writing rap lyrics, begin by listening to a wide variety of rap to understand different styles. Next, write down ideas, thoughts, and lines that come to you throughout the day. Experiment with rhymes and rhythms, and consider your message or story you want to convey.

What are some common themes in rap songs?

Common themes in rap include personal struggles and triumphs, social and political commentary, partying and having fun, romantic relationships, and aspiration for success. Authenticity in expressing personal experiences or viewpoints is highly valued.

How can I improve my rhyming skills?

Improve your rhyming skills by reading poetry, practicing with different rhyme schemes, and using rhyming dictionaries or apps. Freestyle rapping can also enhance your ability to come up with rhymes spontaneously.

Is it important to have a large vocabulary when writing raps?

A large vocabulary can be beneficial but is not mandatory. It can provide more options for wordplay and expressiveness. However, clarity and relatability are crucial, so focus on using the words that best convey your message.

How do I create a catchy hook for my rap song?

To create a catchy hook, focus on a simple, memorable phrase or melody that encapsulates the essence of your song. Repeat key phrases, use rhythmic patterns, and make it emotionally charged with your delivery.

What is the difference between flow and rhythm in rap?

Flow refers to the cadence and delivery of your lyrics – how you ride the beat. Rhythm is the beat itself and the timing of musical elements. Both flow and rhythm work together to create the musicality of your rap.

Can I rap if I don't have a musical background?

Yes, you can rap without a musical background. Rap relies heavily on lyrical ability and rhythm, which can be developed through practice and study of the genre.

How do I choose the right beat for my lyrics?

Choose a beat that complements the mood and theme of your lyrics. Consider the tempo and whether it matches the energy you envision for your song. Try freestyling to different beats to see which one fits your style best.

How important is the delivery of my raps?

The delivery is critically important as it conveys emotion, emphasis, and character. A powerful delivery can make your lyrics more impactful and engaging for the listener.

What kinds of rhyme schemes are common in rap?

Common rhyme schemes in rap include end rhymes, internal rhymes, slant rhymes, and multi-syllable rhymes. Experimenting with different schemes can make your raps more dynamic.

How can I create vivid imagery with my rap lyrics?

Create vivid imagery by using descriptive language, metaphors, and similes. Put the listener in the scene with specific details and create a visual experience through words.

Can I use literary devices in my rap lyrics?

Yes, literary devices such as alliteration, assonance, personification, and onomatopoeia can enrich your lyrics and add layers of depth to your raps.

What should I do if I'm experiencing writer's block?

If you're experiencing writer's block, take a break and seek new experiences for inspiration. Listen to different music, read, exercise, or collaborate with other artists to spark new ideas.

How can I use freestyling to improve my rapping skills?

Freestyling can improve your rapping skills by enhancing your improvisational ability, helping you think on your feet, and allowing you to experiment with flows and rhymes in real time.

Should I write about personal experiences in my raps?

Writing about personal experiences can create authenticity and emotional connection with your audience. However, ensure that what you share aligns with your comfort level and public persona.

How can I receive feedback on my rap lyrics?

Receive feedback by sharing your lyrics with trusted friends, fellow artists, or online communities. Constructive criticism can help you grow and refine your skills. Just be sure to consider the source of feedback and stay true to your artistic vision.

Is there a certain way to format rap lyrics when writing them down?

While there's no strict format, it's helpful to organize your lyrics with consistent line lengths and clear separations between verses, choruses, and bridges. Indicate rhyme scheme and rhythm with patterns or marks if it helps you during performance.

How much does the current rap landscape influence individual styles?

The current rap landscape can influence individual styles significantly, as trends often dictate popular sounds and themes. However, it's important to develop your unique voice while being aware of the evolving genre.

Can I blend different genres with my rap music?

Yes, blending genres can create uniquely appealing music and help you reach a broader audience. Combining rap with elements from other genres can showcase versatility and innovation.

How do I protect my intellectual property when I write raps?

Protect your intellectual property by copyrighting your work. Register your songs with a performing rights organization and consider getting your lyrics legally documented once you're ready to publish your music.

What role does storytelling play in rap music?

