How To Count and Write 16 Bars in Rap

[@LongBeachGriffy]

Thanks man !

[@Samuelrodrigues_]

Damnn. U rapping?

[@Samuelrodrigues_]

Looks like im first

[@10K-x9v]

Friday was funny bredren

[@CurtissKingTV]

Anytime. I'm honored bro. You are deadass one of my favorite comedians

[@popswagga8071]

Dam big dad Griffey on the beat...💀💀💀

[@Hobolishus123]

was deadass nodding my head to this dude counting lmfao

[@Mexalori]

Sameee😂

[@andim.8788]

Heyyy man that was hard

[@BiggiePariah5700]

Me to

[@kaneallen3307]

Found the comment I was looking for

[@sinister2055]

💯💯💯

[@mracine2837]

1.Some people never make it They forget the basics Dreams might be evasive But you gotta chase it 2.Start with a rhyme It might take some time Strengthen up your mind, like The stars you will shine 3.Livid shit is intimate Hit it with a instrument witnesses ain't finna listen To timid delivery 4. Never though Most of us might ever glow Give ya all at every show Till I'm dust I'll be rappin forever yo

[@IAintNoRookie]

That's crazy like I understand that but I don't know how to put all that in my own words like a 16 I do not understand that at all

[@selormalormene4322]

Wow!!i've been a stranger to this topic for 2 decades.I'm from a small city in west Africa Ghana.all I have to say is,may you increase in wisdom.God richly bless you my brother.

[@tfromthasix1956]

I literally felt like I learned a rap hack when you were explaining the topic switching.. Damn, subbed

[@CurtissKingTV]

Thank you for the sub! Just subbed back!

[@creepinNinja413]

Genuinely felt like a friend who was really passionate was giving me a lesson. Felt encouraged and actually smiled, thanks for the vid man

[@AllThruChrist]

FACTS. That’s true. #ThankYouForBeingAFriend 😂😊❤

[@ihsanAgaz]

This is sick. Now I know how to make a beat and write a raps song

[@rilist23]

Right 👌

[@Neos4398]

i am one.

[@marquischristopher15]

chudabeat I rap

[@theprophet_-__cxvii__-_8693]

chudabeats Is online really a good way to contact good producers? Usually I make connections offline in the real world lol. But whatever works

[@keith6643]

chudabeats I am about to start rapping and I need a producer

[@dirtayboyz3000]

One of the best tutorials I've found on youtube. 100% many Mahalos.

[@allstarzecsi5853]

Tt

[@allstarzecsi5853]

Kekekekeek8ek8ryrhrtet

[@ajayimoe2140]

Quiero recomendar encarecidamente FLENDEX HACKER. Es solo un tipo honesto. cómo pudo recuperar mi cuenta de Facebook que no puedo explicar. gracias FLENDEX HACKER..

[@abimmakhatib4627]

Oh Jes man you right

[@sundeepkeramalu3312]

Your teaching is simple and beautiful. I learnt something because of you today. Thank you very much.

[@CurtissKingTV]

Thank you fam and you are absolutely welcome!

[@adelcool99]

true

[@timtvnyc24hrs46]

Best rapper of old time is @somebodysignmenow

[@timtvnyc24hrs46]

@@adelcool99 Best rapper of old time is @somebodysignmenow

[@timtvnyc24hrs46]

@@CurtissKingTV Best rapper of old time is @somebodysignmenow

[@YousufSaad]

That's why Eminem was crying about snare in "Cleanin out my closet"

[@marissax.x4951]

Know iT MMA lmao

[@jaywalker146]

Dude I thought this exact same thing lol!! 😂

[@hechpee]

thank God he found it

[@Nighhhts]

It’s literally the most fundamental thing in a beat. Without the snare, there’s no pattern, consistency, flow or song...

[@aufriahbasis]

Wheres the snare ? Ive got no snare on my headphones !

[@JBRitchie8]

You're a great teacher, everything in this video was clear as day.

[@CurtissKingTV]

Thank you!

