I love expensive cars and attractive women just as much as the next person, but guys, do you not have anything better to rap about?
Or if you’re going to rap about “whips” and “bitches,” can you at least keep it real? You’re an unsigned rapper living in the NW…we all know you don’t have Ferraris and fit, thick girls.
I’m no expert, but IMHO, I do know my music. Here are some topic ideas, to get away from the overused carz and hoez.
1. Politics
Get an edumacation! And give your readers one too! How cool would it be if locals could learn about Measure 80 from listening to local hip-hop? Wait, they can. How cool would it be if locals could learn about Measure 85 from listening to local hip-hop? [See what I did there?] I just think it’d be dope to hear rappers rap about issues that matter to them and the general voting public.
Do songs like this already exist? (Nicki Minaj doesn’t count.) Share in the comments.
2. Family
Likewise, family matters to you, right? So, why not rap about when your son was born? The first time you looked into his little eyes, when he grasped your pinky finger, and when he took his first steps? Or your mom? Tell me “Dear Mama” isn’t a CLASSIC!
3. Your day
Ridin’ around and gettin’ it. Or… Ridin’ the MAX and tryin’ to stay dry. No lie, no lie, stay dryyyyyyyy-eyyyy-eyyyyyy. A ‘day in the life of’ would make a dope few sets of sixteens. Get #realtalk with it, get #trilltalk with it, link with the homies and get #supportand with it. Tell me “It Was A Good Day” isn’t a CLASSIC too!
4. Making love
For the most part, R&B artists make music about making love and rappers rap about boning… But why? Chris Brown notoriously wins Best Male R&B Artist and he puts some explicit lyrics into his R&B; but when was the last time you heard a rapper put some true love into a sixteen? I’d love to hear a rapper dedicate sixteen to foreplay, sixteen to riding it out, and sixteen to a climax.
5. Breakfast
Only recently did I discover that Kreayshawn’s “Breakfast” isn’t about breakfast. Likewise, Gym Class Heroes’s “Cookie Jar” isn’t about cookies… Needless to say, I was disappointed on both occasions. Rappers, make a song about breakfast! I love it when Rick Ross raps about cheese (yes, he often puts a spin on it to reference money, but there are times when he actually raps about the diary product). What about Biggie’s famous line, “so we can steam on the way to the telly go fill my belly / a t-bone steak, cheese eggs and Welch’s grape”? Tell me “Big Poppa” isn’t yet another CLASSIC!
6. Art
Art—paintings, sculptures, architecture—is ever changing and always unique. It lends itself for creative expression. I think an entire song about art would be art in itself! With carefully chosen descriptors, fresh adjectives, colors and swirls, nonsense and originality…
7. Drug trips
Similar, but different to art… Drugs. With carefully chosen descriptors, fresh adjectives, colors and swirls, nonsense and originality… #swerve
8. Movies
And like art again, movies can hold a lot of inspiration: Describe characters and their history, work up a plot, and use big adjectives when rehashing the sex and fight scenes.
9. Your day job
Rap about your day job. Jay-Z sells out arenas, he calls that getting dome. I don’t know what you do to pay the bills, but why not spit something like, “I lay cheese on burgers, so I stay stacking cheddar.” Or, “Nine to five I build houses, so afterhours I ain’t a home wrecker.” Or, “I don’t push uppers, I sell phones at T-Mobile, real talk.” Ok, I’ll leave the rapping to you, but do you get my drift? Rap about what you know.
10. America
God bless it. Rap about what you know. And rap about what you love: Rights, freedom, white girls, and BBQs.