How to Make Good Hip-Hop Hooks

This may come as a surprise, but writing a great hip-hop hook is a pretty basic task. The best hip-hop hooks are simple and are often written in a matter of minutes. "Simplify your hook and be creative," said Dizzy, a St. Louis, Missouri rapper. "There doesn't have to be a lot going on. Just make a hook that people can relate to." Concentrate and follow these steps and you'll have a catchy chorus for your hip-hop song. In reality, most successful hip-hop hooks are adult nursery rhymes.

Things You'll Need

• Pen
• Notepad
• Instrumental hip-hop track
• iPod, Mac, PC or CD player

Instructions

Writing a Catchy Hip-Hop Hook

1. Isolate yourself in a quiet room. If you have a songwriting partner, have him join you.

2. Take out your pen and notepad and write the title of your song at the top of your first page. Scribble some lyrics on the page if you already have words in mind.

3. Write down words that rhyme with the title of your song.

4. Create some nursery rhymes using the rhyming words you wrote down. Recite aloud each and every word you wrote down.

5. Decide which rhymes you like best and form a sentence. Write this sentence down on your notepad.

6. Turn on an instrumental hip-hop track and recite your sentence aloud multiple times over the beat. If you are satisfied with the synergy of the track and your words, then you have a good hip-hop hook.

Tips & Warnings

• Feel free to change the title of your song once you have created your hook.

• Short song titles are the easiest to make hooks to. All you have to do is find words that rhyme with your song title. For instance, the name of this fictional song is "My Strawberry" so the hook goes like this: "I love my strawberry and her name is Carrie. I love my strawberry and her name is Carrie. I love my strawberry and her name is Carrie."

• If you can repeat a rhyming sentence three consecutive times, then you have a successful hip-hop hook.

• Do not surround yourself with other people while you are attempting to write your hook. You won't be able to concentrate, and someone in the room could try and steal your ideas.

References

• Rap Music.com: The Ultimate Hip-Hop Site