Linsey Lanier
Sally Kilpatrick
Sia Huff
Romily Bernard
Darcy Crowder
Marilyn Baron
Tami Brothers
Sandra Elzie
Carol Burnside
Debbie Kaufman
Maxine Davis
Tammy Schubert
Susan Carlisle
Pam Asberry
Lindy Chaffin StartOf Rappers and Romance Writers
Remember that 
scene in Officespace where nerdy Michael Bolton (the office grunt, not the 80s singer) is rocking out to rap? That could be me. Maybe I was driven to rap music after countless Saturdays of Hee Haw, extra doses of Austin City Limits, and the inevitable deluge of country stations in West Tennessee. Maybe there are striking similarities between rappers and writers. Or maybe it’s both combined with an unhealthy desire to shake my booty. (Come to think of it, that probably comes from growing up in a town that looks suspiciously like the one in Footloose. Hmmmm.)
I think rap appeals to me because both writers and rappers are in the midst of a great love affair with words. Here are a few of my favorites:
- “I keep my mind on my money, money on my mind/But yous a hell of a distraction when you shake your behind” (Ludacris from Moneymaker, also an allusion to the inimitable Snoop Dogg’s Gin and Juice)
- “So feel free to get loose and carried away/So by tomorrow you forgot what you was saying today” (Ludacris–also Moneymaker)
- “Plus my rats come in packs like Sammy and Dean Martin/And I got so many keys you’d think I was valet parking” (Nelly, Diddy, and Murphy Lee in Shake a Tailfeather)
- “Here’s my ten cents, my two cents is free/A nuisance, who sent? You sent for me?” (Eminem from Without Me)
- “He’s the original highway to heaven/From seven to seven, he’s got me open like 7-Eleven/And yes, it’s me that he’s always choosin’ with him I’m never losin’/And he knows that my name is not Susan” (Salt n Pepa from Whatta Man)
- “Sometimes life can keep you down, with your face all in the dirt/Now if you feel that left behind, need to get up and go to church” (Outkast from Church)
Aside from the fun of playing with words, we all want to be recognized for our achievements. Who can’t relate to Nelly in Ride Wit Me? “You won’t believe how many people straight doubted the flow/ Most said that I was a failure/But now the same ^%$#@ askin’ me for dough/And I’m yellin’ I can’t help ya.” Now, we Petit Fours feel very strongly about helping each other, but I think we’d all have to admit it would feel good to be able to tell off all those folks who said that our manuscripts were “failures.”
And who would have thought that pitching your work to an agent would be similar to a freestyle rap-off? Compare your experiences to these words from Eminem in Lose Yourself: “His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy. . . . He’s nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready to drop bombs/but he keeps on forgettin’ what he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud/He opens his mouth, but the words won’t come out. . . .” Apparently, freestyle rappers don’t have the option of carrying an index card with all of the pertinent information.
Of course, successful writers, like successful rappers, also have to persevere. Try substituting “writing” where Big Boi says “music” in The Whole World by Outkast: When it comes to music we stay relentless/Pursuing all that’s pursuable/Doing God’s willing all things that are doable/The only liable limitation is yourself/Dre set it on the right and I’ll set it on the left. . . .”
So, Bust a Move, follow Jay-Z’s advice and get a little Dirt Off Your Shoulder. Remember what Biggie told us: Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems. Nose to the grindstone my fellow writers—and rappers—let’s enjoy the hard work of today so later we can bask in the fame with a bottle of Cristal when we hit the New York Times Bestseller list.
Anybody out there got some favorites I don’t have here? Have some lyrics from another genre that amuse and/or inspire you?
Tags: music, rap, romance, Sally Kilpatrick
About the author
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Sally Kilpatrick | Sally Kilpatrick is a full-time student and mother and an aspiring house frau. She has just finished her fifth novel, Beulah Land and the Happy Hour Choir, a thoroughly southern story full of things like religion and politics that are sure to get her in trouble.
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June 29th, 2010 at 6:34 am
Sally,
I had no idea you were a rap aficianado!! (gosh I’m a terrible speller)
And you’re so knowledgable too!!
Do you know those lyrical words from memory or did ya do a little googlin’?
