BE the MC:�Honoring Identity Through Hip Hop and Rhyme �

Roy Bailey

Agenda

• Importance of Cypher
• Blueprints of MCing
• Rap GRID
• FLOW
• Technique�

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Roy Bailey

Music Instructional Curriculum Specialist

DJ/Spoken Word Artist/Hip Hop Educator

The Cypher of RAP

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MCing (Emceeing)

• Builds voice & identity

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DJing

• Listening + response

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B-Boying/B-Girling (Dance)

• Expresses style through movement

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Knowledge of Self & Community

• Confidence, connection, and showing up

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Blueprints of MCing�Finding Your Voice�

Lyricism

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Yum Peanut buttercup Almond Joy Butterfinger Kit Kat

Say It Challenge

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1.

2.

3.

Make Your Own

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Yum Peanut buttercup Almond Joy Butterfinger Kit Kat

Instead Of…

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Yum Peanut buttercup Almond Joy Butterfinger Kit Kat

Try…

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Hmm Ev’ry time I Rhyme Let It Go Keep It Going Get It

Rap GRID�Elements of Flow�

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1. Feel the beat
2. Only Say beat 4

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1. Feel the beat
2. Say beats 3, 4

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1. Feel the beat
2. Say beats 2-4

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1. Feel the beat
2. Say beats 1-4

Make Your Own

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Types of FLOW�Complexity in RAP�

Straight FLOW

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1. I’m the one that’s here to shine
2. Never stop, I’m on the grind
3. Ev’ry step, I stay in line
4. You can bet that I will climb

5. I keep my focus on the prize

6. I won’t quit, I won’t decline

7. I’m the truth, I’m so defined

8. I stay fresh, my game’s divine

Developing FLOW

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Step/Clap the Beat:�Reinforce the feeling of timing and rhythm.

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Rhyme and Flow Practice:�Deliver 4 phrases

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Build on the Phrases:�Add dynamics/Pauses/Stress syllables

Double-Flow

1. I’m the one that’s here to shine
2. Never stop, I’m on the grind
3. Every step, I stay in line
4. You can bet that I will climb

5. I keep my focus on the prize

6. I won’t quit, I won’t decline

7. I’m the truth, I’m so defined

8. I stay fresh, my game’s divine

Triplet FLOW

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1. I will run this, never gonna stop.
2. I’m on top, you know I’m gonna rock.
3. Gotta hustle, rise above the block.
4. Feeling my reign, it’s a solid drop.

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• Ev’ry battle, yeah, I’m taking the ground
• This is all me and I don’t mess around
• Ev’ry move I’m making I make it count
• I run with the team and we fill it out

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Developing FLOW

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Keep It Even:�Reinforce the feeling of timing and rhythm.

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Begin Each Triplet With Strong Accent:�Run it back/Drop the stack/Never lack

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Build on the Phrases:�Deliver 2 beats/Rest 2 beats

1. I will run this, never gonna stop.
2. I’m on top, you know I’m gonna rock.
3. Gotta hustle, rise above the block.
4. Feeling my reign, it’s a solid drop.

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• Ev’ry battle, yeah, I’m taking the ground
• This is all me and I don’t mess around
• Ev’ry move I’m making I make it count
• I run with the team and we fill it out

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Pass The FLOW

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Stand in a circle.

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First person says a triplet phrase (ex. “Check my flow”) then passes to the next person.

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Each participant adds a new 3-syllable phrase, creating a chain of triplet bars.

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Example chain:�Check my flow/Let it go/Now you know

Off-Beat FLOW

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Grind all day, I keep my life on track

I stack-small wins, then do it again

Now try…

Grind all day, I keep my life on track

I stack-small wins, then do it again

Rap Technique�Influence Flow/Delivery�

Internal Rhyme

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Grind all day, I keep my life on track-I stack

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Small wins, then do I it again-I double

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Back no pain/no gain- But keep the pace

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If LIFE’s my religion guess my RACE

Developing FLOW

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Straight Flow:�4 beats.

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Add Description:�This word should rhyme

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Add 1 more:�Words should rhyme

I’m on the mic, I gotta rhyme

I’m on the mic, I gotta rhyme so____.

I’m on the mic, I gotta rhyme so___ and____

Developing FLOW

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I’m on the mic, I gotta rhyme so___ and____

I’m staying_____ (adjective) never _____ (verb) the _____ (noun)

Developing FLOW

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I’m on the mic, I gotta rhyme so___ and____

I’m staying_____ (adjective) never _____ (verb) the _____ (noun)

Developing FLOW

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I’m on the mic, I gotta rhyme so___ and____

I’m staying_____ (adjective) never _____ (verb) the _____ (noun)

This is why I’m____ always______ my_____

Internal Rhyme Card CYPHER

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�

Choose a Card

Rhyme Cluster: -ack (back, stack, crack, track, attack)�

Sentence Stem:�“I bounce back when the ___ starts to __.”�

Challenge:�Use 3 internal rhymes in your line.

1. Create a total of 4 bars (or more)
2. Orchestrate the Rap
3. Practice/Repeat

Final Thoughts…

Resource Packet

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Workshops

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Additional Resources

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Roy Bailey

drumtasticks@gmail.com

Kind Regards