Storytelling is a powerful tool in rap music, as it allows you to communicate messages, share experiences, and connect with your audience on a deeper level. A well-told story can greatly enhance the impact of your song.

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Poetry & Poets

Explore the beauty of poetry – discover the poet within

How To Turn Poetry Into Rap

How to Turn Poetry into Rap

Rap, also known as ‘rhyming lectures’, has become a beloved form of self-expression and communication around the world. It is a fusion of poetry and music which places heavy emphasis on rhythm and rhyme. If you’ve ever wanted to take your poetry to the next level, turning it into rap is an excellent way to intensify the emotion and make it more accessible. However, transforming your work into rap is not as easy as it may appear – it takes skill and technique. Here, we provide our top tips for how to turn poetry into rap.

The first step in this process is to read your poem through several times. As you read your work, try to focus in detail on the way that words and phrases link together – and identify potential opportunities for where these could be exploited to create a powerful rhyme. Make sure when you’re reading the poem that you don’t try to make the poem fit the beat or rhythm of the underlying music. You should focus on the poem itself and allow the flow of the words to dictate where it should go.

Once you have identified opportunities for rhyme and flow, start to construct straight 16 or 32-bar verse structures. You should consider phrases that could be used as an introduction and reoccurring lines and themes. When constructing a rap verse structure, it is important to build a ‘bubble’ – create a topic and as the verse progresses, involve other branches that may arise, but always finish off the thought before you begin the next.

The next step is to apply music to your rap. Start by creating a basic pattern of words and sounds. Take certain phrases from the poem and insert them over the track. Experiment with putting accents in different places and slowing down words to increase the intensity. It is also recommended to add puns or double entendres. Make sure that the flow of the rap blends in with the beat – create tension and/or release at certain points to maintain listener interest.

Finally, when all the components of your rap have been planned and edited, begin to practice. This part of the rapid writing process plays a large role in crafting your own style. How you deliver your rap can make a big difference to the overall impact of your song. Therefore, a lot of the practice should involve learning to adapt the tone and vocal delivery to bring the lyrics to life. Using pauses, dynamics and emotional expression will make your poem come alive as a rap.

Creating Your Own Flow

Rap is all about dynamism and creative expression. In order to make your work stand out, you should strive to create a unique flow for each rap that you produce. To begin, think about the overall cadence of your rap. It is preferably to avoid a monotone vocal delivery; rap is about creating contrast – so experiment with changing the intonation and flow between the verses. Where appropriate, speed up and slow down different parts of the rap and add memorable musical embellishments.

Another useful strategy is to use alliteration and/or assonance to create interesting vocal melodies and enhance the imagination of listeners. This could involve repeating the same first letter of a string of successive words, or using vowel sounds and extended consonants to repeat patterns throughout. Finally, make sure you think about the enunciation of the words you are using. The clarity of the words and syllables will play an important role in dictating the flow of your rap.

You should also consider using metaphors and similes to expand your ideas and communicate more effectively. The use of these will ensure that your listener’s imagination is engaged and allow you to express your thoughts in richer detail. The key to effective use of metaphors and similes is to simplify a fairly involved concept into a metaphor that’s vivid, relatable, and still conveys the same meaning. For example, instead of saying ‘I feel so unfulfilled in my job’, you could say something such as ‘My job is like a ship adrift’.

As well as writing material for your rap, you should also think about the vibes that you are creating with your music. To achieve this, explore different soundscapes and create a jingle or memorable theme – this can take the form of a vocal chant or a simple chime. Make sure that whatever sound you go for, it adds something to the overall feeling of the rap.

Making a Powerful Impact

In order to truly capture the emotions of your poem, powerful visuals and information should be present in the rap. When it comes to the lyrics, you need to have an engaging content which can quickly catch the attention of the audience. Puns and jokes are always effective, as are visual metaphors and adrenaline-packed words which create a sense of intensity. Make sure to add moments of authenticity and surprise that make people take a second look at their life.

