6 Steps On How To Write Christian Rap Lyrics
First things first….. The title of this article is not “How To Become A Super Famous Rapper That Everybody Loves Who Makes Millions of Dollars! Skrrt Skrrt!”
That would be a super long title.
And we are going to assume that you already possess the talent skill calling on your life to actually create music.
I’ve been writing songs for several years for features on both Christian and secular songs, and I’ve been able to easily put down verses that always get resounding praise from other artists, and I’m able to do it fairly easily. Some artists out there struggle with lyrics, and many struggle with coming up with lyrics that don’t sound repetitive.
Don’t worry! I got you!
Because while the beat is tight and the production is hot---we still gotta vibe with what you’re saying. Let’s get into it.
Rap Style
1. Know your style
Yes, we all have one. Choppers. West Coast. East Coast. Dirty South. Mumble. Hip Hop Head. Hip Pop. You have a style, and it may not always be your preference or what you grew up with. It may just be based on what you naturally can do, and that will influence your lyrics. Also, when you know your style, no matter what type of song you are asked to do or what to do, you know how you can come at it.
Rap Topic
2. Know your topic
Every song has a topic. Yes, from WAP (not putting that link in here) to Coming in Hot (Lecrae and Andy Mineo). Whether it’s gun bars or God bars. What do you want to say? Do you want to praise God for something? Express feelings about something? Preach on the track? Talk about something through your Biblical World View? If you are featured on the track, make sure you get the main artist’s passion for the song they are having you on. Do you align with them? If you are jumping on a secular track, what are you going to say that doesn’t compromise that worldview?
Rap Beat
3. Know your beat
Sometimes you need to vibe with a beat for a minute and just listen to how it speaks to you. Can you imagine rapping on this? Can you imagine the message you want to put on this being on this beat? Can you imagine you listening to someone rap your lyrics on this beat? If you can say your lyrics are fire no matter who is rapping them, then it’s likely that people can also imagine themselves rapping your lyrics. That’s what you want them to do.
Rap Flow
4. Know your flow
Different from style. Your flow is another defining trait. Are you theological like Lampmode or Flame? Are you more current like Reach, RMG, Indie Tribe? Are you a hard-hitting Christian Barz like God Over Money? Are you intricate poetic vibes like Propaganda and Jackie Hill Perry?
Rap Audience
5. Know your audience
Not everyone will vibe with your lyrics? They will not speak to everyone. So, who are you writing to, too? NF has got a lot of people listening to him, but he has a certain demographic that he is speaking to. Oh, and don’t discount this? The first audience that you should be writing to is yourself and God.
Rap Lyrics
6. Know…...Words
Sounds simple, and maybe, a little insulting. Still, learn new words, phrases, ways to say things, creative ways to say things, etc. If your vocabulary is small, your range of lyrics will be, too.
Wrap Up
Knowing these six things will help you write lyrics a lot easier because they become a part of you as an artist. You won’t be thinking about what you want to write because it is what will naturally flow from you, and that is what makes a real artist--well--real.