Kendrick Lamar Teaches How To Write Rap Songs Faster In 3 Steps

“Big Boy: How many unreleased songs do you have in your head or that we haven’t heard yet?

Kendrick Lamar: Thousands. I done lost hard drives. Hard drives from ’05, ’06… we never got them back. Took it to San Francisco to get it fixed, never got fixed…

It’s a need to never be content or to be comfortable. You always want to continue to grow so, whatever that challenge is, I’m looking for it.”

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In this clip, Kendrick Lamar discusses the necessary mentality for rappers and even creatives in any endeavor to succeed in their chosen craft:

Outwork your competition and you’ll outpace their success
In a second we’ll see Kendrick develop his thoughts in this clip on how to write rap songs faster…

But the fact that Kendrick Lamar has hard drives full of rap going back to 2005, more than 15 years ago, and STILL has that hungry creative edge to write better and better raps…

Tells you everything you need to know on why he’s in the top discussions for #1 rappers in the game right now.

In this article, we’ll use clips directly from Kendrick Lamar himself on his writing process, artistic motivations, and much more…

But with that said, let’s lock in on the first step from this clip taught by Kendrick on how to write rap songs faster:

Obsession Leads To Inspiration

“Big Boy: Do you feel like you wrote your best verse yet?

Kendrick Lamar: No. I’m always searching for that.

Big Boy: When you write Kendrick, do you write in the head or on a device?

Kendrick Lamar: All three. However I can get to it, might just jump on the mic, might get a pen and just a tablet right (here).” — Kendrick Lamar Interview, 1:24–1:44

Rappers and artists of all styles often get mislead into thinking that we have to “wait for inspiration to strike” in order to make good creative product.

The entire concept of “inspiration striking” leads people to believe that the best writing process is one where you live a normal life, and then suddenly like a lightning bolt an excellent rap will buzz into your brain.

The truth of the matter is all of the GOAT level rappers do NOT think like this, and as Kendrick pointed out here, they are actively SEARCHING and PUSHING for their mind to provide them cutting-edge bars, rhymes, and song structures to take over the game once again.

The way this is done is by focusing more on having an OBSESSIVE mindset around knowing how to write rap songs faster… rather than having a “inspiration will strike” reactive mindset that so many artists fall prey to.

Quick-Tip: Screenshot Fresh Ideas
In your case, one of the first things you can do is as you listening to new music on Spotify or YouTube is screenshot any time you discover a new song title or song concept that you like the minute you see it.

That will help you to remember and build up a “library” of instant ideas you can pull from any time you’re ready to sit down to write.

The reason it’s important to always have an “idea library” as as someone who wants to learn how to write rap songs faster is you need to lower the amount of time each step in the process takes -

Such as how long it takes to “come up with new ideas” -

By having a library of titles and songs ready to go at any moment.

But the first step to learning how to write rap songs faster the Kendrick Lamar way is to turn that “waiting for inspiration to strike” mindset into an OBSESSIVE, forceful mentality with a library of ideas ready to go at any second.

What makes this even better is that once you master the “obsessive mastery” mindset, when the pressure is ON in a studio and other artists and potential collaborators are ready to work, you’ll be able to do it consciously and creatively, which brings us to…

[HowToRapOfficial]

COMMENT: What’s the fastest time you’ve ever written a full song?

[dubglikemike]

It makes life fun when you're always in the zone thinking of songs

[d.michael]

He may write raps fast, but he takes his precious time releasing projects. Take note!

[boookythegod]

I been rapping since 03, I’m 28 now and a 95 baby… I say that to say, I write whole songs in like 10-30 min, and I NEVER use other songs as reference or “ library “ to pull ideas, I just listen to the beat and let it tell me what words to write. Ain’t no method, if it doesn’t click instantly, that ain’t the beat or you not in the mood at that moment.

[ikejay]

Wrote a song a handful of years back in about 15 minutes. Later that year in school I had the front row singing the chorus from memory at the talent show. A very high moment for me.