When it comes to the music, choose instruments and sound effects which support the story. For example, if you’re describing a nostalgic moment, opt for a languid guitar riff which complements the narrative. Additionally, if you’re discussing something serious, a tense drone in the background can effectively convey a sense of drama. But most importantly, use melodic rhythms and rhythms to create the ebullience essential to hip-hop anthems.

When it comes to the chorus or hook, this is your golden opportunity to make a powerful statement. An effective chorus should quickly summarise the message of your rap in an attention-grabbing way. Make sure to repeat it a few times throughout the beat to reinforce it in the listeners’ minds. Additionally, make sure it’s catchy and easy to remember. For example, you could use catchy words which rhyme with each other, or employ unexpected vocal turns to make the chorus stand out.

Using Refrain and Verse

As with classical poetry, rap tunes can also employ a verse and refrain structure. This is an effective way to keep your listener engaged, as it encourages anticipation and offers variation in the song. For example, you could use the same few bars to introduce the rap and explain the main idea, followed by a verse that builds on the initial thesis or provides more detail. You could then return to the initial refrain to provide a solid and satisfying conclusion to the song.

When constructing a verse, it is important to consider the elements which make it unique. If you’re constructing a 16-bar verse, aim to introduce the main idea in the first 8 bars, and the second 8 bars should fill in the details and provide examples to illustrate your point. Similarly, a 32-bar verse should mostly be focused on progressing the story and elaborating on the concept. Again, remember to use your rhetorical skills to enhance the story and keep the listener engaged.

Additionally, when writing your rap, consider the background beat as an integral part of the song. The beat should provide an effective backdrop to your words and emphasise the most powerful parts. For example, the beat could drop or pause to emphasise moments of heartfelt emotion, or start powerful when talking about a triumph. A beat should primarily support the rhyme you have written and keep pushing the story forward.

Tying Everything Together

When it comes to producing a great rap, remember to keep your ideas simple and use vivid language. Rhymes effectively create a bridge between words which helps listeners to create vivid images in their minds. Also remember to experiment with vocal delivery and structure to create an effective flow – this will truly make your rap stand out.

Finally, when producing your own rap, there is no definitive way to make the poem ‘fit’ the rap – you should focus on the words themselves and let the flow dictate how the song moves forward. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, by following the steps listed here, you will be able to successfully turn your poem into a rap that resonates with listeners.

Creative Storytelling

In order to make your rap truly unique, one of the most important skills you need to develop is creative storytelling. This involves expressing vivid images, feelings and facts in a powerful way that captivates and engages your audience. Creative storytelling requires you to think outside the box and to interrupt thought processes, as well as contrast and compare concepts or characters.

To hone this skill, observe the language used by rap stars and spoken word artists and take note of how they wrap everyday experiences into intricate stories. Also, understand how to draw your listener into a surreal mental world and design characters with distinct characteristics and behaviours. Additionally, make sure you know how to effectively use rhyming words to bind the story and transform mundane moments into something more meaningful.

When choosing the topics for your story, go for something exciting and relatable. For example, you could rap about overcoming adversity or the effects of your surroundings on your life. Make sure there is a twist or a moral to the story – you can use this to effectively encourage the listener to reflect on same ideas and look into their own life.

Engaging With Your Audience

In order to make your rap song really stand out, engagement with the audience is essential. Your idea should be driven forward by a narrative that creates positive energy; you need to make sure that the audience will be able to feel and relate to your story. Make sure to invite the audience to join in, and also allow space for crowds to shout as a response.

In order to do this effectively, create effective call and response points in your rap. You can ask questions or give inspiring quotes to the audience – a great example of this style is Puff Daddy’s 1997 hit ‘Can’t nobody hold me down’. You could also use crowd sounds and vocal chants to increase the excitement levels, as well as encouraging audience participation and clapping.

Finally, if you’re performing in front of an audience, interact with them to create a shared experience. Point out special individuals in the crowd, and make sure to thank your crowd for their attention and support. This will create a bond between you and your audience, and make your performance more memorable.

Minnie Walters

Minnie Walters is a passionate writer and lover of poetry. She has a deep knowledge and appreciation for the work of famous poets such as William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and many more. She hopes you will also fall in love with poetry!

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