This lesson was inspired by MC Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock‘s 1988 hit “It Takes Two”. As with a lot of hip-hop songs, “It Takes Two” boasts their ability to rap, rhyme, and get the ladies! There are a lot of great expressions and slang words in this song, but I will discuss five very easy speaking tips that will help make you fluent!

I am going to highlight REDUCTIONS, which are two or more words slurred together in natural speech. Try these five reductions to start sounding more natural!

Pronunciation: Using Reductions

OUTTA = OUT OF

It takes two to make a thing go right.
It takes two to make it outta sight.
Hit it!

We can hear this reduction in the track’s chorus, which is commonly called the hook in hip-hop. The female vocalist tells us that Rob Base and EZ-Rock make good things happen. In other words, it takes two… two rappers… to make good things happen. It also takes two good rappers to make it outta sight. If something is “out of sight”, it is extraordinary and incredibly good!

A few months ago, I featured a song called “Straight Outta Compton” by N.W.A., and you can find a lot of great examples and different meanings of the reduction outta in this lesson.

WANNA = WANT TO

I wanna rock right now.
I’m Rob Base, and I came to get down.

Rob Base is ready to party and make some good hip-hop! He is also ready to get down! If you are ready to get down to business, it means you are ready to start some serious work.

Wanna is a very common reduction in spoken English. The word to, used as a preposition or  as part of an infinitive, is almost always unstressed in spoken English. Because it does not take stress, it blends in with the word before it. Don’t worry about sounding too informal either! Wanna and other reductions are so common that you will even hear it by company CEOs and university professors. It is perfectly fine to use in any social situation, and it actually makes speaking English easier.

Be careful! You cannot always use wanna as a reduction for want to. In very few cases in English, it is actually incorrect! POP QUIZ! Read the following questions below and decide which question uses wanna incorrectly.

What do you wanna eat?

Who do you wanna hit Stephen with a football?

GOTTA = GOT TO / GOT A / GOT AN

My name is Rob. I gotta real funky concept.

In this sentence, I gotta also means I have a/an. We normally use this verb in the present perfect aspect, and it’s very common to hear:

• I’ve gotta
• You’ve gotta
• He’s gotta
• She’s gotta
• They’ve gotta

Rob Base is telling us that he has a real funky concept. In other words, he has a very unique style that makes him special and different from other rappers.

We can also use gotta to mean have to, ought to, and must for obligations. Check out my lessons with EPMD’s “You Gots to Chill” to see more examples.

GONNA = GOING TO

Listen up! Because I’m gonna keep you in step.

Rob Base is a very good rapper, and he wants us to listen up and pay attention to him as he raps! He’s going to keep up in step, which means he has us under control. Another common expression is keep in check, and this specifically means to prevent something from getting worse.

We use gonna to talk about our future plans that we have made in the past. Be going to is used differently than will, and I discuss it in detail with a song by Bone Thungs ‘N Harmony.

KINDA = KIND OF

I’m kinda stingy that’s why I don’t want to lend
a funky rhyme to a foe or a good friend.

If somebody is a stingy person, they don’t like to share or lend anything. This is especially true of people who don’t like to spend money, and it is usually negative in connotation. Rob Base is stingy with his music. He doesn’t want to make music with other people and share his talent and success. It doesn’t matter if you are his foe (enemy) or if you are a good friend. He won’t share his funky rhymes with you!

Kinda is an adverb that means slightly or not very.

Pronunciation Practice

The best way to improve your speaking skills in English is to practice a lot! Record a short video of yourself, upload it to YouTube or Google+, and share it with ESLhiphop! I will listen to your recording and offer feedback and comments on your pronunciation!

In your video, try to use as many reductions as you can. Introduce yourself, talk about your friends and family, and tell us a secret about yourself! Your video can be long and short, and I will be happy to help you!

The post 5 Pronunciation Tips That Will Make You Fluent! appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

As I leave, believe I’m stomping.
But when I come back boy, I’m coming straight outta Compton.

