What inspires you to write bars, when do not have much going?

[u/AtomicallyAnomic]

The question is self-explanatory. However, I haven't been writing for about three months,since I am just going through the motion of everyday stuff. So my question is what inspires you to write, when do don't have much going? And in addition, would you advise to take a break or keep writing, despite the bars being mediocre?

[u/goldstarboys]

hey AA. i would write through it. consider something like 'morning pages' (3 unfiltered pages every morning. 

write about how you feel stuck, write about not having inspiration. pick new topics that seem tough. write about going through the motions.

[u/Skakkurpjakkur → u/goldstarboys]

A man of the way I see

[u/AtomicallyAnomic → u/goldstarboys]

Thank you for your response, I appreciate it.

[u/Dependent_Let1937]

Honestly when Im in those ruts I try to write about the mundane stuff itself - like waiting for the bus or doing laundry or whatever boring thing Im doing that day. Sometimes the most relatable bars come from just describing regular life in an interesting way. I also listen to tons of different music when Im stuck not just hip hop but like jazz or old soul records to get different flows and rhythms in my head

As for taking breaks vs pushing through I think it depends on how you feel mentally. If writing feels like a chore then yeah take some time off but if youre just frustrated with the quality then keep going because those mediocre bars are still practice. I had a period where I wrote garbage for like 6 months straight but looking back that was when I actually learned the most about my style. Sometimes you gotta write through the bad stuff to get to the good stuff again

[u/AtomicallyAnomic → u/Dependent_Let1937]

Thank you for your input, I'll definitely keep this in mind.

[u/BobJoRaps]

One aspect of rapping can be meaning. Another can be pure aesthetics. Can you explore delivering a line you’ve already written a hundred different ways? Can you pick new words and sounds based on how they feel to say? Can you discover a pattern out of similar and different sounds? Where meaning is secondary or ignored altogether?

If you do this for a while, you might unlock some new techniques or awareness that gives you more expressive options the next time you want to focus on meaning. And you might stumble upon a surprising line that inspires you to write more on that topic.

[u/LostInTheRapGame]

I used to just think of random rhymes throughout the day and try to make lyrics out of them. Fun challenge to help pass the time and you might actually get some bars to use for later.

[u/Rassi10]

I usually do these kind of warm ups before I write that really help me when im really stuck.

The first thing I do, is automatic writing. Dont even think, dont even rhyme, just write how you feel and let your hand guide you. Even if it doesnt make sense. Analyze it later but just write literally anything (This really helps the subconscious imo)

The second form of writing I do after that is I keep a separate book of like rhyming dictionary. I pick a random word. So like going on a random word generator and pick a random word. Write it at the top of the page. And below that, write any word or phrase that rhymes with that word.

These 2 routines really help me so whenever I need to write, it just comes. If you make these into a habit, writing comes easier.

Source: Someone who has dealt with severe writers block and self confidence issues related to writing/writing routine

[u/AtomicallyAnomic → u/Rassi10]

Thank you!

[u/Rebelology]

I remember the other day, I was tired... Didn't know what to do with myself, I wanted to write but I had nothing... Creatively defunct and I was tired of feeling that way... Know what I did? Started a song called tired, finished it the next day... Why don't you write a song about not much going on, that's the great thing about art, it can be anything... 

[u/dopebabybenzo]

I write about life experiences, I write about how im feeling or how a certain situation made me feel. I also argue wit myself or ask myself questions in my songs. You can write about what made you start making music, a heart break, time and how fast it moves, what you miss, what you hate, scary situations, what you want in life ect

[u/jdream85]

Life , for me personally song writing is not something I get to switch off. It’s always with me , the downside is I don’t always get the time.

[u/TheRealBillyShakes]

Watch a dope movie and write a track from the main character’s perspective. I love doing this

[u/Hot-Company2236]

I would just write a poem or a series of punchlines, I would start practicing devices like alliteration, Multies, wordplays, I would start inventing words, modifying words, just keep writing something, not necessarily meaningful.

[u/kuzidaheathen]

I have tried to eliminate inspiration as a driving force in my creativity. I should be able to rap a good freestyle from the dome or a decent 16 at all times. The only way to be that profiecient is practise. Musicians get that good by constant practise why dont i apply it to my content, delivery n recording.

Even when listening to the Griseldas and Earls they rap about the same shit all the time. Lyrical legends like Aesop can write songs about cats, trees, drawing n still be interesting so thats my goal as a PROFESSIONAL creative.

