Tips for Writing Exciting Rap Lyrics

Steven Dasho, a student and experienced customer service professional, enjoys a variety of active and musical hobbies. A fan of freestyle rap, Steven Dasho writes his own lyrics.

Good rap music combines solid rhythm with inventive lyrics and an engaging rhyme pattern. The rap lyricist needs to understand how all of these elements fit together.

The broad structure of a rap involves an intro, an “outro” or conclusion, and a verse-chorus pattern. The chorus carries the message and is thus the most important section of lyrics, while the verse adds richness to the content.

Many rap lyricists begin by crafting the chorus as a solid foundation. Experienced rap lyricists come to this process with an emphasis on authenticity and on evoking an emotional response from the audience. That response can range from tears or laughter to righteous anger, depending on the lyricist's intent.

The lyricist must think about the message as well as the effect of rhymes and word choice. Even the simplest raps typically include rhymes at the end of sequential lines, while more complex patterns of lyrics feature rhymes that are inside the line or multi-syllabic. The multi-syllabic rhyme tends to be the most advanced form.

As lyricists advance in skill, they can include more complex rhyme schemes as well as literary devices. Like the writer of prose or non-rap poetry, a rap lyricist who uses metaphors, similes, and other tools can generate more interest on the part of the listener.