Complete Guide to Writing Rap/Hip Hop Lyrics

One of the first things you need to know to be successful at writing hip hop/ rap lyrics is flow. The flow is the rhythm in which your words meet the instrumental. For instance, if the rhythm of the instrumental has a faster drum sequence then your lyrics are going to have to be faster paced, in order for your lyrics to splice well over the beat. One of the best ways to distinguish your flow is to listen to popular hip hop songs, and use a mc flows as a reference. Remember, always be original, and NEVER copy the flow from another song. I'm simply telling you to use the song as a reference Intel you get a feel for how to flow on curtain instrumentals. Another way is trial and error. Write lyrics, and try them on various beats Intel you find one that clashes correctly. To tell that you've found the right one just listen, and if it sounds like the rhythm of your lyrics “rides” the rhythm of the instrumental then you've found the right one.

Another important skill is rhyme scheme. Rhyme scheme is well, the scheme of rhymes you use through out the song. For example if in your first line/bar the lyrics are “I'm sicc with the mic/, your next line/bar will be something that not only rhymes, but rhymes is the same sequence. Example “I'm sicc with the mic/, I'm in a position to shine./ Notice how the second bar the rhyming is in the same pattern as the first. This is not required but makes the lines/ bars clash together better. In some songs the scheme stays the same throughout the whole song, others it changes frequently. It doesn't matter whether it changes on not, as long as you use the same scheme for four to eight lines/bars.

The next thing we are going to cover is topic. The topic of the song is what the song is about. In most rap/hip hop songs the key is to stay on topic. This not only makes the song sound better, but makes more sense for your general audience. Remember, the song cannot only make sense to you, it has to make sense to the people listening to it. Also its likely your songs are going to get more listeners if the topic applies to more people then just yourself. Common hip hop/ rap topics usually include violence, murder, theft, narcotics and extortion. Remember that your song doesn't have to contain any of these in order to be successful. Write about a struggles you deal with in everyday life, or a traumatic experience you had to endure. Something people can relate to that does promote or encourage violence.

Next we will cover Multies. Multies is a short term for multiple rhyming phrases. In the example I used above,(I'm sicc with the mic, I'm in a position to shine./) the multies are “sicc with the mic,/ sistion to shine. Once again this is not required but a helpful tool in writing lyrics. Most skilled rappers use multies because it makes the scheme of their lyrics more appealing. Also when done correctly it makes the flow easier to match with a instrumental. Multies are commonly found at the end of lines/bars, but can be placed anywhere throughout verses.

Another important skill in writing rap lyrics is metaphors/ wordplay. Metaphors are figures of speech used to refer to something else. For example the phrase “behind the times” refers to someone who is not up-to-date with anything current. Not someone who is literally placed behind time. Metaphors have been around since early poetry and are frequently used in everyday conversation. An example of a metaphor in a rap song is “ You couldn't drop the science, making Einstein skydive”-Define. “Drop the science being a common phrase for writing successful lyrics. Wordplay is the same thing as a metaphor, besides wordplay doesn't always contain a common phrase. Metaphors and wordplay are not always in rap songs, but can be used to spice them up. Another example of a metaphor/ wordplay is “like an armless janitor, you'll kick the bucket.” Most metaphors like this one start with “like”, or “as”.