How to Write Rap Songs

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

How To Write Rap Songs.
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Composing rap lyrics is infinitely more difficult than removing a stray bullet from ones leg. It is easy to presume the contrary because too often the literal context of ‘rhymes-bustin’ crudely assaults the eardrums and that part of the brain that does the thinking. Vulgar, senseless and inconsiderate yammerings set to really dope beats should come to mind. At least, if it’s done right. Hip Hop declarations worth their weight in illegal downloads, are designed to be harmonious in content, yet unique in execution. This is the well-concealed reality snuggling the underbelly of hip-hop expression: keeping it real and keeping it raw and making sure you get paid. Contrary to first appearances, rap lyric content is very carefully planned out. Occasionally even thought out. Therefore one should never underestimate the amount of time required to come up with an acceptable rhyme-sheet. Stab-Wounds recording artist Peewee Snot-Knot holds the Guinness World Record for spending the most time composing words for a rap song: 45 minutes. Clearly this is not a creative expression for the artistically impatient.
Step 2

From humble beginnings to tragic endings, rap lyrics tell a story. No matter how tedious, insipid, or purely pointless. It is always a deeply vexing problem ranting about a usually dreadful truth. It will most likely be a precarious urban tale consisting of “bitches”, “hoes”, pimped-out rides, guns, the POE-lease, and of course lots and lots of BLING. The montage of these seemingly tragic ingredients is where the true story ultimately prevails and hopefully a contract, money, and bubble booty women soon follow. Remember, rap is all about drama. And we all know what papa Hemmingway said: “All good drama ends in death.” True as this might be, it is a rule that can be broken if camouflaged carefully. Often a song can end with a simple fiery car-crash or a long overdue and much deserved beating like the hit: Bitch Stole Ma Money, That’s Her Ass.
Determining what to “write” about is the ever-abounding challenge. A safe place to begin is drawing from what you know or eye-witnessed. If you have spent even a modicum of time in the ghetto, you doubtlessly have a plethora of eye-popping stories you could cleverly inveigle dramatic lyrics from. Ya just don’t know it yet. Remember the four year old down the block that deliberately shot her father in the ‘B-hind’ with his own 22? What about the 87 year old blind nun who sold crack in the projects to raise money for the church? And don’t forget that joy-filled month you spent in the hole at Riker’s Island. These are all utterly priceless personal experiences to inspire creative thinking. Private relationships are also great sources of ideas. Think. Exactly what were the events that lead up to your woman stabbing you on Valentines Day? Explore that. Free-style some stuff about it. You could have a hit song on your hands.
The important thing to remember is, there are literally countless subjects to rap about. The only warning I’d offer is, stay away from politics. Not only will you not be signed to a label, but also you will ultimately depress whatever fickle audience you do have, right out of a career. It is a tear-jerking reality, but the days of rap music being used to raise social awareness about racism, government corruption, economic oppression and decaying moral values are long gone. All we have left fighting the battle is Chuck D. And the man has got to be getting tired. If you insist on keeping it politically real, there is always a micro-chance you might get signed to a label, but you will never get air
Step 3

When examining the life around you for ideas, don’t forget to exploit the gift of exaggeration as an workable option. This concept is particularly beneficial to a white person who may lack any bona fide experience with racist cops or gang violence. Pretty much any mundane experience can become exciting when the ingenious art of embellishment comes into play. For example, dad lost his wallet while the whole family was on vacation in The Netherlands. Consequently nobody had a cent for 24 hours. You could change that minor inconvenience into a full blown adventure for your song. Now, dear old dad knocks over a bank while the family is on a road-trip to break your uncle Leroy out of prison. From the blueprint in this state of affairs, you could effortlessly add all manner of senseless drama. Being shot at, inter-family fist-fights, getting chased by the cops or even pimp slapping a wino for his money.
Exemplar numero dos: Say your girlfriend dumps you for another guy. Your already frail ego is smashed into microscopic fragments and your now loveless heart is broken. You have my sympathies. But, honestly, it’s pretty weak stuff to rap about. But if you bend the misfortune towards the psychotic. Just a bit. Now she has left you for another woman! Okay? You subsequently loose your mind, run down the girlfriend and bust a cap in you ex’s ass! Now you’ve got something to rap about. Encounters with the police are always a good place to begin or end a story. But it’s always safer to paint a picture of a cop-killing rather than a story about a police officer beating the **** out of you. Nobody likes a victim.
The language used to invent lyrics is tantamount to your success. If you happen to be philosophically, and socially uncomfortable with referring to women as bitches and ho’s, you need to get off your pseudo-middle-class values ass and grow up. Clearly the general public is not too concerned about such allusions in music. If however you refer to a female in real life as a bitch or a ho, expect to get cut.

The End

How To Write Rap Songs and all contents in the collection titled You Always Hurt The One You Love are protected under the law by the United States Copyright office. Any publication, public performance, duplication or recording is prohibited without the written permission of the author Gaz O’Connor. Copyright 2005 1,000 words This is uncorrected proof.

Comments

frankhuranku said

on 11/12/2009 -Speak tongue twisters as fast and distinct as possible.
-Rapping fast & rapping well are 2 different things.
-Expiriment with the feeling in your voice, sometimes you will flow and the words will come out like water, sometimes you will flow and you can chop up the words and make it sound harder and angrier.
-Listen to Tech N9ne, he raps fast, and well.