How to Rap: Content Part II

                In this edition of Content in How to Rap, I want to highlight sentence structure. In the previous edition of content, I mentioned how you want your sentences to sound concise and to avoid saying “I” and “you” at the beginning of each line. One tip is that there are multiple ways to structure the same sentence: ex. You rap with a slow pace, OR You’re rapping with a pace that’s slow. Simple rearranging of words can help preserve the rhyme and the message you wanted to say, and adjust the flow (which will be covered later).

              Another thing you want to avoid, which is going to take even more practice, is avoiding the SAME TYPE of sentence. Chances are, when you first start writing, most if not all your sentences are going to be declarative statements. Feel free to ask questions when you rap.

                When you write a line, you’re not restricted to start a sentence on a line, and end at that line. You can have two sentences in one line, or you can make four bars one sentence. In order to do that, you might need: 

                                1) Standard Conjunctions: and, but, so, or

                                2) Prepositions: Around, inside, beneath, beside, within,

                                3) A hypothesis-based statement (using the words “if” and “then”)

• Example: “If you wanna challenge me, or if you wanna test me, then give me the mic so I can hand it to you directly.”

 One example that uses one sentence, four lines, conjunctions and a hypothesis-based statement.

All the above alternatives can really help extend your sentences and give more depth to the meaning as well. Also, if you modify a statement with a hypothetical condition: like saying “When/Where x happens, y will happen,” that will also add more weight to your words as well as make you sound smarter and utilizes different verb tenses. So feel free to use subject matter that can use past and future tense too.

Fragments. Utilize them! Sometimes when you have too many words or just want to emphasize one thing, just use all that’s necessary (Kanye West’s “Two Words” is the perfect example for this). In many cases you can break the monotony of the “I” statements just by taking out “I” and letting the verb speak for itself.

3^rd Person. Maybe you’re not the kind to “speak the truth” about different people, cultures or countries, or you’re not ready for it. I admit I don’t rap a lot of “truth” in my raps, just passionate expression or experience. So you may find it hard to rap about people, or maybe not. But you can always rap about objects you interact with day to day, and make your feelings, or your possessions the star of the sentence.

So provided with the above tips, you have multiple different ways of forming sentences now. Stay tuned, next edition goes back to rhyming.