Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Write the text
• Part 2 of 3: Choose a Rhythm
• Part 3 of 3: Putting It All Together
• Tips
• Warnings

Of course, every creative person can create their masterpieces in completely different ways. However, if you are struggling to write music, it can be helpful to start off with some basic points. To write a rap song, follow our instructions.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Write the text

1. 1 Brainstorm. Listening to the rhythm over and over again, allow yourself to improvise out loud to open all the creative floodgates. Don't touch pen and paper for a while, just improvise. When you feel like you're ready, make a list of phrases, rhymes, and any potential pieces of text that come to your mind. Let inspiration flow into the songwriting process.
   • Allow ideas to form and accumulate. Take a notebook with you everywhere, in case you have an insight in transport, at work or while shopping - you can catch the moment and fix your find.
2. 2 Write a hook. If you were working on a term paper, you would start with the basics. But this is a rap song, so start with the hook (better known as the chorus). The hook not only has to reflect the theme of the song, but more importantly, be unique and catchy.A good hook becomes the basis for other elements of the song — rhythm or lyrics — so don't stop at things that don't get you going.
   • If you find it difficult to compose something right off the bat, paraphrase your favorite line from another song. The main thing is not to copy anything directly, otherwise you may have legal difficulties.
3. 3 Build up your text mass. Pick key points from your brainstorming list and put them in the lyrics. Naturally, this is where your rhyme and poetry skills come in handy. If you're already a seasoned rapper, use your strengths. If you're good at metaphors, fill your text with metaphors. If you are a born storyteller, let the words become history.
   • Don't make yourself difficult. The biggest mistake possible is when, out of a desire to say something, the text is filled with abstract ideas. Be specific. Use clear words, clear phrases, and specific imagery to ground your idea.
4. 4 Be convincing. Some people take a "I can rap on any topic I want!" Approach, but it's best not to sing about the worldwide cocaine smuggling empire if you are a teenager from a quiet sleeping area. Also, don't forget - even though popular rappers write about certain topics, having those topics doesn't make your rap better or worse. The Beastie Boys rapped great - talented, unique and highly creative - about parties and skateboarding, even though they did not touch on traditional topics and did not fit into the classic image of rappers.
   • If you really want to rap about something you don't do yourself, try to exaggerate as much as possible what you write about. Feel free to inflate the topic and exaggerate to the point of madness. Don't use this method too often, and definitely not on serious songs, but sometimes it can be a lot of fun. Get creative.
5. 5 Edit, edit and re-edit. Unless you're a high-end rapper who can create song magic on the fly, chances are your first song will be far from perfect. This is fine. The first version of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" had 20 pages of lyrics and sounded terrible. When you first start work, record everything that appears in the process. But in the future, you need to transform the results of your creativity into acceptable text.
   • Concentrate on the most memorable lines and images, and discard anything that doesn't fit the theme, tone, or story. If you find it difficult to determine what is right and what is not, try recording the song from memory without peeking into the lyrics. This is a kind of litmus test - what you cannot remember is most likely the weak part of the text, and you better replace it with stronger material.
   • On average, a song usually contains 2-3 verses of 16-20 measures each and 3-4 chorus repeats, the number of lines of which may vary. Try to keep within this volume.

