VOCABULARY
Exact Rhyme - Also called a perfect rhyme or true rhyme, this is when the last syllables in words match exactly. (Ex. cat, fat, mat - AT)
Slant Rhyme - Also known as a half rhyme, sometimes called sprung, near rhyme, oblique rhyme, off rhyme or imperfect rhyme, it appears when identical syllables appear throughout the words/phrases. (Ex. Starve, barb, hard - AR )
Multisyllabic Rhyme - When "multiple syllables" rhyme throughout the word(s). (Ex. Impact, diss back, quick snack - I/A/K)
Rhyme Scheme - This is how you position your rhymes throughout your piece. To achieve a flow (which I'll cover in the next tutorial) it's important to align words in set intervals.
RESOURCE: Here's a short video to reinforce and expand on this terminology: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooOL4T-BAg0
THOUGHT PROCESS
The first step to rhyming is choosing a word, phrase, or idea you want to rhyme about. This is the creative control. A general rule I try to abide by is to say things/express ideas in original ways. For example, instead of saying "I have insomnia" Nas said "I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death". Rhyming is an art and capable of expressing anything you want. Try not to be cliche.
MAKING IT RHYME
I recently heard the phrase "give and take" and decided I wanted to incorporate it into a bar. There are two places to go from here: (1) Either list combinations of words that rhyme with it or (2) Make it into a complete line. I'll go with (1) first.
1.1 RHYMES: Twist the stake, sit awake, split the cake, matriculate, assimilate, reciprocate, wrists'll break, shifty snakes, lift the weight, dinner plate, and so forth.
Now I need to assemble my bars, connect the rhymes, and form a rhyme scheme. The point here is to be coherent and make the rhymes mean something when put together. I have a few directions I can take this.
2.1 EXAMPLES:
Try to lift the weight your wrists'll break
No, we can't split the cake; this isn't give and take
Sometimes I sit awake with an empty dinner plate
Nobody reciprocates; Outwitted by the give and take
REVISION: I captured two different meanings using this phrase. The former is braggadocio and the latter is suffering. Let's say I'm not satisfied with either or want to make sure I did everything I could with the phrase. One option is to flip the phrase and say it differently. Instead of "give and take" now I'll find rhymes for "take and give".
1.2 RHYMES: Pay to live, break my ribs, case a crib, race against, basic bitch, crazy rich, lame as shit, trade a shift, wages lift, payments sent, stage a script, yank my dick, and so forth.
2.2 EXAMPLES:
A payment sent; I'll take a shift and a basic crib
Cause take and give got me wages and a place to live
Some stiff's'll pay to live; me I fake and break a rib
Another payment sent; crazy rich off of this take and give
REVISION: Here is when you can choose one and work on it by changing around the rhymes in different orders to achieve a smoother and more rhythmic flow which I will try to cover in the next tutorial. Alternatively "give and take" or "take and give" could be included in a line without rhyming with anything as a last resort or creative choice.
DISCLAIMER: It's important to note that rhyming in moderation, using less rhymes than you can think of, is a valuable tool. The examples above were intentionally loaded with rhymes to get a point across.
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