Either way, your rap recall is da hizzle.
And what a great analogy!
My favorite quote was Sir Eminem’s little ditty about sweaty palms and weak knees. That’s exactly what I feel like when I pitch.
Only I might say something more like,
“My gut’s trippin’, paranoia’s gone flyin’,
Yo I’m gonna hurl and then I’m up and dyin’
If this editor don’t communicate her affirmation,
I might lose my lunch in front of the whole &*@%$ nation!
See, your post inspired me to write.
Well, saint Sally…you da bomb baby!!!!
Have an excellent day,
luv you,
Tamara
June 29th, 2010 at 8:04 am
Funny, funny post, Sally. I’m more into classical than rap, when I get a chance to listen to music. It’s more soothing on the nerves. At least the harp music hubby got me for my high blood pressure is. Those are some clever and intriguing lyrics, though.
My favorite lyrics? At this hour, on my way to work, the only thing that comes to mind is a song hubby likes to play on guitar: “All we are is dust in the wind.”
June 29th, 2010 at 8:39 am
This is great! I am rolling on the floor here with both Sally’s post and Tamara’s rappin. You ladies rock….ummm…. I mean rap. Okay, I am sooo terrible at this…grin…
Anyway, thanks for making me smile today. Not a rapper, but I do love to listen to country songs because of the “stories” they tell. One of my favorites is Bran Paisley and his take on the world. A particular favorite is his song Ticks.
‘Cause I’d like to see you out in the moonlight I’d like to kiss you way back in the sticks
I’d like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I’d like to check you for ticks.’
Now, who would have thought a song about checking their girl for ticks could be romantic…. Goes to show that if it won’t sell as a romance novel, try the music industry…grin…
Have a good one!!!
Tami
June 29th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Sally,
About the only rap song (if it is even rap?) I know is “Welcome to Miami,” by Will Smith and that’s because I’m from Miami.
I also like Usher because he used to be on “The Young and the Restless.”
It’s amazing that you know all this. The only songs I have memorized are the lyrics to Broadway musicals. Besides 40s music (yes 40s!) musicals are my favorite to listen to. My mother’s generation music somehow stuck to me, just like my kids like to listen to the music I grew up with.
You are what my parents would call a “Hep Cat.”
Marilyn
June 29th, 2010 at 9:08 am
Sally, you amaze me! Rap? Okay, I can see that. Put a little purple in your hair and we’ll all be buying your records! Tamara, you too! Funny!! I wonder how many will be rapping your words to agents and editors.
Me? I’m more of the days:
Come on Baby, light my fire …
Come with me, my-i love. To the sea. The sea of love …
or even: If I had a nickel, I tell ya what I’d do. I’d spend it all on candy, and give it all to you. Cause that’s how much I love you Baby! That’s how much I love you.
Actually, I remember my Dad singing that to my Mom and her giggling.
June 29th, 2010 at 9:16 am
Okay, duck out of water here
Haven’t heard much rap, I don’t think its something Canada has much of, at least on the West Coast… but now I will be looking/listening for it. thanks.
June 29th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Tamara, kudos on your rap–that’s awesome. I had to google only to make sure I had everything right–those are some of my favorite. I did forget to add the disclaimer that looking up the whole songs might be a little dicey for those who like their language a little prettier. : )
June 29th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Linsey, I would say the classical is far calmer–I generally listen to classical while I write, especially baroque. I can’t believe your breaking out the Kansas! That’s cool that your hubby plays guitar.
June 29th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Tami, that Brad Paisley song is one of the reasons I’m getting back into country music. I’m still not much on the story songs, but I love the puns and good oldfashiones honky tonk tunes.
June 29th, 2010 at 11:06 am
Marilyn, I adore will smith, but I will have to check out the 40s musicals. I am proud to be a hep cat!
June 29th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Maxine, it would best if I didn’t quit my day job and try to rap. Now, Tamara on the other hand…..you do mention a couple of other songs I really like, though, I discovered the doors in high school and went through an “oldies” phase before that where I found sea of love. I’m going to have to look up your dad’s song; my dad liked to paraphrase hot rod Lincoln after my mom bought the town car: Jane, you’re gonna drive mento drinking if you don’t stop driving that hot rod Lincoln. Fun times!