[mrjonesraps]

My process can fluctuate. Some songs I can write in 10 mins, some take me 8 months. I've found that the quick ones tend to actually be better. The ones that take too long, I end up dwelling on them and second guessing myself.

[druSLR]

3-4 hours full song
Hook, verse, laid down, and a premix. Was feeling so inspired that day. I’ve been working with a new group of collaborators that push me to be better every session and now I’m writing verses in 30 minutes to an hour. Gonna keep working to make that faster 🙏🏼 to everyone in the comments chasing your dreams.. KEEP GOING! Y’all got a fan in me and I love you all 💜
Peace

[Kickstar]

I lost at least 2 years trying to become a rapper. I started as a rapper when I was 20 (around 2000) (rapping about my views, my environment, etc). And after 4 years of hard work, I realized that I can't deliver what people like (at that time). So I tried to be the rapper that people like. That was one of the worst decisions I ever made. I lost my way. When I realized that was the cause of a lot of problems in my life, I turned back. Since then it's been a very personal thing again and since then it's back to what it should be for me. And that's exactly what Kendrick said about it. A way to understand myself and the world and to share this way with others, if that is or becomes possible. But the most important thing is what you do, not whether people like you for it or not. I've become very radical about that. Of course, it's like a game of bingo. No one can tell you if anyone will ever be interested and if you can finance your life with it. But either you are an artist or you are just a performer. That's the difference between realness and fake for me. Realness works regardless of what comes and with full dedication to the extreme. You have to be willing to do that to become professional, in the sense of being an artist, not a moneymaker.
Thanks for that video and the importend message.

[UnvoicedTheArtist]

The shortest I've written a song was about an hour. This video is helping me to stop waiting for that moment when I'll hear a hit and write a banger but instead play many beats and try to write to all of them. Thank you and I wish the best for every one of you artists out there. Keep grinding! 🤙🏽

[joonxciv]

in terms of “delivery” I really feel that Kendrick and many great artists dont actually “write”…. They are capturing a message they were sent from the source of their lyrics as if they are a vessel to “deliver” that message

[niko_cochise]

This was actually fire content for upcoming artist! SALUTE!

[projectterranova]

I'll see you at the top brother, and I thank you because you're a major factor in how I got to where I am and where I'm going. Bless!

[jujubeanz]

This is the mindset I have. I’m always rapping and writing. Going back tweaking verses that I thought were hot. Reshaping and reforming. Taking verses that fit better structurally on a different song and replace that verse.

[mmafan]

I've recently just started writing raps 40 hours a week because of what I saw kendrick say in a previous video and it has payed off so far started being able to write songs in one day rather than spending 2 weeks so hopefully I'll be able to get to 30 minutes

[rayrayalmightyone]

I appreciate you mane! I needed this mane! 💯🧘🏾‍♂️

[MM-bwlo]

This man is a beast, I definitely wanna learn whatever I can from him

[personamemes]

Holy fucking shit Drew I hope you read this

The question you asked at the end of the video:

I used to watch this channel when I was in grade 2017 because I wanted to get into rap. I stopped for a bit but now my friends and I made an album for fun and I needed help. I started watching your channel again because I remembered your name. When I was making a song with my friend, I sent him my vocals so he could add to it and send back. I would then upload the song to the album. But when he sent his verse to me, I was shocked and a little embarrassed because his was so good! So much better than mine, too. So, on the day of the premiere, I re wrote my whole part on my 20 minute lunch break, and recorded it as soon as I got home. Was so happy with it I felt proud to show it off and my friends loved it.

I just want to say thank you, and that your video's do work!!

[dkpoetry]

I love jotting down notes on my phone and iPad whenever inspiration strikes - you never know when a great idea will pop up! When it comes to writing my poems, I like to freestyle and let the words flow naturally. It's a fun and spontaneous way for me to express myself through my art.

[olokoibrahim]

Have been writing for months, but still finding it hard to get something out of it. I will be back to drop my testimony I promise.

[tylerwilliams]

I can only start with 2 bars and then don’t know where to go after that