How to Rap Like Eminem

Co-authored by Tanisha Hall

Last Updated: November 6, 2022 References Approved

If you love Eminem's music and are an aspiring rapper, it makes sense that you would like to emulate his rapping style. Eminem is known as one of the most prolific rappers of all time, and the delivery and speed at which he raps are unparalleled. He is also known for intense and intelligent lyrics that tell a story. If you study his style, listen to his music, and work to improve your own rapping skills, you can rap just like Eminem.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Emulating Eminem’s Style

1
Listen to all of Eminem's albums. The more you hear his style, the easier it will be to emulate his sound. Eminem has evolved and improved over time, so listening to his entire discography will give you insight into his growth as a musician. Take special notice of the way that he delivers words and rhymes and pay attention to how detailed his lyrics are.
- Eminem's albums include Infinite, The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show, Encore, Relapse, Recovery, The Marshall Mathers LP 2, Revival, Kamikaze, and Music to Be Murdered By. ^{[1]
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2
Be extreme. Eminem’s delivery is intense and extreme. Don’t be afraid to talk about taboo subjects or take unpopular stances on certain things. When rapping about things that you're passionate about, increase the intensity of your voice and make it seem like you're angry or outraged.^{[2]
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3
Tell a story in your rhymes. Instead of just rapping about random events in your life, think about ways to tell a story in your song. One of Eminem’s calling cards is telling an entire story in a song. Instead of having disconnected lyrics, try to write lyrics that are cohesive and that tell a whole story.
- For example, in the song "Stan," Eminem tells the story of an obsessed fan and the tragic consequences of his actions.
- You can write about a significant event in your life.
4
Include metaphors and current events in your rhymes. On top of his story-telling technique, Eminem is also known for metaphors and wordplay. Speak on current events and let people know where you stand on sensitive issues. Think of different ways to describe things and try to link different parts of society together.^{[3]
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- For example, in the song "Nail in the Coffin" Eminem raps "‘Cause you'll be all over the street, like 50 Cent" which refers to the then popularity of rapper 50 Cent and how he was widely distributed, while creating wordplay because pocket change can often be found on the street.
- You can create metaphors about school and how it's like a prison or violence and how it's like a war.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Writing Rhymes Like Eminem

1
Write your lyrics down. Eminem writes down his lyrics and the thoughts that he has. Instead of trying to think of lyrics off the top of your head, write down lyrics that can be used in different situations and for different songs. Keep a notepad or smartphone with you so that you can write down lyrics as you think of them.^{[4]
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Edit your rhymes. Eminem aims for perfection and edits his work in order to achieve it. Read over the rhymes you have and try to tighten them up. If there are lines that have too many or too little syllables, edit them so everything fits. Find precise adjectives for the lyrics that you're writing and continue to refine your work.^{[5]
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Read as much as you can. One way to expand your vocabulary is by reading as much as you possibly can. Look up new words in the dictionary and grow your repertoire of rhyming words. Novels, newspapers, and blogs can help expand your vocabulary. This will help you think of lyrics as you write new songs.^{[6]
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Give words a different pronunciation to rhyme them. Many times Eminem’s lines don’t rhyme but they sound like they do. This is commonly referred to as “bending words” and can be used to rhyme two words that sound similar but don’t rhyme. Adjust the pronunciation of certain vowels so that the words sound the same.^{[7]
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- For example, in “Lose Yourself” Eminem rhymes “arms are heavy” with “mom’s spaghetti.” “Arms” and “mom’s” don’t rhyme, but can sound similar if you enunciate the o and m at the end of “mom’s” to sound like the r and m in “arms.”
- In “Lose Yourself”, Eminem uses bending words to create the lines “oh there goes Rabbit/ he choked he’s so mad but he/no he won’t have it he.” In this rhyme, “oh” sounds like “choked” and “no,” “goes” sounds like “so” and “won’t,” and Rabbit sounds like “mad” and “have.”
5
Write multisyllabic rhymes. Words like “duck” and “truck” are single syllable rhymes. Eminem employs a more advanced rhyming scheme in the majority of his songs known as multisyllabic rhyming. This means that multiple parts of each word or multiple syllables within a word rhyme. When writing down your rhymes, break down larger words into parts and try to rhyme each corresponding part with another word.
- The song "Infinite" is a great example of multisyllabic rhyming when Eminem says, "Ayo, my pen and paper cause a chain reaction/To get your brain relaxin', the zany actin' maniac in action/A brainiac in fact, son, you mainly lack attraction."^{[8]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Improving Your Skills

1
Record yourself and listen to the playback. After you’ve written some verses, you can try to rap them out loud. Record yourself with an audio recorder and listen to the recording. Pay attention to your flow and see if the rhymes sound good. Take notice of places where you stumble or parts of the lyrics that don’t sound good. Concentrate on the areas where you’re weak.
2
Start small. If you don’t have any experience rapping, it’s best to start off with simple verses and simple rhymes. Don’t try to do complex or multi-syllable rhymes when you’re first starting off. Instead, use the simplest verses you can think of and keep practicing them until you master them.^{[9]
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Freestyle battle other rappers. Eminem was known for his freestyle battle rap style, where he would improvise lyrics on the spot. Practice by battling other rappers and putting your freestyle skills to the test. To prepare, practice rapping written verses and study words that rhyme. Incorporate what your opponent is rapping about in your own lyrics to impress the audience.^{[10]
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4
Rap along with Eminem songs to gain his cadence. To sound more like Eminem when you rhyme, play his songs and try to rap along with his lyrics. This will get you acclimated to rapping at the same speed and rhythm that Eminem uses. Continue to listen to rap along with his music until you can keep up with his fast-flowing style.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I get my name out there as a serious rapper?

Community Answer

Upload your tracks on YouTube and share them on Facebook, advertise on Instagram, rap on Snapchat, etc. to gain a following.
Question

How can I freestyle like Eminem?

Community Answer

If you are second, the easier position, then think of your rap while he is giving his. If you have to go first, you do NOT have to go immediately. You can take some time to feel the beat and think about your words. However, you can't think of everything, so it might help to just think of words that rhyme ahead of time that you can easily put together on the fly based on the situation.
Question

Can I use bad words in my rapping?

Community Answer

If you want to, go for it. You are the only person that can make such decision.