Ever wanted to write Hip-Hop lyrics? Ever wondered what the formula was to writing a good Hip-Hop song? Are you the one listening and wondering, “Why do they speak that way in their songs”? Well in these following few steps you, yes you, will learn how to write hip hop lyrics.
This document on writing rhymes and lyrics is only a foundation in becoming a good emcee or lyricist. Most of the things you say in your songs and the way you constitute yourself is the major factor to your success. This guide will show you many ways to write a rhyme and lead you through techniques which you, may or may not, want to use.
Terms that you'll encounter and what I'm going to cover:
1. Rhyme structure - How a verse's written. Such as amount of bars and location of rhyming words.
2. Simile - A comparison using the word "like" or "as".
3. Metaphor - A comparison without using the word "like" or "as".
4. Wordplays - A pun or words that have double meaning.
5. Multi-syllables and Multi - Rhyming using words or combination of words that contain more then one syllable.
6. Punch-line – Rhymes used for insulting people
7. Alliteration - Rhymes or verse that contain words that start with the same first letter.
Let's begin by pointing out the differences between a "battle verse" and a "non-battle verse". A "battle verse" is just that, a verse that's written to battle another Hip-Hop lyricists or M.C. These types of verses usually contain heavy usage of Punch-lines, Word-play, and Multi-syllable styles. Along with it a small usage of Similes and Metaphors, a "battle verse" is a verse that belittles your opponents. One mistake that most lyricists make in battle verse is that they tend to talk about themselves. Your focus is supposed to be mainly on your opponents. You're not supposed to talk about yourself; rather you should be degrading your opponents.
A "NON-battle" verse is any verses that’s written as topical, or even a freestyle about a certain thing or incidents. This could include almost everything. What make it different from a "battle verse" is that rarely does it have any punch-lines. In this particular verse, the usage of Simile and Metaphor is heavy. Included with it are light usages of multi-syllable, Wordplay, and Alliterations. In this type of verse, it's acceptable to talk about yourself. Though, it's not necessary.
Subject matter of your lyrics does not matter when writing or making a song, using a Hip-Hop lyric format. The focus is on how you creatively write, the grammar you use and the originality of your subject. The first component you should focus on, in written lyrics is Rhyme Structure.
1. Rhyme Structure- keeping your lyric sentences the close to the same length for easy reading, for instance:
“My rhymes of philosophy, brings wisdoms of Socrates.//”
“Avoiding hypocrisy, trying to defeat worldly monopolies.//”
Note: The “//” is what I used to stop a verse or complete thought in a rhyme, you may use something different.
This also helps for easy rhyme placement that makes it easier to perform in a song or a battle.
2. Simile- Being able to use similes in your rhymes helps the entertaining value and also can raise the level understanding that your message relays to its audience. Basically using “like” or “as” helps give meaning to what you say and amplifies what people get from your thoughts. Simile usage:
“You must be joking like comedians.//”
“I got it hot like customers ordering peppers.//”
3. Metaphor- Another form of comparison emitting the words “like” or “as”. Creativity is your main goal when using metaphors. It captures your audience and may delight them with your creative intelligence.
Metaphorical usage:
“My rhymes are so sharp, they cut through diamonds.//”
“The streets are ringing so much, the telephones are getting jealous.//”
4. Wordplay- The part of lyricism that, distinctly, separates it from all other forms of lyrics in any other music genre. Commonly used in battles and used in songs, Wordplay is constructing lyrics using puns. Puns are words or a word that have a double meaning, used to conjoint two different concepts together, making sense out of both. In its simplest, it’s playing with words. Wordplay usage:
“You must be facing forward, the way your fronting.//”
-That was a battle rhyme. It may say you’re facing forward, the direction you stand when you’re in front or fronting. But the second and true meaning is using the first part to pun the second part, because fronting is also slang for lying or bluffing. Its double meaning is the Word-Play.-
“In this battle, I know you’re raw, but I like to eat this meat uncooked.//”
-That was another battle rhyme that also uses slang (Keep in mind that you don’t have to use slang when using Wordplay.). Its first meaning is to call say that the opponent is like raw meat. The second and Wordplay meaning is to say that his opponent is “raw” (slang for good), but he will still eat him uncooked, as in defeat him easily even though he is “raw”. -
5. Multi and Multi-syllable rhyming- First multi rhymes are rhymes using more than one word at the end of the verse. Many people use it to show skill or to use as a means to increase speed of performing with ease. Multi-syllable rhymes are rhymes that consist of using the syllables in the last word of the previous or upcoming verse. Multi rhymes:
“Its college-time, I go and arrive to receive knowledge-prime.//”
“The cat-attacks, I need to get him off me with bat-smacks.//”
Multi-syllable rhymes:
“My rhymes must be Gobstoppers by Willy Wonka, the way their everlasting.//”
“The lyrical skills imitate tempests, when I rhyme its like weather-blasting.//”
-The words eh-ver-last-ing (everlasting) and weh-ther-blast-ing (weather-blasting) are in a direct synchronous rhyming pattern. That is what’s meant by Multi-syllable rhyming.-
6. Punch-line- Mostly used in battles to insult an opponent but can be used in a song if you want to insult someone.
Punch-lines:
“Your rhymes are so broke homeless people give you money.//”
“This guy going down in a hurry, he reminds me of today’s stock market.//”
7. Alliteration- Using the first letter of the first word of the rhyme throughout the complete rhyme. Although rarely used, they are very nice to use at the beginning of a song or in a battle. Alliteration:
“Simplistic styles rate your statistics as sporadically spiraling in stupidity.//”
These foundational techniques and usages are only the beginning when writing Hip-Hop lyrics. The rest is all up to the effort you put in rhyming and originality. Using these guidelines will get you recognition as a skilled lyricist that knows the basics. If there are any questions or comments you can e-mail me at carnalkay@gmail.com.
__________________
I aint rhyme in a minute but yall aint catch up...
and that aint blood on ya vest .. thats ketchup!
-fugees
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