Frequently Asked Questions

Questions Posted Here will be Answered Directly by Jamaal West himself (Author Of The Official How To Rap Manual) also check out our Message Board.

Also do u know how to imitate rappers? like u know take their style and put it to a beat? if so how?
by Larry, York, PA

The best way for you to do that is to rap like whoever the artist is you want to immitate, then once you put it to the beat, change it in to your own words. Thats the easiest way.

Do you think a class in the category of song writing would better help me to comprehend the ins and outs bars and counts as well and the overall structure of hip hop songs or for any category of music and songs what class or classes did you take in order to master the overall structure of your songs for songwriters because mind you i have no experience or knowledge in the field of music i just love to write but now i would like to fully master my craft thats all for now im looking forward to your reply.
by Doperappa, London, England

As far as a music class. I don’t see why it couldn’t help, the only thing is the way they teach you. The traditional method of measuring music is more beneficial to say a producer or composer. I never took a day of music writing classes or lessons. That was one of the reasons I stumbled upon our point system. Its more catered to a rapper, song writer or singer. In my opinion. I would think you would benefit more from a english 101 class or even a poetry class.

How long and how many bars are in the verses of your typical standard rap or hip hop song? are all the verses the same length are any verses shorter or longer than each other are their the same amount of bars on each verse or do they differ? also how many verses are in your typical standard rap song ? sorry im not trying to annoy you or anything i just have a lot of questions.
by Sk The Great, Brooklyn, NY

Its all good that’s what I’m here for. There are 8 points in 1 bar and there are 16 bars in your standard verse. Its really not a rule but its what everybody uses most of the time. And yes all the verses are usually the same length-16 bars. There is usually three 16 bar verses in a song then you have your hooks in between and them and one to finish the song.

I wanted to ask you something i use a lot of big words in my raps is this not the correct to rhyme because i dont know do you think the reason why im finding it hard to count the bars accurately could it be the words are to long or to big ? in response to your question yes i would like hearing from you and someone else as well whose has the format down as you recommended do some or all words fit into rap songs? or are their just certain words that fit into a rhyme song?
by Vicioius, Washington, DC

Nah, its not big words or small words. The first thing you should do is get the points down. You can do this just by listening to one of your favorite acts. Notice how their words fall on point. Are they ending each line on primary points or secondary points.

Get the points down first and it will make it a lot easier.

Whuts good homie? Im wondering would I have a better flow starting on primary points or secondary points.And should I match word syllables with the beat.
by Tony, Los Angeles, California

Wuz hapnin? Actually family, it all depends how you want to freak the beat. It really don’t matter weather you start on a primary or secondary. Cuz you could start on a primary the first line and then start on a secondary for the second line. But if you wanted to rip the beat starting each line on primary points you could do that to. Either one won’t necessarily give you a better flow. That part is going to lay more in your hands than the points. Feel me?

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