[@danielbyrd686]

True shit! Awesome vid man. Couldn't of been easier to understand!

[@frankmadison8699]

Curtiss King TV what about Eminem

[@reddluxx2226]

TDotsfinest97 frfr

[@lowercaseghost]

TDotsfinest97 I just tried doing this to Logic’s music and I couldn’t keep up :/ ... Maybe I should start with someone simpler like Gucci Mane or Lil Pump :)

[@slc3233]

6min 28 sec. This is why there is NO NEED TO CLICK on any other 16 bar break down. Ive been writing since 84 and i "learned" to count i just flow with the beat and i watched your video and put #'s next to my lines and was like...16!!! This video needs to shut down the internet. Its the BEST explanation ever. Good teachers give simple instructions. Ok i am done giving you props but f.y.i. "you got the props, the juice and all that and dem some.." thanks and and all with out foul language!!!!!

[@jonspak937]

Bro sweat I was just counting raps I already wrote n it was 16

[@kristofer_joseph]

This blew my mind.! I'm so grateful for these tips.! 🙏🏾

[@CurtissKingTV]

Man, I'm glad you found value in this video!!!

[@will4726]

+Curtiss King TV i just tried this with some of my own material and im shocked. I literally unknowingly use this formula for everything i got. Would it sound unorthodox if a rapper disobeyed this formula?

[@SKARGAMINYT]

this is awsome dude your a good teacher man i.mean nobody has ever told that in their video in the history of hip hop.... but i have a question is it alwasy 16 bars likr i countrd bobby shmurda hit nigga in that song he doensnt have a chorus so i was confused in counting the bars and the favt you said that after each 4 snares they change the lyric thats true man thank you dude so.much it means.a.lot man... really man i always try tp rhyme every.line and i use to like dont know what to use for the next sentence buy now u made.mg day man😂😂

[@HashbrownGokusan]

Just counting them bars was even slick fy. I was like "AYYYE AYYYE 2-2 AYYYYYE, bars"

[@RAPBATTLE-ENS]

Muy muy bueno, saludos desde Mexico amigo.

[@rohanbhattarai8081]

Hlo homie

[@rohanbhattarai8081]

Can u host a battle online For nephop I will support u

[@johnfakester5527]

Viva Mexico✊🏽✊🏿

[@JohnDoe-mv1sm]

It really surprised me how many 'musicians' don't know this info. Keep spreading that knowledge bro.

[@andrewkear8000]

John Doe We all got to start somewhere bro...

[@mracine2837]

@@andrewkear8000 lol why tf is he even here if he knows

[@divinealignmentinnerpeace4840]

Small minded! I came here to know because I’m not a musician! Maybe someone wants to become one! Maybe current musicians have the innate ability to make music but want to perfect the craft and learn the literal game of it! Please have several seats. And why are you here then???

[@andilederappoet]

This video deserves a million view

[@Tolmalion]

Just this dude counting bars to the beat sounds better than 90% of todays rap, now aint that sad?

[@diegoambition4789]

True.

[@FlyEaglesFly_2025]

Tolmalion I was bumping to that part when he was counting 16 bars 😂

[@theprophet_-__cxvii__-_8693]

So true. Lmao

[@journeybeyondthesea]

Tolmalion yeah smh 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@timtvnyc24hrs46]

@@diegoambition4789 Best rapper of old time is @somebodysignmenow

[@VibesP]

6 years later and i just dissected my favorite kendrick song united in gried and it follows this pattern as well, thank you so much for spreading this info. 6 years later its still helping wonders, much love

[@KaeserRaps]

Wow I’ve been writing for a couple years now and have just made the jump to trying to rap over beats but couldn’t figure out why it always ended so badly. This video has lit the way to say the very least!!! 🙏

[@jfamosonyt6621]

Smh, my ass writing 16 lines, thinking it’s 16 bars but in reality it’s only 4 😭

[@SDOTSLIM718]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mister7405]

It is 16 bars. 4 is the number of beats considered 1 bar

[@SS-ci8yk]

@@mister7405 4 lines is one bar in this scenario

[@MaGiCFanz12]

Huh this confused me ngl

[@lilGroza]

lmao same

[@SaucyAustie]

This man just gave me the cheat code to god mode 😂😂

[@7xghost7xtikato]

rhymeeee

[@OrganicallyAnn]

I've heard people try to explain 16 bars over the years and they muddied it more - but you explained it spot on! Thank you.

