How Long Should a Rap Song Be? Here's How to Work It Out

Two minutes, three, four? There's no fixed length for a rap song. But you can work out exactly how long your song will be, based on your structure and the tempo of the beat. And there's one number from Spotify you should know.

Length = number of bars and tempo

A song is made of sections with a set number of bars: an intro, hooks and verses. A four-beat bar lasts 240 divided by the BPM, in seconds. Add up your bars and work out how long they last together. How to count bars? Read what a bar is in rap.

Two examples

A classic structure: intro (8 bars), hook (8), verse (16), hook (8), verse (16), hook (8). That's 64 bars.

• At 70 BPM, like a 140 BPM trap beat counted as 70: about 3:39
• At 90 BPM: about 2:51
• At 120 BPM: 2:08

A short structure: intro (4 bars), hook (8), verse (16), hook (8). That's 36 bars.

• At 70 BPM: about 2:03
• At 90 BPM: 1:36
• At 120 BPM: 1:12

So the same number of bars is a lot shorter on a fast beat. Want a longer song on a fast beat? You'll need more bars.

Spotify counts a stream after 30 seconds

According to Spotify, a stream counts when someone plays your song for at least 30 seconds. That goes for a two-minute song just as much as a four-minute one. So don't make a listener wait too long in those first 30 seconds. A long intro where not much happens is a risk. Start with a short intro, for example, or go straight into the hook.

How to decide the length of your song

• Let your story decide. Got enough to say for two verses? Then do two. Don't stretch a song with empty sections.
• Look at the beat. A beat often already has a structure, with spots for a hook and verses. You can build on that.
• Listen to songs you like. Count how many bars their hook and verses are, and how long the intro lasts.

Writing a hook that sticks? Read how to write a hook.

Ready to release?

Read how to put your own music on Spotify and your 4-week release plan. Curious what streams earn? Read how much Spotify pays per stream or try the streams calculator. Need a beat? Browse all beats.

FAQ

How do I work out how long my song will be?

Add up the bars of all your sections. Multiply that by 240 and divide it by the BPM. That gives you the length in seconds.

Is a short song a problem?

No. According to Spotify, a stream counts after 30 seconds, however long your song is. Just make sure your listener hears something good early.

How many bars does a rap song have?

It differs per song. In the example with an intro, three hooks and two verses, it's 64.

Source: Spotify for Artists on how streams are counted.