Perform a Rap Song You Already Know
Practice and perform a rap song you already know, focusing on rhythm, clear pronunciation, and stage presence; record your performance or share it with family.
Step-by-step guide to perform a rap song you already know
Step 1
Pick one rap song you already know and want to perform.
Step 2
Find or write down the full lyrics so you can read and learn them.
Step 3
Do a quick voice warm-up by humming and doing lip trills for one minute.
Step 4
Play the song once and listen carefully to the beat and where the words land.
Step 5
Clap or tap the beat along with the song for 30 seconds to lock in the rhythm.
Step 6
Say each tricky line slowly and clearly three times to practice pronunciation.
Step 7
Choose two simple stage moves like stepping forward or pointing and decide when to use them.
Step 8
Practice the whole rap at performance speed three times while using your chosen gestures.
Step 9
Perform the rap from start to finish as if you are on stage.
Step 10
Record your performance so you can watch it back and see what to improve.
Step 11
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have speakers or a recording device for the activity?
If you don't have speakers or a recording device, use a smartphone or tablet to 'Play the song once' and its voice memo or camera app to 'Record your performance', and tap a tabletop for the 'Clap or tap the beat' step.
I'm rushing and losing the rhythm during the rap—how can we fix that?
If you keep rushing, slow the song playback, spend extra time on the 'Clap or tap the beat' 30-second step to lock in rhythm, and then return to 'Practice the whole rap at performance speed three times' increasing tempo gradually while using 'Say each tricky line slowly and clearly three times' for tricky lines.
How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?
For younger kids, pick a shorter, simpler song from 'Pick one rap song', shorten the humming and lip trills warm-up and practice only one verse, while older kids can add more complex gestures to 'Choose two simple stage moves' and repeat the full-performance practice more than three times.
What are easy ways to extend or personalize the performance after recording it?
To enhance the activity, write and add a short original verse after the song during 'Perform the rap from start to finish', create simple costumes or a backdrop to match your chosen moves from 'Choose two simple stage moves', and edit the 'Record your performance' before you 'Share your finished creation on DIY.org'.
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Facts about music performance for kids
⚡ Eminem's 'Rap God' holds a record for most words in a hit single (about 1,560) and features a famously fast passage of 97 words in 15 seconds.
🎧 A rapper's 'flow' (rhythm, rhyme pattern and timing) can transform the same lyrics into very different-feeling performances.
🫁 Great rappers practice breath control — fast passages are often delivered around 6–7 words per second, so breathing makes lines clearer and less rushed.
🎤 Hip hop music started in the Bronx, New York City, in the early 1970s at block parties where DJs and MCs experimented with beats and rhymes.
👀 Stage presence — eye contact, movement and energy — helps performers connect with listeners and makes home recordings feel more alive.
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