Write Your Own Rap
Write your own rap lyrics, create simple beats using claps or a phone app, practice rhythm, rhyme, and perform or record your original song.
Step-by-step guide to Write Your Own Rap
Step 1
Pick a fun topic and mood for your rap like school adventures or friendship.
Step 2
Tap a steady pulse with your hands to choose a comfortable speed or tempo.
Step 3
Write a short catchy chorus of 4 to 8 lines that you can sing or rap again and again.
Step 4
Write Verse 1 with 6 to 12 lines that rhyme and tell part of your story.
Step 5
Write Verse 2 with 6 to 12 lines that continue your story or add a twist.
Step 6
Create a simple beat pattern using claps and foot taps like clap clap tap clap.
Step 7
Count the beats for each line and mark where your words fit on the paper.
Step 8
Practice rapping one line at a time to the beat until the rhythm feels steady.
Step 9
Add a special move or shout for the chorus to make your performance exciting.
Step 10
Rehearse your whole rap from start to finish while keeping the beat steady.
Step 11
Perform or record your finished rap with an adult's help if you need it.
Step 12
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 instead of paper, a metronome, or a recording device if we don't have them?
Use a smartphone notes app or a piece of cardboard instead of paper, a metronome app or tapping a pencil on a table to keep tempo instead of a metronome, and a phone or tablet voice memo to record your performance in place of special recording gear.
I'm struggling to keep a steady beat and fit my words to the rhythm—what should I try?
Practice tapping a steady pulse with your hands or a metronome app, count the beats out loud and mark where your words fit on the paper for each line (step: 'Count the beats for each line and mark where your words fit'), and slow the tempo while rehearsing one line at a time until the rhythm feels steady.
How can I change the activity to make it easier for little kids or more challenging for teens?
For younger children shorten the chorus to 2–4 lines, use simple clap-only beats and sing instead of rap, while older kids can write full 12-line verses, create more complex rhyme schemes, and add multi-layered beats or instrumental tracks before recording.
What are some fun ways to improve or personalize our rap before sharing it on DIY.org?
Add a simple backing track from a phone app to your clap-and-foot-tap beat, invent a special move or shout for the chorus (step: 'Add a special move or shout for the chorus'), invite friends for harmonies, and design cover art to go with your recorded performance.
Watch videos on how to Write Your Own Rap
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Facts about songwriting and beat-making for kids
🎶 A common rap structure is a 16-bar verse — a great starting shape when writing your own lyrics.
🥁 Clap every half-second (once per 0.5 s) and you're at 120 beats per minute (BPM) — useful for keeping a steady beat.
🎤 Modern rap grew from Bronx block parties in the 1970s where DJs and MCs teamed up to hype crowds!
🧠 Rhymes and steady rhythms make lyrics much easier to remember — that's why songs stick in your head!
📱 You can build full beats on phones using free apps like GarageBand or BandLab — no studio needed.
How do I do the 'Write Your Own Rap' activity with my child?
What materials do I need to help my child write a rap?
What ages is writing your own rap suitable for?
What are the benefits of having my child write and perform raps?
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