Pronunciation: Outta

I’m coming straight outta Compton

Outta is a reduction of the words out of, and it is common in informal speech. Outta is pronounced /ˈaʊtə/. Be careful not to say oughta, which is a reduction of the word ought to. This word is pronounced /ˈɔːt tə/ or /ˈɔːt tu/.

Outta (out of) has several meanings, depending on the context:

• We’re straight outta Compton! = We come from Compton!
• This party sucks. Let’s get outta here. = Let’s leave. 
  
• Let’s order a pizza. We’re outta food. = There’s no food.
• I’m not in shape anymore. I’m outta breath! = It’s difficult to breath after exercise.

Phrases with ‘Out Of’

There are many collocations and phrases with out of. Here is a list of some of them:

• out of breath – to have difficulty breathing after exercising or strenuous activity. I used to be healthy and exercise all the time, but now I get out of breath walking up stairs.
  
• run out of something – to use up or finish the supply of something. Can you help me please?! We’ve run out of toilet paper!
• be out of your mind –  to become crazy. Are you out of your mind or just plain stupid? It’s not a good idea to run across the busy street.
• go out of town – to travel away from home to a different place, for vacation or business. My roommate will be out of town all next week, so I’ll get to enjoy some peace and quiet for once.
• out of date – old fashioned; no longer valid. All of my clothes are really out of date, so I’m gonna donate them to charity and buy new clothes.
• pay out of pocket – to pay with your own money. Teachers in the US have to pay for a lot of school supplies out of their own pockets.
• get out of …  – to leave a place. Let’s get out of here.
• be out of your price range  – something so expensive that you can’t afford to buy it. I really love this car, but it’s out of my price range.
• be out of the question – something that is forbidden or impossible and not worth discussing. You cannot borrow any money from me. It’s out of the question because you already owe me $2,000!
• Out of sight, out of mind – a saying used for somebody that you will easily forget because they are longer with you.

Writing Task

1. Do you know more phrases or idioms with out of?
2. Use a search engine and search for out of. What are some of the websites?

The post Learn Pronunciation and Vocabulary with N.W.A appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

Change, shit.
I guess change is good for any of us.
Whatever it take for any of y’all niggas to get up out the hood.
Shit, I’m witcha. I ain’t mad at cha
Got nuttin’ but love for ya. Do your thing boy.

Pronunciation

When we speak, we often contract and reduce words and phrases to sound more natural and fluent. Listen to 2Pac’s pronunciation and try pronouncing some of these phrases for yourself.

• y’all /jɔːl/- the plural you. short for you all and very common in the Southern United States. Many people also say you guys. Where do y’all wanna eat tonight? 
• wit cha /wɪtʃə/  – this means “with you.” You need to bring your passport wit cha if you’re leaving the country.
• at cha /ætʃə/ – this means “at you.” I am looking at cha because you’re so pretty! I’m not mad at cha because I have forgiven you.
• I’mma /aɪmə/ – this is short for “I’m going to” Use this to talk about future plans you’ve made in the past, or predictions based on evidence. I’mma meet my friends downtown later. You can come along if you like.
• ain’t /eɪnt/ – this is short for am not, is not, are not. I ain’t hungry right now, so I’ll eat later. Many teachers of English dislike hearing this slang word, but ESLhiphop loves this small, versatile verb.
• wanna /wɑːnə/ – this means “want to”. What do you wanna eat? 
• useta /ˈjuːst tə/ – this means “used to.” Use this phrase to describe past habits. He useta smoke cigarettes, but he quit several years ago.
• gerunds and progressive verbs: ~ing  – Many rappers and do not pronounce the final G in gerunds and progressive verbs. They often reduce it to in’. I’m sittin’ here on the train waitin’ to get home. 

Speaking Task

Instead of writing your response this week, I would like you to answer these questions on camera. Please record yourself with a video camera or Web Cam and then share the link in the comments below. Try using the new pronunciation you heard  from 2Pac’s song.

