Today I'd like to share with you a very practical way of not only improving your rap freestyles but your songwriting as well using something called Rhyme lists. As the name implies, Rhyme Lists are simply a list of rhymes. The Struggle If you're freestyling off the dome your biggest struggle is going to be coming up with rhymes quickly before your bar runs out. In fact, while you're rapping one bar you should already be thinking of the word you're going to rhyme with it on the next bar. That Guy We've all heard that guy freestyling who keeps using the same words over and over … [Read more...] about How To Improve Your Rap Freestyles With Rhyme Lists
how to rap
Building Up The Confidence To Rap In Front Of Others
So you've been working hard on improving your rap skills in the privacy of your bedroom. But at what point should you step out and share your talent with the outside world? And how can you get rid of your fear of rapping in front of others before doing so? I'll be sure to cover all of that within this article so LET'S GET IT! Are You Ready? First things first. Before you start putting yourself out there you should spend some time developing your rap skills. You don't have to "master" the art of rapping first but you should at least be decent at rapping already. If you're not sure if … [Read more...] about Building Up The Confidence To Rap In Front Of Others
Double Time And Trap Beats Explained
If you've ever found yourself trying to rap over a "Trap" style instrumental you may have difficulty figuring out where the beats are landing at first. This is because the instrumental was likely produced in double time. In this lesson, I'll be breaking down what double time is and how it can influence your approach to writing your rap songs. So without further ado... LET'S GET IT!!! Double Time And Trap Beats Explained https://youtu.be/r5WjzkPkwdA Normal Time Now if you've watched any of my previous video lessons you've seen me break down normal time at nauseam. But if you happened to … [Read more...] about Double Time And Trap Beats Explained
So You Wanna Rap? Start By Understanding Bars
If you have recently found yourself-entertaining the thought of learning how to rap then it's crucial that you take your first steps carefully or you will likely find yourself waisting unnecessary time on things that don't matter...yet! In this lesson, I will help you get your footing by first understanding the main thing you need to know when you're getting started...BARS!!. LET'S GET IT!! https://youtu.be/tkqht4W62TI What Are Bars? Bars are simply a way that music is measured. In fact, another term for a Bar is a "measure". This makes it easier for us to communicate with others about … [Read more...] about So You Wanna Rap? Start By Understanding Bars
How To Write A Rap Song Using Storyboards
We've all experienced that moment when you attempt to write a song but "The Force" just isn't with you! Regardless if you're struggling to get your song started or are having difficulties staying on topic throughout the songwriting process using this simple Storyboard technique will prove to be an invaluable asset. Let's get straight to it, shall we? The picture below is a realistic example of how I use storyboards. I'll expound on each step so that you understand my thought process within each section. Music That Moves This is the first step. It's important to pick an instrumental … [Read more...] about How To Write A Rap Song Using Storyboards
The Four Bar Theory – How To Keep Your Listeners Hooked!
Today I'm going to share something with you that will not only make you a better rapper but it will make you an outstanding entertainer! This "thing" I'm talking about is called "The 4 Bar Theory" and it doesn't just apply to rapping but it's also useful in songwriting, music production, and mixing as well. The 4 Bar Theory is simple. 4 bars isn't too long nor is it too short. If you can create a payoff for your listener every 4 bars you will have them locked in because your song will be highly entertaining! Let's take a quick look at the word "entertainment". To entertain means to … [Read more...] about The Four Bar Theory – How To Keep Your Listeners Hooked!
The Biggest Mistake I Made When I First Started Rapping
Have you ever heard the quote "hindsight is 20/20"? If not, basically it means that mistakes you made in your past due to a lack of experience and understanding are crystal clear to you now in the present moment. What once was so confusing and mysterious is now so simple that you regard it as common sense. Time Traveling I wish I could jump into a time machine and travel back 22 years when I first started rapping. Not just so I could play video games all day without the worries of paying bills, but mainly because I could save myself so much time and frustration with learning this … [Read more...] about The Biggest Mistake I Made When I First Started Rapping
Try This Warm-Up Technique Before Writing Your Next Rap Song
Sometimes the most difficult part of writing your rap songs is simply starting. We are truly our worst critics which can be good for quality control but if mismanaged this can kill our creativity and productivity. In this article, I will be sharing a really easy and practical writing exercise that will help you begin the songwriting process quicker. Let's get right to it, shall we? Remove All The Chains In last weeks article I discussed how writing without an instrumental can be very liberating and this week I'd like to take it a little bit further. One sure fire way to get better and … [Read more...] about Try This Warm-Up Technique Before Writing Your Next Rap Song
Pros And Cons To Writing Rap Lyrics Without An Instrumental
Rappers often ask me if they should write to an instrumental or is it okay to write without one? Honestly, I prefer writing to an instrumental but either one is just fine, however, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. Without An Instrumental Regardless if you write to an instrumental or not you're going to have to fit your lyrics to an instrumental at some point unless you're going to rap your lyrics strictly Acapella. But writing without an instrumental is much different than writing with one and here are a few reasons why. Pros You can write much more … [Read more...] about Pros And Cons To Writing Rap Lyrics Without An Instrumental
Breathing Techniques For Rappers
Have you ever thought about how much your breathing plays a huge role in how well you sound when you're rapping? Most of the time, us rappers mainly focus on the parts that are being spoken and overlook the importance of the pauses. We have a tendency to overload our bars with too many syllables which cause us to rush words, reducing their clarity while compromising our vocal quality in the process. Let's look a little deeper into this, shall we? Preserving Your Energy Your voice is actually an instrument and in fact, it's typically the main instrument in each of your songs. In order to … [Read more...] about Breathing Techniques For Rappers