[@gregcvmpbell]

Good shit. This helped me a lot. I like to do cyphers or jus freestyle. when I tried to write and record sometimes what I write if I take a break and come back I cant get back on the same tempo I was reading it previously shits weird. but this is good content big ups.

[@brad6546]

gregoryizeks I feel the same way man

[@TriWaZe]

gregoryizeks record it. I dont care if its your phone or a mic. A lot of rappers actually have voice recorders on em at all times. Its easy to come up with a flow and then come back the next day and be like wtf this shits wack what flow was I rappin in.

[@osmincamero7706]

2 years, 7 months later and your still making waves with this video brother. Thank you for sharing. I am just now getting into writing music and am grateful that you where here to help provide a basis for structure with this. Thank you brother, jut subscribed and will be checking back as I progress. Thank you

[@ridcoulssir4046]

Thank you man I've been writing personal raps since I was in 5 grade now I'm 21 years old and can rap crazy but I've always wanted to count since t9 said so

[@Roensmusic]

I was searching about this subject 16 bars..... And my favorite music production teacher on youtube shows up..... Thank you Curtis. God bless you.

[@bengordon4690]

Talk about easy to understand..you've just made me get bars after 18 years of pissing around writing rhymes and just winging it cos I get how to rap to a track..but damn I've been counting all wrong when Ive tried, based purely on something a friend said back in the day

[@Juggalo972]

The poetic rhythm of these formulas is seriously accurate! I used to do this when I freestyled in high school and didn't even realize it until I saw this! 4 4's, count your beats! MMFWCL brother, this was awesome to watch!

[@dfmh1]

I’ve been strictly free styling for a few years and I usually naturally rest right at the end of 16 bars without counting, but DUDE this whole video blew my mind! You got that galaxy brain, bro. Liked and subbed, gonna go check out your other vids now. 🎧

[@BetterDayzMusic]

Best explanation for counting music. I wanted to know how to count a dancehall beat. This video helped 👍🏾

[@vurberry7925]

Dude this was a perfect tutorial one of my favorite rappers lil Uzi I he said in an interview he doesn't even know bars he just goes with it so it's good to educate yourself if u want to take ur craft seriously

[@CurtissKingTV]

Thank you! I think it's important for all artists that love making music to at least be exposed to the more technical aspects of it. Having that knowledge makes it so you gain even more control over your music!

[@ASSman864]

lil uzi a bitch, check out big L

[@seanflawless6807]

Devon Couch they don't even know who Big L is whitch is the saddest part

[@tylowe78]

Sean Flawless very sad. I agree 100 percent. If rap was a game/I'll be mvp/most valuable poet/on the m-i-c

[@Jyedonn]

Ty Lowe then get in the rap game

[@Krymsonshyne]

Duuuuude I've been looking for a dead-ass explanation of this! This is THE MOST HELPFUL tutorial I've ever come across! Props bro!

[@KrazyjayDotcom]

This is pretty dope! This will help a lot of artists get their timing in order!

[@Agsyworld]

This made my day ❤️

[@robertperez2771]

Mind blown. You put the concept in a very simple perspective. Props and blessings to you and your fam big Curtiss King

[@jamescoffin6184]

Look i used to rap but not anymore but your video break down of a verse is remarkably the best way to explain it to people PERIOD..

[@bitchimjapanese8318]

Who else wanna be a future rapper

[@pusikurscruzansi1604]

I

[@peachy1818]

I Wanna be like RM lol

[@oj1036]

bazsbauahns vqbquaj i just wanna make hip hop

[@JustEmon]

😞

[@symesalexander5294]

Me

[@rancewhite9312]

Dude I swear I’ve been a fan of rap my entire life and always tried to write music and I just could never get it. Thank you so much man. This helped

[@MookaMG]

Most useful video i've seen regarding counting bars! You explained it so well. Well done!

