Having a sturdy set of lyrics is most essential for any hit rap composition. Within rap music lies a lyrical vocal style unique to the genre, mainly because of its emphasis on the human voice. For you to make your own rap, you must first create your own set of lyrics. This involves finding a topic dear to you, or at least one you find interesting. One of the most important things is to have paper and a pen on you at all times. Lyrical brilliance can shine at any time, and it would be a shame to forget it before you can write it down.
With lyrics, you have half the elements in a rap song. What's left is the music or beat that will bring power to your lyrics. Before thinking about the music itself, think about what you want it to achieve. Do you wish it to be sad or happy, energetic or slow? This of course is all tied in with the message and focus of your lyrics. If you feel confident enough to make your own beats, invest in some digital music creation software such as Fruity Loops, Pro Tools, or Reason. Learn these programs, and you will be able to forge powerful tracks. If you do not feel confident making your own beats, there are countless tracks and beats available in the public domain. A simple search of the Web for free beats will get you started.
Once you have both music and lyrics, begin experimenting with them in unison. During the creation of your beat, you kept your lyrics and their message in the back of your mind. Begin practicing your lyrics in team with your music. Here is where verse and rhyme become crucial in your song's completion. In a sense, you're figuring out how to structure your song. Use basic song structure to help the flow. Typically, a song consists of an introduction, a verse, a pre-chorus, a chorus, a bridge, an instrument solo, an outro and even an ad lib. Any of these, depending on your style, can be easily modified or excluded. Use these as guides, not as constraints.
When your song is complete and to your liking, you can then begin to experiment with recording and special effects. With the programs listed previously, you can easily record your vocal tracks directly onto your computer with a USB microphone. Most of these programs offer easy-to-use special effects, too, allowing you more freedom for your creativity.