Feb 16, 2013

How to of the Day: How to Rap

How to of the Day
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How to Rap
Feb 16th 2013, 12:00

Rapping is a key ingredient in hip hop music and reggae, and has worked itself into mainstream and alternative rock music as well. It is generally spoken to a beat, either with backing music or a capella. Rap is a complex mix of influences, and includes elements of speech, prose, poetry, and song. If you appreciate the art form, have some talent, and want to learn how to rap, this article will help you build the foundation that will allow you to grow into a world-class rapper. Read on!

Edit Steps

Sample Rap Song


Learning to Rap

  1. Learn rhythm basics. Rap has more in common with traditional poetry than you might think. Take some time to learn about different meters and rhymes, and develop a "body feel" for the rhythm. If your brain and body are not conscious and in tune with the beat, your rap will feel stiff and unnatural.
    • Consider using beatboxing as a tool to learning rhythm—not only will this help you understand rhythm, but it will be a useful technique once you start rapping yourself.
  2. Listen to rap. Listening to rap music will help expose you to the different types within the genre. In addition, constant exposure will help tune your ear for when you begin to rap on your own.
    • You don't need to limit your listening to only rap. Sometimes you'll be able to draw creativity and inspiration from other genres.
  3. Rap along. Memorize the words to your favorite rap song and rap along in your earbuds, in your stereo, in your car, etc. Do it loud, and do it with confidence! Try to rap along until you have every word memorized and (more importantly) you can hit all the beats correctly.
  4. Rap with music. See if you can find the instrumental track of the rap song that you've got memorized. If not, find one that's similar. You can download rap instrumentals from many places online. Practice the verses you've memorized over the instrumental beat. Again, do your best to stay on-beat. This will help you learn how to keep a rhythm and tempo.
    • Once you're able to perform the rap song that you've memorized fairly consistently over the instrumental beat, try to adapt it to another beat. Pick one with a different sound and possibly a different tempo. Again, you can find rap beats online in many places. The point here is that you are working on becoming adaptive to the music that you are rapping on.
  5. Rap a cappella. Once you have mastered rapping along to a beat, trying rapping the song completely by yourself. If you can do this correctly for many songs, it's safe to say you've mastered rhythm and staying on-beat.
    • Practice by just reading the lyrics. Then, read the lyrics like you're trying to get a raise from your boss. Try to get it on the beat. Imagine when you are rapping that you are doing it in front of someone you know well and respect. Don't try to make your voice sound like someone you're not. Relax.
  6. Rap your own lyrics. Once you feel comfortable rapping on different beats, start to make up rhymes of your own. No need to worry about what you are rapping about, just pick out things that you see around you.
    • Write at least 10 rhymes a day. Even if you don't like what you've written, later on you could come back and re-word those rhymes into something you do like. When you finally like what you're hearing, test them in front of your friends and see what they think.
  7. Rap with buddies. Find some people who like to rap also and take turns making raps together. It's easier to get creative when you can get inspired and feed off of somebody else's flow.
  8. Practice, practice, practice. Listen to rap as much as you can, analyze it in your head, and draw inspiration from everything. Successful rapping takes hours and hours of practice, so you should do whatever you can whenever you can.
    • Make a rap journal. Keep track of your raps, and practice them out of the journal. Carry it everywhere so that when inspiration strikes, you have a place to write your thoughts down.
  9. Figure out what makes you special. You don't need to have an ingenuine or cookie-cutter answer to this question, but don't try to be just like another rapper, even if they're one of the best. In order to do well, you will need to introduce something fresh to the industry.
  10. Learn how to rap effectively. Beyond good lyrics and attention to rhythm, there are a few techniques you can use to be better understood and get your message across.
    • Stress the consonants. If you try to rap the way you talk, it won't be comprehensible.
    • Keep your words clear. It's tempting to mumble when you begin to rap; pay attention to keeping your words sharp.
    • Rhythm is more important than rhyme. Don't stumble or stop if your freestyle doesn't rhyme—just stay on-beat and everything will be fine.
    • Be able to think about your next line while still giving 100% to the line you're currently rapping.
    • Be loud! While being too loud is never a good thing, it's important to both literally and metaphorically be heard.
  11. Perform. Be proactive about finding gigs and showing yourself off. Start small—perform to little groups of your peers and get feedback. When you feel comfortable with that, start looking around for open mics where you can perform.

  12. Make connections. As you get better, you'll want to start networking with people who can pay you for gigs—bar and club owners, other rappers, agents, or record label company employees. The more connections you have, the more likely you are to make it big.

Specific Rap Articles

  1. Start rapping. This article can help you get going.
  2. Select your stage name. It should reflect your style and personality.
  3. Learn how to make your own beats. Several online tools exist to help you accomplish this.
  4. Keep improving. As your talents develop, work hard to get even better.
  5. Start writing your own lyrics. Rapping your own songs will help you connect more to the material.
  6. Get into freestyle rapping. It takes time to develop your freestyling skill, but it's a valuable technique to know.
  7. Survive a freestyle battle. As you gain confidence in your rapping, start participating in battles.just be cool :)

Edit Tips

  • Try rapping to slow-flowing songs before trying to rap quickly.
  • Get started improving your vocabulary.
  • Download rap instrumentals like you would download regular songs.
  • Don't think a word can only rhyme if it's spelled the same. It's all about your flow and delivery.
  • Ask your rap buddies to judge your raps.

Edit Warnings

  • Don't steal other rappers' styles or lyrics, but learn from them and incorporate their style into yours.
  • Be careful with racial, sexist, or hate lyrics or anything that can get you in trouble.

Edit Related wikiHows

Edit Sources and Citations

  • LetsBeef.com is a website that allows you to freestyle battle over real beats.
  • Spoken vs. Written Spoken vs. Written is dedicated to the independent art of Rhyme.
  • Check The Technique - book that breaks down classic Hip-Hop albums, and has insights into writing rap songs.
  • Can't Stop Won't Stop - book on history of Hip-Hop and how the genre evolved.

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