---
last-updated: 2026-04-10
genre: Rap / Hip-Hop
aliases: [Trap, Boom Bap, Drill, Grime, Cloud Rap, Lo-Fi Hip-Hop]
bpm-range: 130-170 BPM (half-time feel)
---

# Rap / Hip-Hop - Song Structure Template

## Standard Structure

**AABA** -- Verse / Hook / Verse / Hook / Verse / Hook (3 verses, 3 hooks)

## Section Flow

### 1. [Intro]
- **Suno metatag:** `[Intro]`
- **Content:** Beat drop-in, ad-libs, or short spoken intro
- **Lines:** 0-4
- **Delivery:** `[Spoken]` or `[Rapped]`
- **Notes:** Sets the tone. Can be instrumental or a producer tag.

### 2. [Verse 1]
- **Suno metatag:** `[Verse 1]`
- **Role:** Main narrative content, establishes the topic/story
- **Lines:** 8-16 (16 bars standard in boom bap; 8-12 in trap/drill)
- **Delivery:** `[Rapped]`, `[Trap Flow]`, `[Boom Bap Flow]`, or `[Melodic Rap]`
- **Notes:** Dense lyrical content. Rhyme scheme varies by subgenre.

### 3. [Chorus]
- **Suno metatag:** `[Chorus]`
- **Role:** Catchy, memorable hook. Sums up the track's message.
- **Lines:** 4-8
- **Delivery:** Often more melodic than verses. `[Melodic Rap]` or `[Sung]`
- **Notes:** In rap, "hook" and "chorus" are interchangeable. Use `[Chorus]` for Suno consistency.

### 4. [Verse 2]
- **Suno metatag:** `[Verse 2]`
- **Role:** Deepens the narrative, new angle or escalation
- **Lines:** 8-16
- **Notes:** Must NOT repeat Verse 1 content. New perspective or escalation.

### 5. [Chorus]
- **Suno metatag:** `[Chorus]`
- **Lines:** 4-8

### 6. [Verse 3]
- **Suno metatag:** `[Verse 3]`
- **Role:** Conclusion, twist, or climax of the narrative
- **Lines:** 8-16
- **Notes:** Optional in shorter tracks. Common in boom bap, less common in trap.

### 7. [Chorus]
- **Suno metatag:** `[Chorus]`
- **Lines:** 4-8

### 8. [Outro]
- **Suno metatag:** `[Outro]`
- **Content:** Ad-libs, beat fade, or final statement
- **Lines:** 0-4
- **Notes:** Optional. `[Fade Out]` or `[End]`.

## Variations

| Variation | Structure | When to Use |
|-----------|-----------|-------------|
| 2-verse (trap) | Verse / Hook / Verse / Hook / Outro | Trap, drill -- shorter, hook-driven |
| Bridge before final hook | Verse / Hook / Verse / Hook / Bridge / Hook | Emotional rap, storytelling tracks |
| No hook (freestyle) | Verse 1 / Verse 2 / Verse 3 | Pure lyrical showcase, cypher-style |
| Intro hook | Hook / Verse / Hook / Verse / Hook | Hook-first for immediate catchiness |

## Densite Syllabique Cible

Plafonds par ligne pour le rap / hip-hop selon sous-genre. Voir `reference/linguistic/{french,english}/flow.md` pour les details.

| Sous-genre | BPM ressenti | Verse rec/max | Chorus rec/max |
|------------|--------------|---------------|-----------------|
| Boom bap | 80-95 | 14 / 16 | 10 / 12 |
| Trap (full-time) | 130-150 | 8 / 10 | 6 / 8 |
| Trap (half-time) | 65-75 | 12 / 14 | 8 / 10 |
| Drill (half-time) | 70-75 | 10 / 12 | 7 / 9 |
| Cloud rap / Lo-fi | 70-90 | 10 / 13 | 7 / 9 |
| Conscious / Spoken | 80-100 | 14 / 18 | 10 / 12 |

## Patterns de Flow Caracteristiques

5 patterns rythmiques typiques du rap :

1. **Boom bap downbeat-driven** : flow aligne sur les beats 1-2-3-4. Punchlines a la fin du 4-bar. Multisyllabique apprecie. Exemple : Nas, MF DOOM.

2. **Trap triolets sur 16e** : phrasing en triolets sur les hi-hats (ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta), punchlines off-beat sur le 3.5 ou 4.5. Exemple : Migos, Future.

3. **Drill sliding off-beat** : flow qui glisse derriere le beat (delivery legerement en retard), creates tension. Multisyllabiques en finale. Exemple : Pop Smoke, Central Cee.

4. **Cloud rap slow flow** : voyelles tenues, syllabes etalees sur plusieurs beats, flow "vapeur". Exemple : Lil B, Yung Lean.

5. **Multisyllabic technical** : rimes 3+ syllabes par paire, internal rhymes denses, schema complexe. Exemple : Eminem, Kendrick Lamar.

## References Auditives Canoniques

5 artistes / tracks de reference selon sous-genres :

- **Kendrick Lamar — "DNA."** (technical conscious rap, multisyllabique, flow shapeshifter, beat switch maitrise)
- **MF DOOM — "Doomsday"** (multisyllabique mastery, internal rhymes denses, slant rhymes valorises, vocabulary unique)
- **Future — "Mask Off"** (trap pioneer, melodic flow, hook minimaliste catchy, ad-libs signature)
- **Pop Smoke — "Dior"** (drill sliding flow, off-beat punchlines, voix grave dominante)
- **J. Cole — "MIDDLE CHILD"** (boom bap modern, storytelling, alignement downbeat, conscious mais accessible)

**Note bilingue :** pour le rap francophone, ajouter Booba ("Validee" pour le flow trap), Damso ("Smog" pour le multisyllabique francais), Nekfeu ("Princesse" pour le boom bap moderne francais).

## Hook

Voir `reference/linguistic/hooks-punchlines.md` pour la procedure complete.

**Specifique rap :**
- **Hook = chorus melodique OU slogan martele** selon sous-genre. Trap/cloud rap = melodique catchy. Boom bap conscious = slogan ou refrain memorable.
- **Punchline placement :** ligne 4 d'un 4-bar (= 4eme ligne, decalage rythmique amplifié).
- **Densite punchline :** 2-4 punchlines par 16-bar (rap technique), 1-2 (rap standard). Au-dela = surcharge.
- **Multisyllabique en hook :** valorise en rap. Une rime multisyllabique slant compte autant qu'une perfect monosyllabique.

**Anti-patterns rap :**
- "Brag-only" hooks ("I'm the best, I'm the king") sans angle ni tournant = generique
- 100% perfect rhymes monosyllabiques en hook = signe de manque de skill (slant valorise)
- 4 punchlines en 4 lignes = surcharge, l'auditeur decroche
- Hook qui se contente d'enoncer le titre 4x sans variation

## Notes

- Rap tracks in Suno: keep lines moderate length (8-12 syllables ideal, avoids slurring at tempo)
- `[Rapped]` delivery tag is critical -- without it, Suno may sing the lyrics instead of rapping
- For trap: `[Trap Flow]`, `[808 Bass]` in style prompt, half-time feel notation
- Bridge is rare in rap but effective for emotional or storytelling tracks
- Ad-libs (`[Ad-libs]`) can be placed after verse sections for authenticity
- Boom bap tends toward 16-bar verses; trap/drill toward 8-12 bars