• What do you wanna do today?
• What did you useta do in the past?
• What do you wanna do tomorrow?
• Where do you wanna be in 5 years?
• What are you doin’ right now?

Share your video in the comments below!

The post 2Pac Fridays: English Pronunciation appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

“What You Gonna Do” is a song about heartache and rocky relationships. Mia X speaks to her lover who seems to take advantage of her kindness, but also relies on her love.

Now we been through all kinds of drama
But I’m the only other woman who loves you just as much as mama.
I’m trying to hold on because what we had was so deep.
And in relationships, you got to take the bitter with the sweet.

Vocabulary: Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

There are plenty of interesting idioms and phrasal verbs about romance, broken hearts and relationships. Read the list below and then listen to the song.

• gravy (adjective) – very good; in a very happy mood. Sometimes my mother and father have fights, but it’s all gravy when I visit them. 
  
• make love (idiom) – to have sex. New Years Eve was the first time they had made love. 
  
• shady (adjective) – seeming to be dishonest or illegal. I don’t know if I trust that businessman. He seems like a shady guy, and I don’t feel comfortable investing my money with him.
  
• bittersweet (adjective) – bringing pleasure and sadness at the same time. I am very happy to move home and be closer to my family, but it’s all bittersweet. I will miss the big city life. 
• play with somebody’s mind (idiom) – to play tricks and be deceitful. His girlfriend has completely brainwashed him. She takes advantage of his emotions and plays with his mind. 
• give somebody hell (idiom) – to make life unpleasant for somebody. When I was a teenager, I used to give my mother hell. I wish I could take back all the fighting.
• fling (noun) – a short sexual relationship with somebody. His wife divorced him after she found out about his fling with the secretary at work. 
• bull (slang) – nonsense. We are sick and tired of listening to your bull. There are no such thing as unicorns!
  • short for bullshit (vulgar slang)
• ex (noun) – a person’s former wife, husband or partner. Who doesn’t have a crazy ex? We all have at least one!
• pull your weight (idiom) – to work as hard as everyone else. I don’t like working with John because he is so lazy! He never pulls his weight, and I have to do all the work!

Pronunciation

Whatcha wanna do?

To sound more natural, try pronouncing these common phrases like Mia X:

• Whatcha = many meanings
  • What do you… Whatcha want to eat?
  • What did you… Whatcha do last night?
  • What are you… Whatcha listening to?
• Whatcha gone  = What are you going to
• Wanna = want to
• Gonna = going to

Discussion Questions

Who is your ideal man or woman in a relationship? How can you be a good partner, husband and wife? Have you ever had a bad relationship, and if so, how did it make you feel? Is it possible to have a happy relationship without fighting or heartache, or is that impossible? Please write your comments below!

The post Speak Better English: Idioms and Pronunciation with Mia-X appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

In “You Don’t Know Me”, T.I. explains that he is successful because of hard work and talent, and he is upset when people claim responsibility for his success.

You might have seen me in the streets, but you don’t know me.
When you holler when you speak, remember, you don’t know me.
Save all the hating and the popping. You don’t know me.
Quit telling people you my partner. You don’t know me.
Don’t be a group. Keep it moving. You don’t know me.

Grammar: Perfect Modal Verbs

You might have seen me in the streets, but you don’t know me.

English has several modal verbs, including: can, could, will, would, may, might, must, and should. We normally use modal verbs to describe the present and future, but we can also use it for past actions and situations. To use modal verbs in the past:

Subject + modal + have + past participle.

Subject + modal + have + not + past participle.

Modal + subject + have + past participle?

Meaning of Perfect Modals

The meaning of Perfect Modals is sometimes different than present or future modal verbs.

