How to Write a Rap Poem

Rap lyrics have often been used in the classroom to teach the elements of rhyme and structure in poetry, particularly to younger students. Rap lyrics, without the music, often offer some of the best examples of solid poetry writing. By combining typical rap subject matter with a strong rhyme scheme and musical meter, you can write verse that stands alone as a poem or works just as well against a musical backdrop.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pen

Instructions

1. Write subject matter appropriate to rap themes. While there are no rules regarding content of a rap poem, preserve the authenticity of your rap poetry by writing about urban topics, whether positive or negative, and social or political issues. Steer clear of inappropriate topics when you use rap structure to teach poetry to children.

2. Write with a set musical rhythm and rhyme scheme. According to author Bruce Lansky, a good way to count rap rhythm is "a ONE and a TWO and a THREE and a FOUR" structure, with the emphasis falling on the capitalized words. When reading a rap poem, the capitalized word represent the stressed syllables of a rap poem.

3. Rhyme as often as you can, primarily on the end words, although internal rhymes work well in a rap poem as well. Here's and example of end line rhymes:

   I be-LIEVE in LOVE and we KNOW it's TRUE
   There's a GIRL for me and a GUY for YOU.

   Continue this rhyme scheme throughout your stanza (usually four to eight lines long), with the end word of each line rhyming. This example contains an internal rhyme as well, in the first line. The words "no" and "dough" rhyme.

References

• Scholastic: Teaching Poetry Through Rap
• Poetry Teachers: How to Write Giggle Rap
• Reading A-Z: Rap Teacher Lesson