How to Compose Rap Songs

Brainstorm. While listening to the background music on repeat, you should allow yourself to freely associate or even rapping in a free style, reading the rap verses aloud to let the creative essence be revealed. Do this step for a while, do not rush to write. When you feel ready, make a list of key ideas, unique artistic perspectives, or song lyrics that pop into your head. The above will guide and inspire you in the process of forming the song’s content.

• Incubate the idea for a while. Bring a notebook to jot down inspiration while you’re on the bus, at work, or at the grocery store. You can absolutely capture the potential good ideas to develop the song.

Write the “bait” song. Imagine that you are writing a thesis, first you need a thesis. However, since this is a rap song, it should start with the “bait” line (also known as the chorus). The “bait” lyrics not only outline the song’s theme, but more importantly, it must be easy to memorize and unique. A quality “bait” song often inspires other elements such as rhythm, lyrics, etc. So don’t settle for something that doesn’t help develop other ideas.

• If you’re having trouble composing impromptu, try learning from a favorite rap. Note that the entire work of another artist should not be copied as this could lead to legal trouble. The title track “Drop it like it’s hot” was originally a phrase that appeared on a Hot Boys single in the early 2000s, but Snoop Dogg turned it into a huge hit a few years later.

Focus on words . Pick the items from the created list that interest you and work on them. Of course, this is where the ability to write lyrics and rhyme is required. If you’re a seasoned rapper, do your best. Don’t be afraid to use metaphors if that’s your forte. If you have a knack for storytelling, let the lyrics reveal your narrative literary style.

• Don’t constrain yourself. The biggest mistake often made when writing lyrics is when you want to convey a “message”, you put in the song quite abstract concepts. Be clear, use specific words, expressions and images when writing lyrics so that the idea is always general and clear.

Believe in yourself. While some people have the attitude of “I can rap about anything I want!”, it is best to avoid rapping about cross-border drug trafficking organizations if you are just a young man coming in. from the suburbs. In addition, do not form in your mind that because famous rappers rap about certain areas, it becomes a measure of your rap art. Like the Beastie Boys, they rap about partying and skateboarding in a very creative, original, and talented way. They don’t necessarily rap about trendy topics or try to fit themselves into the stereotype of a traditional rapper.

• If you really want to rap about something you’ve never experienced, do your best not to make the rap stupid or boring. Try babbling, hyping it up like crazy. However, this is not always recommended, especially for serious songs. Be funny in a creative way.

Edit, edit and edit. The first draft doesn’t have to be the best one, unless you’re a world-class rapper who raps without tweaking the first time. Indeed, the first draft of Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rpling Stone” was 20 pages long and lousy. So, in the process of composing, write down everything you want freely, but then consider and select the most suitable words to make the lyrics easy to understand and highly effective.

• Focus on the words and images that stand out, removing any that don’t match the original theme, tone, or plot. If you’re wondering what to keep or throw away, try rewriting the lyrics from memory without looking at the original draft. This makes for efficient screening. You won’t be able to remember fuzzy ideas and have to use better ideas to fill in those gaps.
• Usually, a song will have 2 to 3 main lyrics in 16 to 20 beats and 3 to 4 chorus parts corresponding to a number of lines that can vary depending on each song. Try to orient your work according to the above parameters.