Gr.

5 Hip Hop Assignment

Your job is to create a hip hop song with a partner or in a group of 3.
You need to do the following:
Work with a partner/partners to agree on a topic. You may pick any topic as long
as it is appropriate. This means that your subject matter, language and topic is
something youd share at school.

List 20 things you can think of that make you think of this subject. Try to list some
rhyming ideas. For instance, if you are writing about Sponge Bob try to think
of all of the different things you can talk about with the characters:
Spongebob SquarePants & Patrick Star
They take boating lessons, they dont drive a car
Squidward Tentacles is the king of sour
Plankton thinks the crabby patty formula will give him power
Your topic:_____________________ Your Title:_______________________
Rhyming is your friend. Try to put a rhyming line underneath a line or beside it.

You will attach a lined sheet of paper with neatly printed lyrics [or you can type them if you
wish.]
So now you need to put your ideas to music. The cool thing about Hip Hop is that there are very
few rules [other than making something that sounds cool, getting some good rhythm patterns and
finding a riff.] A riff is a simple repeated pattern that surfaces throughout a song. Rock songs
have them. Country songs have them. Pop Songs have them. Most songs have riffs. Some people
also call this part a hook. This is a part you hope people will remember about your song.
Many hip hop songs sample or borrow a riff or hook from another pre-recorded song. I will
allow you to do thisbut you have to play the part on the xylophone or keyboard. If you can
play it on the guitar and you can make your case, I will agree to that as well.
This should be only 4-10 notes. Keep it short. You will use 4/4 time and you need to draw in the
bar lines to end each measure of 4 beats. I would suggest C major as your key, but you may use
another if you know what youre doing.

Now you need a rhythm pattern. You will use a keyboard for this. Pick a rhythm
pattern using the Casio or Yamaha keyboard. Write down the keyboard you used,
the name of the rhythm setting and the tempo [beats per minute bpm.]

Keyboard:______________________________________
Rhythm Setting: ________________________________
BPM:__________________________________________

Go back and write down where the riff will be played. It should only appear in
certain parts of the song. You dont want TOO much of a good thing!

Rubrics for Hip Hop Song

Level 4

I was focused on my task and used my time very well.

I created a well-thought, great hip hop song.

I used effective voices/tones.

My lyrics, plans and music notation are very neat, and detailed so I can
follow them and so can my teacher.

My hip hop song is extremely well performed and everyone has written and
performed a verse.

Level 3

I was focused on my task and used my time well.

I created a well-thought, good hip hop song.

I used effective voices/tones most of the time.

My lyrics, plans and musical notation are neat, and detailed so I can follow
them and so can my teacher.

My hip hop song is well performed and everyone has written and performed
a verse.
Level 2

I was focused on my task and used my time well some of the time.

I created a satisfactory hip hop song.

I used effective voices/tones some of the time.

My lyrics, plans and musical notation are somewhat neat, and detailed so I
can follow them and so can my teacher some of the time.

My hip hop song is satisfactorily performed and everyone has written and
performed a verse with some assistance.

Level 1

I was rarely focused on my task and rarely used my time well.

I created a limited hip hop song.

I inconsistently used effective voices/tones.

My lyrics, plans and musical notation are not neat, and rarely detailed so I
can follow them and so can my teacher.

My hip hop song is incomplete, and everyone has not written or performed a
verse.