•  I could have gone with my friends to Europe if I had saved more money. We would have had a great time!
  • Use could have / would have for unrealistic past possibilities.
  • This grammar is called the third conditional.
• My friend has been in school for a very long time. I don’t know if she will graduate in the summer, but she will have certainly graduated by December.
  • Use will have to discuss an expected completed action in the future.
  • This grammar is also called the future perfect.
• You might have seen me in the streets, but you don’t know me. You may have met my friends, but you still don’t know me!
  • Use may have / might have for realistic past possibilities. 
• I feel so sick right now! I shouldn’t have eaten that smelly sushi! We should have gone to the pizza restuarant.
  • Use should have to express regrets.
• The diamond ring is beautiful! It must have cost you a fortune!
  • Use must have to make logical deductions.
  • Unlike might have / might have, use must have if you are 100% certain about a situation based on facts, evidence or logic.
• I can have gone with my friends to Europe.
  • The verb can is not possible. Use could have instead.

Pronunciation and Writing

In spoken and written English, people often contract the modal and the verb have. Here are some common contractions

• could have = could’ve = /kʊdəv/
  
• would have = would’ve = /wʊdəv/
• should have = should’ve = /ʃʊdəv/
• must have = must’ve = /məstəv/
• might have = /maɪtəv/
  • Most people don’t write might’ve
  • In the song, T.I. pronounces it like /maɪtə/
• may have = /meɪəv/
  • Most people don’t write may’ve
• will have = will’ve  = /wɪləv/
  • will’ve is not possible

Discussion Questions

What is success? In your opinion, who is a successful person? Do successful people have a lot of money and a big house? Why are people attracted to success? Do you think people become jealous and insecure over the success of another person? Please write your comments below!

The post Learn English Grammar: Perfect Modals with T.I. appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

I was listening to KRS-One’s classic “Sound of Da Police”, and I thought the lyrics would be perfect for sound discrimination, which is an activity to help students differentiate two or more consonant and vowel sounds. In this song, students can listen for and differentiate the voiced and unvoiced labiodental fricatives — that’s /f/ and /v/ in IPA. Many languages do not have an equivalent to /f/ and /v/, and you probably have students who struggle to pronounce them correctly. This list is not comprehensive, but here are some L1 groups who might benefit from /f/ and /v/ sound discrimination activities:

• The German and Dutch languages do not have /v/ at the end of words.
  
• Spanish speakers sometimes mix up /b/ and /v/.
• Arabic speakers usually pronounce /v/ like /f/.
• Turkish speakers tend to confuse /w/ and /v/. 
• Korean, Malay/Indonesian and Thai do not have /f/. It is usually substituted with /p/.
• Korean, Malay/Indonesian, Thai, Japanese and most Chinese dialects do not have /v/. 

Using Sound Discrimination

• Level: All Levels
  
• Time: 15-20 minutes
• Activity: Listening
• Activity Aim: 
  • differentiating between /f/ and /v/
• Materials:
  • Music video for “Sound of Da Police”
  • Gap Fill Worksheet

Procedures

1. Write police on the board, and ask students to think of as many collocations in pairs. Some possibilities include police car, police station, traffic police, police officer. Check work as a whole class and write ideas on the board.
2. Drill the pronunciation of officer several times and ask students how many syllables it has. Three syllables. 
3. Write the word overseer on the board ask ask students how many syllables it has. Four syllables. Drill the pronunciation of this word several times. Show the mechanics of the mouth by pointing to yourself. Exaggerate the movements and show them how to tuck their lips behind the front teeth to produce /f/ and /v/ sounds.
4. This stage is optional and you may decide to skip over it, but perhaps you might want explain that an overseer is a person who makes sure that people work. Explain that this word is old-fashioned and usually refers to American slave owners.
5. Tell students that they will listen to the song twice. For the first listening, student simply have to write the number of times they heard officer and overseer. Have them check their answers in small groups and then report back as a whole class.
6. Give students gap fill worksheet. They will listen to the song a second time and write either officer or overseer in the blanks. Have them check work in pairs and perhaps play the song again if time permits.

