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Rap is, at its core, a form of poetry placed over a beat or instrumental track. Just like a burgeoning writer needs to study the great poets, a hopeful rapper needs to listen to the great rappers to learn from the best. It helps to read along with the lyrics as well to pick up on meaning. Listen to what you enjoy, but a small selection of verses to start with includes:  AZ's, first verse on "Life's a B---", on Nas's album Illmatic  Notorious B.I.G, "Notorious Thugs." Black Thought, "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction), on The Root's Rising Down.  Rakim on "As the Rhyme Goes On," on Paid in Full.  Kendrick Lamar, "Backstreet Freestyle" Lupe Fiasco, "Murals" Eminem, "Lose Yourself" If you are rapping over a pre-written beat, whether because you love the beat or because you were asked to collaborate with another musician, listen to the beat 4-5 times to get used to the rhythm. Get a feel for the speed and energy of the song as well as the mood.  Uptempo songs (Das Racist, "People are Strange") usually require fast verses with lots of words, while slower beats (50 Cent, "P.I.M.P.") usually have laid back verses. This rule is not hard and fast, however (see Twista on "Slow Jamz," for example). Your verse should fit the mood of the song whenever possible. On A$AP Rocky's "One Train" for example, the beat is moody, dark, and cinematic. Accordingly, all 5 rappers with a verse talk about their struggle from poor, difficult neighborhoods to international superstar. While talented rappers can touch on many topics within just a few lines, all great verses have a central idea or theme that forms the backbone of the lines. Often, this idea is as simple as "I am the best rapper alive," but many verses tell stories (2nd verse of Kanye West's "Golddigger"), explore social issues (Killer Mike's verses on "Reagan"), or simply muse on a question or theme (Mos Def using numbers on "Mathematics").  You do not need to stick completely to this backbone, but it will help you come up with ideas and keep your verse cohesive. If you are supplying a verse to another artist, talk to them about the themes of the song. Most rap verses have 16 bars, which generally means you have 2 rhymes per bar (length of each verse Cruel Summer's "The Morning") If you are collaborating with someone, be sure to ask how many bars they want. At minimum, most rappers fit 2 rhyming lines in one line -- "I treat the label like money from my shows / G.O.O.D. woulda been God except I added more Os" is equal to one bar. A bar is a measure of beats. Every time you count "1, 2, 3 , 4," you've counted out 1 bar.

summary: Listen to the great rappers for inspiration. Get to know your beat well. Find a story or idea to hold the verse together. Determine how long your verse should be.


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If you know your crush well enough and communicate via email or social media, you can ask for her number while talking online. Asking in person works just as well, but requires a bit more self confidence.  Bring it up during conversation. Being direct is a good thing, but time your directness to be more effective. Try to let the question appear organic in the conversation. Ask her out. If she is interested on going on a date, then ask for her phone number. If you have a good reason to ask for her number, she is more likely to comply. Use the circumstances in your life to figure out an appropriate excuse. Focus on circumstances the two of you share to make the act more organic.  A shared class is a great starting point.  If the two of you are in the same group for a project, ask for her number so that you can arrange a meet-up for a project outside of class. Likewise, if you have trouble with a particular topic that your crush excels at, ask your crush if she might be willing to help you with your homework over the phone. Work is another great place to get a phone number organically. Ask for her number if you need someone to check the schedule for you. Alternatively, ask for her number in case she needs a ride to work in the rain. If you feel bold and confident about the possibility that your crush might have similar feelings, you could offer your phone number directly without an excuse. Nothing beats being straight to the point on matters of romance.  Stay cool and confident. Make a simple statement: give your phone number and tell your crush to text you if he or she feels like it. If your feelings are mutual, your crush will probably give you her number in exchange.  If you and your crush are already flirtatious with each other, you can ask for your crush's number in the midst of flirting. Say something simple like, "I'll give you my number if you give me yours." Keep the mood lighthearted to avoid putting too much pressure or tension on the situation. As before, you should avoid using your crush's number that same night you get it. If you are too zealous about sending the first text or placing the first phone call, you might scare the apple of your eye away.  If you used a specific excuse to get your crush's number, your first call or text should be made with that excuse in mind. If you did not have an excuse when you asked, however, you can call or text whenever you have something to say.

summary: Ask in person or online. Think of a good excuse. Be direct about seeing her. Give it time.


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Many airports have fitness centers and even yoga areas. If your airport has one, use it! You can get in some cardio, give your limbs a good stretch and get your blood flowing before boarding another cramped flight. If there’s no gym in your airport, you can always bring some workout clothes in your carry-on bag and go for a quick jog around the terminals.  If you plan on doing an intense workout, find out if the airport offers shower facilities. Airport Gyms is a useful website where you can search for fitness centers in or around airports in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the site at http://www.airportgyms.com/. Bring your laptop and take advantage of the free wireless internet access, if your airport offers it (most do). You can finally knock out all those emails you’ve been meaning to send, or put the finishing touches on an important presentation that’s coming up. If you’re a student, get started on that paper that’s due next week, or try to get through a few chapters of your assigned reading. Whether you’re traveling for business, pleasure or otherwise, there will be probably be tons of stuff you need to do once you finally arrive. Make a to-list while you’re waiting so you don’t miss a beat! Include errands and other necessary stuff on your list, but don’t forget to block out some time to see the sights and even just to rest. Check with one of your airline’s ticket agents at the layover airport to see if you can switch your flight. You might be able to get an earlier or later flight if there are seats available, at no extra cost. If your schedule is flexible and you really want to explore the area or city you’re in, consider giving up your seat and taking a later flight out. This won’t always be a realistic option, but if you have the opportunity, take it!
summary: Work out at the airport gym. Catch up on email, homework or work tasks. Make a to-do list for when you arrive at your destination. Find out if you can bump your flight.