Video:How to Rap With Ice-T: Inspiration for Lyrics
with Ice-TFinding authentic inspiration for lyrics can be a challenge for many rappers. Watch this About.com video for great tips from Ice-T, the legendary rapper and director of "The Art of Rap," on how to find inspiration for lyrics.See Transcript
Transcript:How to Rap With Ice-T: Inspiration for Lyrics
Getting Inspiration for Rap Lyrics
Any advice for beginners for where to draw inspiration for their lyrics?
Tips for Getting Inspired to Write Rap Lyrics
You gotta draw inspiration from your own life. Uhm, everybody has a story to tell, everybody has a vision. When I first started rapping, I tried to rap like New York rappers, which really wasn't me. And then when I started rapping about my life, you know at the time I was breaking the law, doing a lot of negative things, all of a sudden I blew up because I hit the nail in the head. Once I found out, wow, I can be a success just talking about my life, it was beautiful.
More Tips for Inspiration for Rap Lyrics
I always say if you don't lie, you don't have to worry about what you just said, cus you know. BUt if you lie, then a lie just leads to another lie, which leads to another lie--you just can't stop. You're in a whole nother world that's not you. Also, when you deal with yourself, as you grow, your material will change cus you grow. People get to grow with you. A lot of people say with my music they go "hey Ice Man, I was banging back when I was listening to you, I seen you get into movies, I changed my hustle, now I see you over here and I'm changing and I'm continually growing with you." So, it's not really where you start, it's where you end up. It's where you guide your life to go.