How to Phrase Raps Over Beats

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By delorean88
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Many people want to rap, but lack the specific instruction to phrase their raps over beats. This process includes writing lines of proper length, counting bars, and rapping at the correct tempo for the song.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A simple rap beat
Written rap lyrics

Step 1

First, learn how to count along to a rap beat. All rap beats are in 4/4 time. Listen to the "pulse" of the song, and count 1-2-3-4 over and over along with the beat. This is important because all elements of a rap song can be broken down into the "1-2-3-4" of a beat.
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Step 2

Now you are ready to count 1-2-3-4, 2-2-3-4, 3-2-3-4, 4-2-3-4 over and over with the beat
Step 3

Count along with a rap song you enjoy. Chances are you'll count 1-2-3-4, four to eight times before the rap starts, thirty-two times during the verses, and eight or sixteen times during the hook or chorus.
Step 4

Write down some lyrics. Rap lyrics average around 10 syllables a line. For each verse of rap you write, you should have 16 lines of lyrics.

Hooks, the lyrics in between the verses are shorter, and around four to eight lines if they are rapped and not sung.

The amount of lines you write should always be divisible by four. Four, eight, (rarely twelve), sixteen lines, are the most common lengths of raps, hooks, and choruses.
Step 5

Now it's time to rap over your beat. One line of rap is rapped for every two counts of 1-2-3-4. The syllables of your written words should generally fall on the beats, just like the 1-2-3-4 did. Each line starts at (or right before) the 1 of the 1-2-3-4. Words you wish to emphasize should fall more strongly on the beat. Words like "the" and "and" shouldn't be emphasized on the beat. The first half of your line falls on the first 1-2-3-4, the second half of your line falls on the second half of the 1-2-3-4.
Step 6

Most people have rapped along to their favorite artist's songs. However, because the artist is always rapping along with you, it doesn't help you to rap on your own.

Play a rap song you enjoy, and count "1-2-3-4" along with it. Observe when the artist starts rapping, how many times you count "1-2-3-4" for each verse, etc.
To better understand how they rap, write down the lyrics to a rap song in your own handwriting, divided into lines. Observe the line length and rhyme placement. Write 1, 2, 3, or 4 over the words that fall on the specific beats.

How to Phrase Raps Over Beats

Things You'll Need:

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