Part 2 of 3: Choose a Rhythm

1. 1 Select a preset rhythm (beat). In most cases, in the process of creating a song, the melody is born before the lyrics. In the same way, rappers most often create a rhythm and get used to it, and only then write lyrics to it. Of course, every rapper has a number of rhymed lines in stock, which in themselves can serve as a basis, however, to create a song, first of all, you need a rhythm. Starting with it, you can be sure that the sound of the song is natural and that the lyrics are suitable for the given music.
   • Find a program on the Internet that allows you to create rhythms, listen to a few for an example and choose the ones that you like. Experiment with the different Styles found in the program to create your own original sound.
   • Even if you already have a rough idea of ​​what song or lyrics you would like to write, try to find at least three rhythm variations before finally choosing one. The process of bringing together idea, text and music is not easy. Don't try to speed it up.
2. 2 Try to compose your own rhythm. You can use a computer or audio equipment for this. You can even just record your own beatbox for inspiration.
   • Start by choosing a solo from your favorite R&B or soul song. In the late 60s, The Meters were a relatively little-known jazz band from New Orleans. Popularity has brought them "citation" in many famous rap songs. Record the beat on your computer using GarageBand or another free program.
   • Create beats with a programmable drum machine. Canonical in this sense is the Roland TR-808, which was used to record many classic hip-hop and rap tracks. It features a wide variety of bass drums, pedal cymbals, ratchets, and other percussion sounds that can be programmed to create different patterns. In addition, all of these rhythms can be processed on a computer.
3. 3 Decide on a melody to match the selected rhythm. Add a melody by composing accompaniment on the synthesizer, or match a melody to an existing song. Listen to the song several times until the melody is clearly remembered. Try to hear it from different angles to find your own variation. It can be your starting point for creating the chorus in a song, and then the whole lyrics.
   • Write down the "draft track". To the rhythm, sing the melody in "mmm" or "la-la-la" in different versions and write down the one you like the most. It doesn't matter how well you sing, as this recording is for you only. Just allow yourself to experiment with the rhythm and match the melody to it without thinking about the words.
4. 4 Before you settle on one rhythm, listen to as many variations as possible. Some rhythms are incendiary, you want to dance to them and in this style you can compose rap for a party. And other rhythms can be very heavy and serious social or political texts are born under them. As you listen to the rhythms, imagine which song would appear under one or the other, and choose the one that matches your idea of ​​the song.
   • Perhaps, listening to the rhythm, you have no idea what kind of song it will be, and there is nothing wrong with that either. Listen to yourself. If the rhythm catches you, it's time to start writing the song.

Part 3 of 3: Putting It All Together

1. 1 Structure the song. Now that you have an idea of ​​how the final version of your song should sound, combine the verses into verses (16 measures each). You can start each verse with almost any part of the text, but it is best to end with a line that carries the main idea. Then there will be no feeling as if the poems were hanging in the air. A popular song structure is as follows:
   • introduction;
   • verse;
   • chorus;
   • verse;
   • chorus;
   • verse;
   • loss;
   • chorus;
   • code.
2. 2 Read and improve your rap. Practice singing a song to your chosen rhythm to bring out irregularities and refine the lyrics to perfection. Cross out unnecessary words, then cross out more. Remember, rap is not your Russian language homework; use only those words that are intended to convey the main idea, nothing more. Don't be afraid to add one or two pauses, they can also often emphasize the importance of certain lyrics in a song.
3. 3 Memorize the song. Read the text until you remember where to catch your breath and until you feel sick. Until that moment comes, consider that you are not yet ready to play your song for the public.
4. 4 Record a song. Either find a producer to help organize the recording and release of the disc, or act as the producer yourself.
   • Upload the song to SoundCloud. Create a SoundCloud account, complete your profile and upload the song. Don't forget to add hashtags. Go there every day to get attention and answer questions that may be sent to you.

Tips

• If you can't come up with a good text, don't despair! Get distracted, go for a walk, listen to some more music, and return to your text with a new space for ideas.
• Never give up! Just learn to let your inner rapper out and then one day you will be a pro.
• Try to appeal to your own experience, as it always sounds more emotional. Do not rap on abstract topics that are interesting only to individuals and do not affect people's lives. Reflect on your own experiences and joys. Try to rap about something that deeply affects you.
• Don't be afraid to be different. To create something great, you need your own style and unique approach.
• Listen to the rapper within you to determine what works best. If you don’t know what to say, remember that the key idea lies beyond concepts such as mind and memory. Produce new sounds, create a new language at last. Remember your favorite performers, perhaps your inspiration lies in this plane.
• You don't need to buy FL Studio to get started. There are many free audio editors (like Audacity) that you can use to make music. If you have a Mac, you can use Garageband, which lets you record on the spot without additional gadgets. Plus, there are a range of low-cost deals like FL Studio, MTV Music Generator, Tightbeatz, Soundclick, and Hip Hop Ejay. At the same time, nothing has been invented better than live music, so if you have friends who play guitar, bass, drums, synthesizer and percussion, invite them and try to create something interesting together.
• If you need help writing lyrics, use the online lyric writing tool.
• Add color to the rhythm using drum transitions or solos (for example, before a chorus or verse).
• Listen to Eminem - before you have time to look back, words begin to appear in your head.

Warnings

• Don't allow yourself to criticize other rappers, at least until you master freestyle, develop a unique style, and come across as the author of the best lyrics.