Want to learn how to freestyle rap? Rap music pros make it look easy to freestyle, but it actually takes a lot of writing and practice to serve up fresh jams on the spot. Tell the DJ to keep spinning, because we have some inside information on how to freestyle from hip-hop comedy rapper Zach Sherwin, aka MC Mr. Napkins.
Look Around
MC Mr. Napkins, a rap music aficionado and veteran at improv comedy, currently hosts a show at the Comedy Studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that mixes humor and hip-hop. To help get the freestyling ball rolling, Napkins picks out objects in the room and makes rhymes about them. "Hold up your lighter, because I'm a true writer. Stuff like that," he explained off the top of his head. Doing word play about the objects that surround you is a great exercise to keep your mind sharp. "At a lot of freestyle shows I go to, rappers will have the audience write words on slips of paper and work it in," Napkins added. Try having your friends write random words down and use them in rhymes as an exercise.
Working Word Sounds
"Another really good trick you can get away with is consonants not sounding the same, as long as the vowels sound the same," Napkins explains. For example, you can end one line with the word "high" and end the next line with the word "drive." While the two words don't really rhyme, the sound is similar enough that your audience's ears won't notice the difference. This is referred to as a slant rhyme. This opens up a lot more options to you, as you don't have to rely on words that are an exact match.
Napkins encourages freestylers to practice. "After a while, inevitably, you'll find certain words that work for you. If you find yourself in a bind, you can reuse some lines." Just make sure to save the best for last. "You should have the most important word at the end of the line." If you're writing comedy raps, like Napkins, that means putting the punchine at the end of every line, and putting words that build up to it before it. If you're aiming for more serious freestyle raps, put the main words that convey your message at the end of your lines; that's where they'll be remembered.
 | There are many benefits that come from teaching music to children. From early childhood, listening to music stimulates brain development in several areas. Learning to play an instrument teaches language, logic and mathematical skills as well as motor skills, all of which can make it easier for a child to succeed in school. |
 | Who made the first modern cello? How popular is the instrument? What does cello mean? Learn these and other interesting cello facts. |
Having trouble figuring out how to write song lyrics? These tips will help you find inspiration and get your ideas on paper. |
Jazz legends like Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington did more than shape the evolution of jazz. These noted musicians had a major impact on all kinds of American music, as well as popular culture. |
Want to raise a child who will love music and play various instruments? Here are 10 simple steps you can take to help promote your child's future success with music. |