Discussion Questions

What vowel and consonant sounds are difficult for your students? Have you ever tried minimal pair or sound discrimination tasks in your lessons? What are some possible follow ups to an activity such as this one? Please write your comments below!

The post Teacher Resource: Sound Discrimination with KRS-One appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot. Do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime

Grammar: Had Better

Use ‘had better’ for future recommendations, expressing hope and giving warnings. 

Subject + had better + base verb

Subject + had better + not + base verb

• You‘d better bring your rain coat. It’s going to rain later today, and you don’t want to catch a cold.
• The train had better come soon! I can’t be late to my interview because I really need this job!
• You had better not talk to me like that. If you do, we will never be friends again.

If you want to make a recommendation for the present moment, use should. 

Subject + should + base verb

• People should bring rain coats when it’s cloudy. In general, it is a good idea for people to have a rain coat or umbrella on cloudy days.
• Students should study three hours a day in order to do well. This is general advice for students. It isn’t advice for a specific test in the future.

If you want to make a recommendation for the past, use should have. 

Subject + should have + past participle

• He should have brought an umbrella to work. He got wet and cold, and now he has a very bad cold.
• You should have seen the movie! We saw it last night, and it was incredible!

Spoken Form

Most people, especially rappers, say better or best instead of had better.

• You better bring your rain coat.
• The train better come soon!
• You best not talk to me like that again!

Discussion Questions

What is the secret to success? In order to be happy in life, what should people do? In order to be happy and successful, what should people avoid doing? Is failure inevitable on the path to success? If your friend keeps doing poorly in school or at work, what advice will you give him or her? Please write your comments below!

The post “Had Better” with Eminem appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

Hey Mama,I wanna scream so loud for you ‘cause I’m so proud of you
Let me tell you what I’m about to do
I know I act a fool, but I promise you I’m going back to school
I appreciate what you allowed for me
I just want you to be proud of me

Kanye is very proud of his mother, and he appreciates all the great things she has done for him.

I wanna tell the whole world about a friend of mine
This little light of mine and I’m finna let it shine
I’m finna take y’all back to them better times
I’m finna talk about my mama if yall don’t mind

I said mommy I’mma love you till you don’t hurt no more
And when I’m older, you ain’t gotta work no more
And I’mma get you that mansion that we couldn’t afford

Vocabulary

Review these words and then listen to the song.

• act a fool (idiom) – to behave foolishly, stupidly or unwisely. I don’t want my girlfriend’s parents to meet my roommate. He’ll probably act a fool and embarrass me. 
• appreciate (verb) – to understand that something is valuable; to be grateful for someone or something. My mother is a great woman, and I appreciate all of her sacrifices. 
• be proud of… (verb) – to feel satisfaction or pleasure because you have achieved something. I am very proud of my mother because she just graduated from university! 
• fall back on (phrasal verb) – to use something for help because there are no other choices. If you cannot find your dream job now, you can always fall back on teaching.
• get through (phrasal verb) – to communicate with someone, especially by phone. I tried calling her, but I couldn’t get through. She wasn’t at home to answer the phone.
• take out (phrasal verb) – to go with someone to a restaurant, theater, etc, and pay for everything. I’m going to take my mother out to her favorite restaurant this weekend.
• just right (adjective) – perfect. The weather is just right today. Not too hot and not too cold. 

Pronunciation

• I’m finna /fɪnə/ – I’m fixing to, I’m about to. Use it for future actions that will happen very soon. I’m finna leave and see my mother.
• y’all /jɑl/ – you all, you guys. Plural you. What do you guys wanna eat? Do y’all wanna eat sushi or Thai food?
• gotta /gɑtə/ – got to, have to. Use it for requirements, suggestions or obligations. You gotta listen to Kanye West’s first album. It’s incredible!
• wanna /wənə/ – want to. What do you wanna listen to? Do you wanna listen to 2Pac or Biggie?
• I’mma /ɑimə/  – I am going to. Use it for future plans. I’mma study English with hip-hop today.
• ’cause /kəz/ – short for because.

