POETRY

• You can make up things in your lyrics, but make sure they don't single out any one specific person or group of persons.
• Yet, at the same time, do not censor yourself or limit the potential of your expression because you're afraid of offending someone. In other words, if your going to say something with impact, it had better possess some sort of meaning or otherwise you will just be spitting out mindless hatred.
• Don't get upset just because some people don't like your raps. Other people will probably like it, and, in most cases, there will be more lovers than haters.
• You need talent, but PERSISTENCE is the key to being successful

• Write the chorus in a way that makes the listener really want to hear more of the song, but make sure the chorus goes with the verses.
• If you're unsure about rapping your own rap, ask someone else who could rap your rap for you.
• Deciding the title isn't really that big of a deal, but try to make it something out of the chorus.
• If you want you can even have your friends in your song to have more variety of lyrics.
• Get a good book on writing lyrics, get some ideas from those.
• Be real - rapping about your own life gives the song credibility.
• Usually rap songs have at least two to three verses, but as long as your song makes the point you're trying to convey and is, in your opinion, length doesn't really matter.
• If you ever have songwriters' block, listening to a couple of rap tunes can help give you fresh ideas.
• Rapping does not have to be written, many rappers can also freestyle
• Freestyling on a good rhythm can also let you jump into new ideas,and listening to other rappers rap can also give you inspiration too.
• Keep your rap original. dont copy someone else's style.
• Allways try your best
• Never give up!

• Think of a subject to help start off your rap, like how you can't be messed with, etc. Example: "If you're going to mess with me, you better realize that it's not free, because I can easily rob you off your glee, messing with me has a fee."
  

• Make sure the intro to your verse is strong. Set yourself up for a good rhyme scheme. Example: Man, it's strong palm down ,punch'em get 'em strong man. Girls you too but you've never heard a girl put it down like this, kill for.

• Create a good rhyme scheme. You don't always need one, but it helps! It helps the flow sound more enjoyable. Example: 50 cent has a bounce flow, up and down, Jay-Z Flow goes side to side. This is important if you're making hits.

• Notice that most rappers use multi-rhymes(Example: Kill For, Still Roll).Put these at the end line after each bar and see how hot your raps turn out. Count the syllables.

• Let some of your friends read it. Get their opinions, and if they have any suggestions write them down. (Get at least three friends' opinions). When you get back to your writing area, redo the song with the suggestions from your friends and then go over it and make sure that the changes keep the flow.

Definition of Elegy

An Elegy is a sad and thoughtful poem lamenting the death of a person. An example of this type of poem is Thomas Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard."

Example of Elegy - Excerpt

Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard
by
Thomas Gray

The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,
The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea,
The ploughman homeward plods his weary way,
And leaves the world to darkness and to me.

Couplets are made up of two lines whose last words rhyme. They are often silly.

Example:
The cat ate a mouse
And then brought it to the house.

Triplets are made up of three lines. The rhyming pattern can be AAA or ABA

Example:

What a fine day
To go out to play
In the month of May

Quatrains are made up of four lines. The rhyming pattern can be AABB or ABAB.

Example:

I never saw a purple cow,
I never hope to see one:
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I'd rather see than be one.

STRUCTURE:

A limerick has five lines.
The last words of lines one, two, and five rhyme.
The last words of lines three and four rhyme.
A limerick has to have a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

EXAMPLE:

There was an old man from Peru
Who dreamed he was eating his shoe
He awoke in the night
With a terrible fright
To discover it was totally true

EXAMPLE: