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Baba Got BARS vol I

by Baba Bomani

FDWC exclusive
1.
Rule One It’s exciting, when we do creative writing Inspiration igniting ideas like lightning In a poem or a song, don’t worry what word belongs Your opinion is impossible to get wrong Brainstorming ideas is how art is made Raise your hand, write it down, no need to be afraid We really want to know what you think The only answer that’s wrong is an answer that’s blank Rule Two Creating something new can be stressful Having the right attitude can help you be successful Edison’s attitude helped him not go berserk “I didn’t fail a thousand times, I found a thousand ways that didn’t work” So don’t worry that the word, phrase or sentence isn’t right Every idea you put out there can spark another light This is the rough draft nobody sees Writers don’t make mistakes, we make discoveries Rule Three Do you have a diary, a notebook or a journal To make sure your bright ideas don’t stay internal Make sure you have a place to write ideas down When you see them on a page they’re easy to move around You can revise, remix, rethink and edit Best of all, you won’t regret it because you won’t forget it To make sure your ideas can evolve and spread Do not edit in your head
2.
chorus (2x) The four ways to rhyme Brainstorm in your mind All the words you’ll find The four ways to rhyme verse 1 First way is using “real rhymes” These are the kind that you use all the time The kind of rhymes you might read in dr. Suess With the same ending letters like loose, noose or goose Or same ending sound no matter the letters in use You can rhyme words like caboose and reduce With the skills i introduce, you don’t have any excuse You can get loose off the rhymes you produce You got the flavor and the juice, you’re the ace not the duce Rain down thunderous rhymes like a lyrical Zeus, chorus verse 2 Second are “near rhymes”, some call them “slant" You can rhyme this way, don’t let them say you can't Different letters at the end but a similar sound Rhymes words together like crown, proud and found Make rhymes from things you find around When you find them make sure to write them down Then say them out loud as you can go around town, Adjectives verbs and nouns, possibilities abound, Brainstorming like a cloud, your rhymes skills are profound Your rhymes will astound, and the crowd will be wowed chorus verse 3 Third you put the “em-PHA-sis on the wrong sy-LA-ble” Emphasize the wrong syllable like fo-SSIL from FO-ssill Or change long vowels to short, whatever works for your ear You can find mispronounced words in the poems of Shakespeare It might sound wierd, but if context is clear You can say “i ran in fear through the forest from a bear” Then everyone will cheer, sing your praises everwhere You’re an ill rhyme sayer, and a rhyme game player If rhyming was a city then you’d be more than the mayor You need a crown for your hair, and a throne would for your chair chorus verse 4 Fourth, turn phrases into words It might sound absurd but it's somethings you’ve heard Like make a word from the phrase out-the-door To rhyme with hard words like Baltimore Or ask somebody whatchu-calling-for? About to make a rhyme train so all-aboard Get dancers on-the-floor while you’re out on-a-tour They want the rhymes you got-in-store, what you halting-for The crowd wants-some-more, let all-them-pour Like a rhyme Steph Curry you’re about-to-score
3.
Let’s play a game Counting syllables in your name Syllables break words down To the parts with a vowel sound Three syllables in "Lil’ Ma-ma" Four syllables in “Da-lai La-ma" Syllables break words down To the parts with a vowel sound Five syllables in "Ba-rack O-ba-ma" Six syllables in “Wil-mer Val-der-rama" Syllables break words down To the parts with a vowel sound Let’s play a game Counting syllables in your name Mike One syllable Michael Two syllables Michaelangelo Five syllables Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Eight syllables Let’s play a game Counting syllables in your name Syllables break words down To the parts with a vowel sound Three syllables in “Ma-Don-na" Four syllables in “Ben-i-ha-na" Syllables break words down To the parts with a vowel sound Five syllables in “Vasco da Gama" Six syllables in “Com-man-der Adama" Syllables break words down To the parts with a vowel sound Let’s play a game Counting syllables in your name? Bob one syllable Sponge Bob Two syllables Sponge Bob Square Pants Four syllables Sponge Bob Square Pants from Bikini Bottom Ten syllables Let’s play a game Counting syllables in your name Syllables break words down To the parts with a vowel sound
4.
ASK the right questions, IMAGINE how to solve them,/ PLAN out each and every move/ CREATE a solution to the problem/ See what works and then IMPROVE/ VERSE 1 The first step of EDP is to ASK What are the key elements in this task? What is the problem, what have other people tried What devices are similar, what lessons can that provide What are things you can do and the things you can’t Also known as limitations or as the restraints ASK is the first EDP step It’s mental exercise so you got to get our reps CHORUS VERSE 2 Second step of EDP is IMAGINE Brainstorm what kind of gadget you want to happen You’ve asked the right questions, now think up solutions It’s good to take notes to watch your ideas evolution The job of imagination is never really done But when you have a list of ideas you can pick take your time so you pick the best one IMAGINE is the 2nd EDP step It’s mental exercise so you got to get your reps 3rd step of EDP is to PLAN Best way to do it is a diagram It’s the “design” of the engineering process Fail to plan or plan to fail, pay attention to details, it will help your progress Make a list of all the materials that you will need The better you plan the more likely it is you’ll succeed PLAN is the 3rd EDP step It’s mental exercise so you got to get your reps 4th step of EDP is CREATE You want to get it right so you concentrate Follow the plan in step 3 precisely If you planned out right maybe it just might come together nicely To make sure that your new invention works without a doubt You have to a test run that means try it out CREATE is the 4th EDP step It’s mental exercise you got to get your reps 5th step of EDP is IMPROVE Now that you finished your creation what’s your next move You’ve pressed all the buttons, pulled all the levers What works and What doesn't? What’s smooth and What’s buggin’? What’s perfect and what could work better? No matter the outcome, you’ve learned so that means that you win Now take what you learned and do E – D – P over again IMPROVE is the 5th EDP step It’s mental exercise; you’ve got to get your reps
5.
6.
Chorus 2x The four ways to rhyme Brainstorm use your mind All the words you’ll find The four ways to rhyme Verse 1 REAL RHYMES First way is using “real rhymes” These are the kind that you use all the time The kind of rhymes you might read in Dr. Seuss With the same ending letters like loose, noose or goose Or same ending sound no matter the letters in use You can Rhyme Words like caboose and reduce With the skills I introduce, you don’t have any excuse You can get loose off the rhymes you produce You got the flavor and the juice; you’re the ace not the deuce Rain down thunderous rhymes like a lyrical Zeus. Chorus 2x Verse 2 SLANT RHYMES Second are “near rhymes,” some call them “slant" You can rhyme this way; don’t let them say you can't Different letters at the end but a similar sound Rhymes words together like crown, proud and found Make rhymes from things you find around When you find them make sure to write them down Then say them out loud as you can go around town, Adjectives, verbs and nouns, possibilities abound, Brainstorming like a cloud, your rhyme skills are profound Your rhymes will astound, and the crowd will be wowed Chorus 2x Verse 3 EM-PHA-SIS ON THE WRONG SYL-LA-BLE Third you put the “em-PHA-sis on the wrong sy-LA-ble” Emphasize the wrong syllable, like fo-SSIL from FO-ssill Or change long vowels to short, whatever works for your ear You can find mispronounced words in the poems of Shakespeare It might sound weird, but if context is clear You can say, “I ran in fear through the forest from a bear” Then everyone will cheer, sing your praises everywhere You’re an ill rhyme sayer, and a rhyme game player If rhyming were a city then you’d be more than the mayor You’d need a crown for your hair, and a throne for your chair Chorus 2x Verse 4 TURN PHRASES INTO WORDS Fourth, turn phrases into words It might sound absurd but it's something you’ve heard Like make a word from the phrase “out-the-door” To rhyme with hard words like Baltimore Or ask somebody, “whatchu-calling-for?” About to make a rhyme train, so all-aboard Get dancers on-the-floor while you’re out on-a-tour They want the rhymes you got-in-store, what you halting-for? The crowd wants-some-more, let all-them-pour Like a rhyme Steph Curry you’re about-to-score Chorus
7.
8.
CHORUS ASK the right questions IMAGINE how to solve them PLAN out each and every move CREATE a solution to the problem see what works and then IMPROVE VERSE 1 The first step of EDP is to ASK What are the key elements in this task? What is the problem, what have other people tried What devices are similar, what lessons can that provide What are things you can do and the things you can’t Also known as limitations or as the restraints ASK is the first EDP step It’s mental exercise so you got to get our reps VERSE 2 Second step of EDP is IMAGINE Brainstorm what kind of gadget you want to happen You’ve asked the right questions, now think up solutions It’s good to take notes to watch your ideas evolution The job of imagination is never really done But when you have a list of ideas you can pick take your time so you pick the best one IMAGINE is the 2nd EDP step It’s mental exercise so you got to get your reps VERSE 3 3rd step of EDP is to PLAN Best way to do it is a diagram It’s the “design” of the engineering process Fail to plan or plan to fail, pay attention to details, it will help your progress Make a list of all the materials that you will need The better you plan the more likely it is you’ll succeed PLAN is the 3rd EDP step It’s mental exercise so you got to get your reps VERSE 4 4th step of EDP is CREATE You want to get it right so you concentrate Follow the plan in step 3 precisely If you planned out right maybe it just might come together nicely To make sure that it works without a doubt You have to a test run that means try it out CREATE is the 4th EDP step It’s mental exercise you got to get your reps

about

Baba Got BARS vol I is the companion EP for the BARS (Bomani Armah wRiting System) curriculum featuring the music used in Baba Bomani's residencies, workshops and assemblies! Beginning with “3 Rules of Creative Writing” and “4 Ways to Rhyme”, this project is a perfect supplement and inspiration for 3rd graders and higher to encourage them to write rhymes. The “Syllable Game” is a favorite amongst pre-K students to 3rd graders, as well as an incredible ice-breaker. The “E.D.P. (Engineering Design Process)” is an in depth look at this basic problem solving fundamental for 3rd graders all the way through grade school, and can be supplemented with the E.D.P. lesson plans found in the B.A.R.S. curriculum.

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released August 5, 2017

Written, produced, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered by Bomani Armah

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Baba Bomani Washington, D.C.

Baba Bomani, aka the Watermelon man has been using hip-hop, poetry and multi-media disciplines to teach fun and informative workshops with all ages from kindergarteners to graduate students for well over 15 years Bomani . Here you can find his hip-hop music for kids as well as teaching materials showing students the writing process through hip-hop! ... more

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