Beats or Lyrics first?

Just wondering how you guys go about it. Do you come up with your beat first and then create the lyrics or the other way around....I've tried both ways and have found that if I write my lyrics while Ihave the beat playing in the background it helps me get things done better.

Season

that's probably the best way. if you write the lyrics first you'll only have to change it around to suit the rhythm of the beat anyway. i suppose you could write a basic verse with the intention of changin it around, or perhaps after making the beat and writing the lyrics, changing the beat slightly to suit the lyrics a bit more.

I put the beat on repeat just brainstorm for a minute and write a few things down. But yeah, I have the beat on while im writing my lyrics to it cause like Db75 said, you might have to do some alterations if you do it the other way around. Peace

beat first man, beat first! of course theres always a few generic verses you keep on hand to spit over whatever.

Either way. I think if you try it both ways, the way that is least comfortable will push you to be more creative. I don't rap but, I play a couple of different instruments. Sometimes I will lay the piano part to tracks first; other times I may lay the bass first. Even easier would be to lay the drum tracks first. The different ways cause me to have to be creative because I approach each instrument differently. I'm funky on the bass and more of an emotional ballad pianist. So whichever instrument I start with will dictate the flow of the song. So, if you're more comfortable making the beat first, try writing the rhymes first, then, making the beat. Challenge yourself. And that's my two cents.

i do both methods, but i perfer to write a rhyme first, then have the beat made around the verses of my song, thats way there is no making a verse fit to a beat. just find the bpm of your hook, the rest will follow.

For the best output, I always recommend in the case of a experience beatmaker, he should be able to put music to words, and alot easier, than just making something off air

Plus the blend togethor turns out better cause your gearing the music with the words, which can lead to a stronger song rather than trying to fit words into the music

I don't rap (if you'd ever hear me you'd know why), but I tend to write the title of the song first, then make music around that theme.

the Beat is the land and the rhyme is life on that land. the Beat motivates and the rhyme feeds off it and nurtures the land.its an endless cycle ( one of the reasons why hip hop is so powerfull[not the same in other genres cos hip hop is the WORD in effect with which the whole universe was created starting with the creation of light]). to sum it up: THE BEAT FIRST.

scizz wrote:the Beat is the land and the rhyme is life on that land. the Beat motivates and the rhyme feeds off it and nurtures the land.its an endless cycle ( one of the reasons why hip hop is so powerfull[not the same in other genres cos hip hop is the WORD in effect with which the whole universe was created starting with the creation of light]). to sum it up: THE BEAT FIRST.

Lol, this must be the Genesis of the Hip Hop Bible.... "In the beginning, Akai made the MPC... and it was good..."

Anyone with any sense of rhythm can write a verse and a hook without a beat, then stack a better beat geared towards whats happenning in that verse

But I guess thats only in quality music though, cause cats be over tracks just spitting any thin, in that case it don't matter

MistaMike4u wrote:

scizz wrote:the Beat is the land and the rhyme is life on that land. the Beat motivates and the rhyme feeds off it and nurtures the land.its an endless cycle ( one of the reasons why hip hop is so powerfull[not the same in other genres cos hip hop is the WORD in effect with which the whole universe was created starting with the creation of light]). to sum it up: THE BEAT FIRST.

Lol, this must be the Genesis of the Hip Hop Bible.... "In the beginning, Akai made the MPC... and it was good..."

u better believe it

Season wrote:Just wondering how you guys go about it. Do you come up with your beat first and then create the lyrics or the other way around....I've tried both ways and have found that if I write my lyrics while Ihave the beat playing in the background it helps me get things done better.

Season

If i make the beat, then i can always hear the way the chorus or lyric melody can go. Other wise, dont try to do too many things at once. If you focus on the beat, and dont neccesarily worry about the lyrics, then itll be a good beat, then if its a good beat-any decent lyrics should work, or come real easy. ya know? of course this isnt always true, but especially if you are working with an mc, and making beats with him, if you have to wait on him or rely on him to form the beat, then all your beats will sound like him, or if hes not that great, the beats will be mediocore. SO just make a good beat!!!!!!

now its differant if you have a melody in your head, maybe with some words, and you put it down in a beat. But dont let the lyrics hinder your beat

If i had to rely on the lyrics then i would never get anything good out, because what i want to say isnt what people want to hear. And sometimes MCs need to be pushed in the right direction-alot have big heads and think that they are cool, but alot of times the beat maker has more of a grasp of good sounding music, so let your beats push them! if theyve got the flow, the beat will bring it out. Same goes for yourself.



peace

if your an mc and a producer (like my dog dstruction), you already ahead of the game, best of both worlds. but if you want to follow a formula do what makes you feel comfortable. but try all methods to make music, not just what makes you feel comfortable. get outside your comfort zone, then youll really find your potential as an artist.

For me being a producer and enginerring my own trks the technical
aspect and such then writing to my own beats is a bit much I find
that creating your beat then writing to it is a more practical way
because you can think of some really profund lyrics to fit your beat
the other way is very unorthodox for me but some people operate
that way and it works for them. I just think of a concept and theme
and I build from there and keep it phunky nice topic.