Discussion Questions

Do you celebrate Mother’s Day? When do you celebrate it? Is your mother a special woman in your life? How often do you talk to your mother and take her out to a restaurant? Are you going to do something special for her? Please write your comments below!

The post Celebrate Mother’s Day with Kanye West appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

No matter what we face
We must face the moment of truth baby

Pronunciation: Reductions

In English, it is common to pronounce two words as one word. It is possible to contract or reduce two words into one. 

In this lesson, we will learn more about gotta, wanna, I’mma, gonna and ’cause.

They say it’s lonely at the top in whatever you do
You always gotta watch motherfuckers around you
Nobody’s invincible. No plan is foolproof
We all must meet our moment of truth

Sometimes you gotta dig deep, when problems come near
Don’t fear things get severe for everybody everywhere

But I can’t jeopardize, what I have done up to this point
So I’mma get more guys, to help me run the whole joint
Cultivate, multiply, motivate, or else we’ll die
You know I be the master of the who, what, where and why
See when you’re shining, some chumps’ll wanna dull you
Always selfish jealous punks will wanna pull you
Down, just like some shellfish in a bucket
‘Cause they love it, to see your ass squirm like a worm
But just as you’ll receive what is coming to you
Everybody else is gonna get theirs too
I ain’t no saint, therefore I cannot dispute
That everyone must meet their moment of truth

I’m ready to lose my mind but instead I use my mind
I put down the knife, and take the bullets out my nine
My only crime, was that I’m too damn kind
And now some scandalous motherfuckers wanna take what’s mine

Meaning

• gotta /gɑtə/ – got to, have to. Use it for requirements, suggestions or obligations. You gotta listen to Guru. He’s off the hook!
• wanna /wənə/ – want to. What do you wanna listen to? Do you wanna listen to 2Pac or Biggie?
• I’mma /ɑimə/  – I am going to. Use it for future plans. I’mma study English with hip-hop today.
• gonna /gənə/ – going to. Just like I’mma, use it for future plans. When are you gonna visit the Hip-Hop Museum?
• ’cause /kəz/ – short for because.

Discussion Questions

Do you agree with Guru – does everyone have problems? When you have a problem, how do you deal with it? Is it  difficult being successful? Do you think successful people make others angry or jealous? Please write your comments below!

The post Sound Like a Native with Gang Starr appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

But right now, yo, we gonna up you on how we just chill

-Tajai, Souls of Mischief

Vocabulary

• chill/max (verb, slang) – to relax instead of feeling worried and anxious. If you’re maxing with your friends, you are having a good time. A lot of people chill out on the weekends. 
• dope (adjective, slang) – very cool and really good. Souls of Mischief are really dope! Their music is perfect for chillin’ on a Saturday afternoon in California.
• going to up you (phrase) – to inform or give somebody information. If you’re going to up someone on how to dance, you are going to teach them how to dance. Souls of Mischief are going to up us on how they chill. 
• crew (noun) – a group of close friends. If you are in a crew, you have a group of very close friends. You will help each other at any time, and you are always reliable and supportive. Of course, you got to have fun with your crew and max out! 
• grub (verb, noun) – food; to eat food. If you grub, you are eating food. When you hang out with your crew, what kind of grub do you like to eat?
• props (noun) – respect and support for someone. If you give someone props, you are publicly acknowledging and respecting them. Friends give each other props.
• fresh (adjective) -a very cool style.

Pronunciation

• Instead of saying chilling and maxing, many rappers say chillin’ and maxin’. It is common not to make the final /ng/ sound.
• Instead of saying going to up you, you can also say gonna up you. 

Discussion

When you are with your friends, what do you like to do? How do you chill out with your crew? Where do you go and who do you see? Can you up us on your crew? Who’s in it, and who is the leader? Please write your comments below!

The post Learn How to Chill with Souls of Mischief appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.