[@CurtissKingTV]

Thank you Mostafa!

[@kayjnr10]

I'm a writer and I've been looking to write rap bars to rap to on a beat, this was so helpful for me to put things into perspective. Thanks a lot B.

[@kedyjohn1848]

If you can not explain it simply, you didn't understand it well enough - Einstein. This guy nailed it

[@shelbykaymusic]

Needed this! Appreciate it a lot , this was the perfect

[@greybluedreams]

4 years later this video is still so good.

[@C_BassOfficial]

yooooo im amazed by this I know this is late but know I feel like I can take my rap career to da next level thanks man for helping keep up the grind much love 😤❤️

[@thexmahdi47xpnw70]

I literally took notes while watching

[@Prince-dz3fm]

LMAO same

[@ChevyboyCaprice_]

Real cool of y'all. Notes are in always helpful

[@marshalmandi7106]

me too bruh ✋

[@arturdelima1230]

same here

[@mangosama9695]

🤚🏾u gotta do what u gotta do to succeed fr

[@imhere2arguepodcast624]

I have been writing poetry for years and I never fully understood how to count bars until I found your channel def following appreciate the knowledge

[@GoldBugBeats]

Going back to the basics, strengthens your foundation. Sub to me for beats every week

[@CaesarofGotham]

4 years later and this video came in handy.

[@thesaviorofALL]

Best explanation ever especially the tip on how to never have what I call run on raps switch on every fourth snare soooo good bro

[@tylerborders1625]

“Usually your verses are gonna be 16 bars” Tell that to Rick Ross and 3 stacks😂

[@isaaccortes2147]

Honestly

[@victordejesus5410]

Thanks for keeping it basic! This really helped put things in perspective!

[@elysianriena]

I didn’t even know what a bar was now I understand

[@antoniosawyer1087]

Thank you again!! Got out of my creative vibe and finally getting back to it... sometimes it's the simplest things! 👍

[@kali4niadreamn189]

Yo this is dope!! Thanks man I'm having a hard time with it but man this. Let my mind I keep watching t over and over tryn to understand it haha but I'll figure it out eventually thanks man subd!!

[@rygalindo]

Yo dwag! I just make raps at home because once that rap bug bite you, you can't really forget about it, much love hombre!

[@VizardBeatz]

How about Trap beat? 60 VS 120 BPM

[@CurtissKingTV]

Same thing applies, it's just more schemes and rhyming words to each 4 couplets

[@VizardBeatz]

Curtiss King TV THX C KING!

[@Kaasdwaas27]

Yo finally somebody with a simple way, i have been warching alot of these video's but yours is the best. I'm not somebody who is trying to be a rapper even tho i do write alot of raps (in dutch).

[@kdnic1292]

"Reeaallyy?" Lmao, good knowledge here. Simple mathematics. Structure. 4-4s. Count your beat. Thank you bruhdaman

[@noahmccoy8074]

Kevin Nichols or 8-2s or 5-3s and that’s if your going for 16 bars math is your friend

[@pressureflipin1992]

this was seriously such an informative video, i feel like i learned more in 6 minutes than i have in the past year, you definitely earned a subscriber dude. great work!

[@vegathevictor]

What's your thoughts on punching-in when recording rap verses?

[@CurtissKingTV]

+BANTER when in the studio your only job is to deliver the best recording of your verse. While it's important to learn your verse to the point that you can limit your punches, there's nothing wrong with punching in for a better sounding verse. You don't have anything to prove to anybody while you're in that booth. Just create your best takes possible.

[@TruePointStudios]

Gotta be the best tutorial on Bars on KZbin man. Thanks

[@9682joe]

Great explanation my man, thank you.

[@CurtissKingTV]

No problem! Thank you watching Joe Mcdunna!

