How to Make Up a Rap Chorus

Grab your audience with a catchy rap chorus.

Writing your own music and lyrics can be a labor of love. While writing raps can be a lot of fun, it can also be a source of frustration. The chorus of a rap is the most important component of the song. It is meant to grab your audience and also express the main themes that emerge from the song's lyrics. The chorus is the part of the song that listeners tend to remember.

Things You'll Need

• Tape recorder

Instructions

Write a Rap Chorus

1. Look to the lyrics of your verses to help determine your chorus. Examine your lyrics to see what themes emerge. For example, if you are telling a story about a tough situation you have experienced with your friends or family in the verses, a few themes you can choose to focus on in the chorus could include how much you care for your loved ones or how you will sacrifice all for others. Develop a clear connection between the verses and chorus so that all the pieces of the song are related or connected.

2. Determine a rhyme scheme. The chorus is also known as the hook. It should be ear-catching and memorable to your audience.

3. Build into your chorus and end on a bang. Start the chorus with your beats in mind. When you reach the end of the chorus, you can change by speeding your rapping tempo up to impress your audience or by slowing down to emphasize a particular phrase.

4. Experiment with your chorus. Contemporary rappers utilize melodies and harmonies in their choruses by mixing rapping with singing. You can ask a female singer to accompany you on the choruses. You can also experiment with programs such as Autotune which change the intonation of your voice.

5. Test drive your raps with others. Ask a friend for feedback or attend an open mic night at a local music venue. Discover what your audience liked and disliked and adjust accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

• Have a notebook you use just for writing lyrics. Ideas can come at any time, so it's best to prepared.

• Take notes on your favorite rappers and songs. Pinpoint the techniques they use that seem successful.

• Don't give up easily. Writing raps can get easier with time, practice and persistence.

References

• Dub Culture: How to Make a Rap Chorus
• Make a Rap Song: How to Make a Rap Song Like a Pro
• The State of Hip Hop: How to Write a Solid 16 Bar Verse

Resources

• Rap Monster: How to Write Rap Lyrics