The Ultimate Guide To Learning How To Rap Within 15 Minutes

Summary

This video is a comprehensive beginner's guide to rapping, presented by Cole M, who shares 9 years of expertise. It breaks down essential rap skills, emphasizing that rhythm is just as crucial as lyrics. Viewers learn key concepts such as bars, beats, tempo, and different rhythmic note divisions (quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes), as well as cadences and scatting to create dynamic flows. The tutorial also covers structuring lyrics, rhyme schemes, and delivery patterns to make raps catchy and engaging. Practical exercises and pattern-building strategies help aspiring rappers develop their musicality, timing, and vocal expression, offering a clear path to improving rap skills efficiently.

Takeaways

• 🎤 Rapping is not just about lyrics; it's a combination of Rhythm And Poetry (RAP), and the musical side (rhythm) is just as important as the words.
• 📝 Many beginners focus only on writing lyrics first, but pairing them with rhythm is essential for a natural flow over beats.
• 📏 A 'bar' is a musical measurement similar to a mile or kilometer, and understanding bars helps structure rap verses efficiently.
• ⏱ Tempo (BPM) determines the speed at which a bar is performed, and each bar is divided into four beats, which form the foundation of rhythm.
• 🎵 Subdividing beats into half (eighth notes) and quarter (16th notes) beats allows placement of syllables between beats, creating dynamic rhythms.
• 🎶 Cadences are unique combinations of rhythmic notes and pauses that make rap flow musical and engaging; scatting can help experiment with cadences freely.
• ✍️ Structuring lyrics bar by bar and noting pauses or breaths improves timing, memorization, and problem-solving when fitting lyrics to a beat.
• 🔗 There are two main types of rhymes: internal rhymes within a bar and rhyme schemes across bars. Both create patterns that make rap catchy.
• 💡 Effective rap uses three pattern layers: cadence patterns (rhythm), rhyme scheme patterns, and delivery patterns (tone and emotion) to engage listeners.
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• 🔄 Repeating patterns for even numbers of bars feels complete, while odd numbers may feel unfinished; patterns help create predictable, appealing rap flows.
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• 🎧 Practicing four, eighth, and 16th counts and experimenting with cadences builds versatility and dynamic rap flows.
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• 📚 Additional resources like free courses, bar sheets, and practice instrumentals can help beginners quickly improve their rap skills.

Q & A

What is the common mistake beginners make when starting to rap?

Beginners often focus solely on writing lyrics first, without paying attention to the musical aspect of rapping, which can result in lyrics that don't sound good over an instrumental.

What does the acronym 'RAP' stand for in the context of this video?

RAP stands for Rhythm And Poetry, emphasizing that rhythm is just as important as lyrics in creating effective raps.

How is a 'bar' defined in rapping?

A bar is a musical measurement of distance, similar to miles or kilometers, used to quantify the length of a verse or segment in music.

What is the difference between beats, tempo, and BPM?

A beat is a quarter of a bar, tempo refers to the speed of music, and BPM (beats per minute) quantifies how fast or slow the beats occur within a minute.

What are quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes, and how are they used in rapping?

These notes divide a bar into smaller rhythmic sections: quarter notes have one note per beat, eighth notes have two notes per beat, and sixteenth notes have four notes per beat. They help rappers place syllables in various rhythmic positions within a bar.

What is a cadence in rapping?

A cadence is a combination of different rhythmic notes and pauses used to create musical patterns that drive lyrics and make raps sound dynamic.

How does scatting help in developing rap skills?

Scatting involves using random sounds to experiment with cadences, allowing rappers to freely explore musical patterns without being restricted by actual words.

What are internal rhymes and rhyme schemes, and why are they important?

Internal rhymes occur within a single bar, while rhyme schemes involve rhymes that appear in the same positions across multiple bars. They are essential for creating patterns that make raps catchy and cohesive.

What are the three layers of patterns in rap, and what role does each play?

The three layers are: 1) Cadence patterns, which shape the rhythm; 2) Rhyme scheme patterns, which organize rhymes across bars; 3) Delivery patterns, which include tone and emotion to enhance performance.

Why is it recommended to structure lyrics with each line as a bar?

Structuring lyrics this way aligns the start of each line with the first beat of a bar, helping rappers remember flow, timing, and rhyme placement, while making problem-solving during writing easier.

What is the benefit of repeating patterns for an even number of bars?

Repeating patterns for an even number of bars ensures the rap feels complete and satisfying to listeners, whereas odd-numbered repetitions can feel unfinished or less structured.

How can delivery enhance the impact of rhymes?

Delivery, which involves tone and emotion, can emphasize rhymes and make them stand out, giving a 3D effect that adds energy and dynamic expression to the performance.