[@MastaInferno]

Yo, what would be a good rule of thumb, using this technique while freestyling? cause when you're in the zone. you're not concentrating on the bar count! your sentiments would be dope! ...also great vid btw, i was always count very similar and had this down by ear and instinct. but this was even more clear big up!!

[@TriWaZe]

MastaInferno You shouldnt have to think about it. It should just roll with your punchlines. Just know you gotta have 4 punches in that span of time. As long as you follow the beat its pretty self explanatory

[@LP-yp8jk]

Man you just blew my mind! and i'm across the ocean all the way in Portugal! be blessed !

[@autumnreign6037]

Am I the only one here in the middle of the night taking notes 😬🤷🏽‍♀️😂

[@ronleotheofficial]

Nope😂 💪🏾😎💯

[@JesseSteel]

wow, i just started this rap career after opening my barbershop. I got alot more time on my hands to do what i truly enjoy. I've been going around youtube picking up pieces from everyone and trying to get a good understanding of how to rap with structure. and this was great to know about the switch ups. My shit always gets to runny and i'm like well damn.. lol makes total sense now. Great video keep up the good work fam.

[@TheAdamSmasherMultiverse]

Something I needed to know

[@trepinckney3176]

I appreciate you bro im on the underground right now and im hella depressed about my music shit because im good but im sure this will help me . when I blow your definitely going to be one of my biggest supports.

[@alexignacio6154]

I'm 15 And I wanna be a mainstream rapper and my uncle has got me hooked up with his studio Any tips I should know?

[@cruz4932]

Practice, Practice, Practice

[@Mexalori]

Practice makes perfect bro

[@murr395]

Like the others said practice like nothing else. There's a saying that when you've put 10,000 hours into a skill is when you start to master it. To put that in perspective that's more than there are hours in a full year both night and day. Other than that, much like the message of this video: learn the basics, master the basics, THEN start to mess around with your style.

[@rydolynjeter9700]

I have never had this broken down so simply in my life....Thank You So much. Man this was so educational...NO CAP

[@mbg140897]

I’m a 26 year old female who loves hip hop, and I’ve been holding myself back because I am intimidated by all the men in the industry, but I’m ready to go for it. Or just making my own music in general!! This was SO informative! THANK YOU! New sub.

[@muldolbra8064]

mbg140897 need beats?

[@fentynaomi4582]

me too, girl. power up! Root for you!

[@cbdachef8079]

bruh i recently started watching your live streams and this vide popped up. its dope as hell to see where you started compared to where you are at now. my setup looks exactly the same as this video lol. KRKs and a laptop. seeing ur growth is mad encouraging and i just wanted to say thanks. this is super inspirational for me because for years i didnt do music and i just decided during the pandemic to try to start again. keep doing ya thing curtis

[@CurtissKingTV]

Humble Beginnings 🙏🏽🛠 thank you for these kind words. It’s a blessing to still be growing and learning in this space.

[@justbreathe3161]

Always go back to this video when I need a refresher on how to count my bars 🙏🙏🙏

[@rogerfranco4622]

It’s all good but I’m confused how it’s the 4 4s cos there’s 16 bars yet u say they switch up after every 4 snares so is it every four bars or snares? Cos if it’s every 4 snares that’s 2 bars but then that’s not 4 4s n that’s what I’m confused bout

[@markellrobinson4447]

MAYNE THIS TURNED ME INTO A BEAST......... WITH THE PEN GAME.. I WATCHED & LEARNED FROM THIS 2 YEARS AGO IT CHANGED MY LIFE WITH THIS RAPPIN & PEN GAME. MY LYRICS ARE CRAZZZZY NOW.

[@mokeswayy3261]

Bruhhh dis man just opened up the gates of hell 💀 watch how i start snappin off dis

[@DJoka10001]

I appreciate this fam. I've been at this for years with the rap ish but i still wasn't too confident if i could actually count bars. I mean i have bars but wasn't actually sure when to stop, apparently i was doing it right the whole time i just didn't know how i was. Thank you and God Bless

[@akramzichi8874]

you shoud have 1 millione subs bro great work

[@CurtissKingTV]

In due time! Thank you Akram!