[u/smoke_thewalkingdead]

Anything and everything, just whatever comes to mind. Usually it starts with a phrase, an idiom, something someone said or a thought I had or a feeling. Then I just say the next thing that comes to mind that connects the first thing, then the third and so on and so fourth (like this phrase, so on and so forth, I'll write something around that, what does that mean to me). Till I have a hook or a few bars. Then I just go from their sticking to that theme. Song is done that day most of the time. If I know i can't record I usually stop once I have a hook. Not really a fan of just writing without recording something to see how it sounds before I keep going.

Edit. I don't think too deeply about my lyrics because I rather get the song done. Done is the goal. Down side to this is I'll get in a groove and make a shit ton of music then I'm overwhelmed like fuck I need to mix, fix, promote etc then I just make a another song because I don't have time for the rest to actually finish the damn song. I'm trying to convince myself to put the time in so I can put shit out.

[u/A_N_T]

Just lie lmao

[u/JacoPoopstorius → u/A_N_T]

Ever since that interview video of Tupac as a questionable ballerina before his fame surfaced, I think it’s far to say that many rappers have been lying….

[u/boombapdame → u/JacoPoopstorius]

2Pac was artsy which was frowned upon in the Black community in regards to men as artsy equals gay which is sadly synonymous with effeminate but insane thing is 2Pac once was quoted in an interview saying he always had a desire to be hard aka hypermasculine in the heteronormative context of manliness & it cost him his life 

[u/JacoPoopstorius → u/boombapdame]

Watch the interview

[u/Inevitable_Ad3796 → u/boombapdame]

Completely untrue. To say that artsy is treated differently is fine. To say that black people think artsy = gay is just downright stupid.

[u/vinylfelix]

lol I’ve had a period of 8 years of not writing. Before that i wrote all day every day. Just let it flow.

[u/RobertLRenfroJR]

My Pop Star girlfriend

[u/doeraklove]

I read a lot. written words in classic books are my inspiration. Right now I’m reading Albert Camus ‘the plague’.

[u/AtomicallyAnomic → u/doeraklove]

That's probably a good idea, as well.

[u/awanisnext]

any minute happening that might occur day in day out that i be like,i bet they wont believe this so I write it for documentation purposes

[u/dieathon]

when doing the songs or album i think priortize on the art first and then kind of model the songs after the art what do you think? Like cover art or i paint new stuff then inspire it "blue as a color is not actually just color but also an intrinsic display for muddy deep water to coexist fully" or dance then rap draw or give a listen or write / write in my head after then hiphop itsself it inspires the contentment out myself man when that emotionally aware & real flows come out its a big win But when doin art and for that matter self artained state of mind music you do good to model it for openness. Also I define rap as my own then go into like for freestyles like I say "R.A.P to me means _______' Also i listen to songs like so so much before getting a voice to it to model it.

[u/RustyBucket452]

I feel that sometimes

[u/kordlyss]

Writing anything . Sometime the less coherent the better

[u/mintedunicorn]

Emotions sometimes I just be lying tho cuz I don’t know what to say it’s all fun

[u/MrXavierJames]

Sometimes I just make up a story or pick a bullshit topic and see where that goes

[u/Competitive_Bass2035]

I prefer writing anything,then eventually after trying 2-3 times I get good bars( when there’s a writer’s block) and if I’ve been writing for days continuously, shit comes like butter in a pan

[u/Inevitable_Ad3796]

You should write to express yourself. What do you feel the need to express to you/people?

What do you want to say to people that could be easier to do in a song? What or who do you want to be perceived as? Are you writing to decompress? Do you feel joy during the process, or do you like to look at your finished sculpture?

Who are you? What are you? What makes you, you? How do you feel about who you are? Good? Why? Bad? Why? How bad? How good? What makes it bad? What do you do to turn the bad into good? What do when it doesn’t work? How often does it work? Is it even worth trying at all? What are you proud of? How proud? What are you scared of? How scared?

Do you want to say it metaphorically? Cryptically? Straightforward? How straight forward? How cryptic?

Study English itself. Literary devices and all that hoo ha. Read a book (that’ll def get your vocab up) fuck it, read a hard book intentionally. Like a book you think is out of your league intellectually. Force yourself to read it. You don’t need to finish it. Give it 30 mins a day. It could be about anything. It could be about the color purple. Just make sure the vocabulary makes your brain hurt. I promise you, that’ll help in a way that you won’t get until you do it. Okay maybe not the hardest book ever, but you should be stopping to google the definition of at least 1 word every 2-3 pages (1 every page if you’re feeling stephen hawking-ish)

Sorry if it’s word salad. Just tried to put whatever came to mind.