Introduction: How to Write a Rap

This is my instructable on how to write a rap, if you don't read my instructable, your lyrics will be crap. Word.

In my animation class, a friend and I decided to write a rap about our class (entitled "Animation Station"), and include a line or two about each student and a characteristic of them. It was originally just to get everybody involved in our own project and has now escalated into creating a music video with all of us in it (stop motion animation). 

Step 1: Materials

The following materials will be beneficial, to help create a rap that's special.
*
optional

pen&paper (to record)
computer or ipod (for the beat/musical inspiration)
a friend* (writing with a friend is much easier&you have someone to bounce ideas off of)

rhyming dictionary

Step 2: Create a Rapper Name

Every good rapper got a name, to shine in lights when they get hit with the fame.


Before you write your rap you need a name to publish it under. Some people use their real full names like, Kanye West. Some people use a middle name like Drake (Audrey Drake Graham). While some people use random names that literally are untraceable to their real names, like Classified (Luke Boyd). In my case I belong to a 'rap gang' which goes by kR3w. kr3w consists of three members currently: Pawesome, Tigrrr & Cheese.

An Example of a rap name choice by my teacher:



A good site to help pick a rap name is: http://www.myrapname.com/

Step 3: Pick a Theme

Every good rap starts off with a theme, keep it mainstream.

It's easiest to write a rap, when you have a basic theme. Using current events can also help. Audiences also identify better with them because they are involved in their everyday life. Try to rap about your enviroment, ie., if you are going to rap about a town, hangout in that town and let the things come to you. If you can't be in the place, listening to music can also help. My inspirational music is usually Spice Girls or Aqua but you could pick anything. I'd avoid listening to other raps so you don't end up copyrighting their song.

Step 4: Brainstorm

You gotta brainstorm, before you write and start to preform.

Write down any ideas, possible lines, and beats. Come up with some basic rhymes that relate to your topic. In example, if you are rapping about your school, write down some words that describe your school and find rhymes for them. A list of these rhymes can be beneficial in the long run and help you come up with ideas of verses.

Step 5: Pick or Create a Beat

Get a beat, that would succeed on Wall street.

Picking a beat is an essential part of writing a rap. Before you start writing your rap, you need to know which beat you are using. This is because you need to make sure that your lyrics will flow with your beat. Listening to the beat while writing will also help make sure that the two line up right and don't make the song sound like a train wreck. 

Step 6: Create the 1st Verse&chorus

You don't want your writing to be whack, you want listeners to coming back.

You need a very interesting first verse. This is the first thing that your listener will hear and base their opinion on. If you don't have a great beginning verse, listeners won't want to continue listening to your song. It should draw the listener in and make them want to listen to your tracks and share them. You want your chorus to be catchy so that it becomes popular. If you have a poorly worded or poorly written chorus it's less likely to be remember and/or liked by the audience. 

Step 7: Write the Rest of the Rap

Now it's time to finish, your rap don't gotta be proper english.

After you've created the main parts of the rap (in the previous steps), it's time to fill in the blanks and finish the rap. This can be the easiest part. You don't have to make a overally long rap if you don't feel up to it. Just enough for it to actually be considered a song. I'd say a minimum of a minute and a half. Now put it all together.

Step 8: Helpful Hints

Just a few tips to help you with your rap:

-A good rhyming resourse: www.rhymer.com

-A very well written rap: "Oh... Canada" By Classified: 



-Don't try and make your first rap too complicated, you can escalate over time.

-If you start to get frusterated just take a break, rushing through it will make a bad rap.

-Make sure that the words all flow (rap it while you're writing it)

-Practice lots before you do record it

-My very first rap: 



^well written rap, however, we didn't practice enough and it wasn't as great as it could have been.