[@sapgod1203]

Disappointed of myself for not finding this video sooner! Dope information, really helped me out. Thank you!

[@Ringo-Was-His-Namo]

My dude, I know I'm late and all, really appreciate the video, but your explanation of 'hit every other beat in a 4/4 time signature, count 1 bar for every reset/4th note' had my ass lost like a zoomer with a classic Razor flip

[@rayso3089]

Yo @Curtiss King TV really appreciate this one man. I'm starting to write raps or generally songwriting. This expands my knowledge in music thank you bro.

[@gRDYgNiUS]

“When 16 ain’t enough”

[@Foxfitness88]

Man I was trying to learn how to Count bars for years he made it so simple thanks

[@viveknautiyal]

what is snare???

[@maddogmorgan9034]

Bars that rhyme

[@CurtissKingTV]

It's the musical instrument you hear on the 2 and 4. It's a type of drum

[@jamescrand642]

Curtiss King TV how do you find the snares?

[@caribbienlove]

so two snare equal one bar .... and u have to swich every 4 snare .. so you have to swith every two bars ???

[@LunoChillen]

Snares are the "Clap" like sounds typically in between the Kicks. A easy way to find them is to clap along to a song. Example: (boom, *CLAP, boom, bo-boom, *CLAP) repeat.

[@marcushall9720]

Got straight to it.... Best video for this subject without selling products and a biographhy.. This works

[@kembino5624]

It’s crazy cuz I’m here trying to learn jus to find out I already do this😭

[@danielrichwalski6549]

This was really helpful, I counted conversions easier as 2 bars rather than 4 snares but it's the same math.

[@asiakyle3213]

And I'm asking again how to make a chorus in rap?

[@txlip9131]

BTS Crystal Ace r u a magniranthine?

[@Kiing36]

He been giving the game for so long 🧽

[@lewisgibbens9918]

the Jay bars sounded kinda dope in his voice, I wish I had a cool rapper voice because I got bars and flow but my voice sound WHACK 😂😂

[@zacharythompson2430]

you can do anything with your voice man, trust me if you experiment with your voice you can make it work. As long as you sound natural and don't force it and maybe have a beat that accompanies your voice and aggressiveness (or lack of aggressiveness) you can do some mad stuff. Good luck man☺

[@lewisgibbens9918]

thanks man actually hitting the studio today :)

[@Lucken508]

Lewis Gibbens how the Stu go bro?

[@neg9801]

I'm not going to be great and not necessarily good but I like to rap to express how I'm feeling at the moment and blow off steam it was super frustrating being able to flow but not knowing how to structure a song properly so I could get out what I wanted to. Thank you for explaining this helped out so much.

[@bamakirhymez]

genius

[@bforbj1093]

Could you please do a video on the 6/8 time signature ? Or other time signatures that may be better for specific genres . You explained this so well by the way !

[@marklazy7559]

Count bars while high in weed👍🏽

[@muldolbra8064]

Mark Lazy I would love to be IN weed

[@Nighhhts]

Gabriel Mcnair 😂😂😂

[@seslabsdelgado7552]

Hey Curtiss you inspire me to become a better producer like yourself one day. Thank you for all you do.

[@boop1479]

Didn’t maad city have 32 bars

[@blackstyle28]

Thank you so much Curtiss. Wishing you much success brother

[@kellykadson1174]

POV: you came here from Griffy’s ig story

[@adavis5603]

Broooooo. Thank you been listening to hip hop all my life and just now looking this up.

[@Juan_deep]

You ruined rap for me lol jk good shit bro. Def gon subscribe.

[@CurtissKingTV]

haha my bad Juan!

[@J.ArmonMusic.]

this is still really helpful after seven years of this posted. I got the voice and lil swag just always had trouble structuring the song

[@Cashmanlildoemaker]

I'm so grateful 🙏 for that. Thank you Lord I learned it yesterday ❤🙏