June 29th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Kathy, thanks for chiming in. I don’t know of any Canadian rappers, but there are some really awesome Canadian comedians. If you’re looking for some rap tunes, I would suggest you start with will smith because he’s quite clever without resortig to a lot of foul language. Alas, I can’t say the same for all of the other artists I quoted today.
June 29th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Hysterical. Can easily see now how a pitch relates to rap!
June 29th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Sally,
Great stuff. I’m an old rock and roller. Even they had to work hard at making a change with their words. “I love You, yeah, yeah, yeah
June 29th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Sally, About halfway through your post I scanned to the bottom to see who was writing. Surprise!
I think Susan and I are from the same era. I think one of my favorites is one my husband sings to me. “You’re once, twice, three times a lady…” (heavy sigh here)
I can’t imagine rapping anything…let alone a pitch to an agent or editor. Great, fun post.
Sandy
June 29th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Sally – proof that inspiration can be found anywhere you look! (Yes, I too listen to rap sometimes – it’s fun if you find the right ones!) Thanks for the smile today!
June 29th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
Debbie, glad you laughed…or are you saying I’m hysterical and should thus be committed? Hey, I’m only a little off!
June 29th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Susan, I like my rock, too, now, and let’s not knock the Beatles. I was just teaching the little one how to sing When I’m Sixty-Four the other day.
June 29th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Sandy, aw your hubby sings Kenny Rogers to you? My hubby was just extolling the wonder of Kenny’s greatest hits. But he didn’t sing to me! He and I will be having a talk about that.
June 29th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Pamela, glad to provide a little fun. May I again recommend the Fresh Prince–oh and always buy the radio edit.
June 29th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Sally,
I knew it was you! You’ve surprised me more than once this year!
I listened to a lot of rap when my boys were growing up. Eminem, Sir-Mix-Alot were two of their favorites.
Funny story–we were traveling through West Texas on our way back to the Dallas area at the end of spring break and stopped at a Dairy Queen in some podunk town. There was a line about 30 women long waiting to use the one-stall bathroom. My oldest son borrowed a quarter from his dad and went to plug the junk box, which was about 20 feet from the bathroom door and right next to the line of women.
A sound of whispers came on… “Oh….my…God. Becky, look at her butt. Oh, it´s so big.” Women started looking around for the girls who were talking, checking to see if they were talking about them. “She looks like one of those rap guy´s girlfriends. But, uh, y´know, who understands those rap guys? They only talk to her because she looks like a total prostitute, okay.” At this point, the owner of the Dairy Queen races frantically toward the juke box. “I mean, her butt! It is just so.. Big. I cannot believe it is just so.. Round.” And yanks the cord from the wall.
My two boys were laughing so hard, they fell out of the booth. Needless to say, that was the last time dh gave him a quarter for the juke box!
Anna
June 29th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Anna, that is hilarious! I almost used a line from that song in this post. Suffice to say it was the part about how red beans and rice didn’t miss her. I also get cracked up at the part where Fonda don’t have a motor in the back of her Honda. Alas, I had a good friend when that song came out–her name? Becky.
June 29th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
I’ve been checked for ticks… they can go to weird body places. My only knowledge of rap is from the IDOL series. “PANTS ON THE GROUND PANTS ON THE GROUND…” but that is not going to work during a pitch.
AACK.
great post!
June 30th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Sally,
I’m still shaking my head in wonder! I never pictured you as a rap fan. I’m much older than you, so the only rap I like is the first generation stuff like the Sugarhill Gang, Curtis Blow and Grandmaster Flash. LOL! But there is one line from Salt and Pepa that I just used in my WIP – “The words to the old Salt and Pepa song played in her mind, “My man is smooth and his voice got bass. A body like Arnold with a Denzel face.”
June 30th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Christine–I, too, have been checked for ticks, but it was less than romantic. Oh, well.
I had forgotten about the pants on the ground song. I suppose that’s just as well!
June 30th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Chicki, I keep meaning to check out the old school rap and keep getting sidetracked. I do love that salt and pep song and even threatened to sing it to my husband in karoke, but he seems to think the song isn’t that romantic–go figure.