ºÚÁÏÍø

News

Researchers developed a machine-learning algorithm that learned to rap

DeepBeat, an algorithm for rap lyrics generation, outperforms top human rappers by 21 % in terms of length and frequency of the rhymes in the lyrics.

The rapping algorithm was quantitatively evaluated with two measures. First, the prediction performance was evaluated by measuring how well the algorithm predicts the next line of an existing rap song. This it can do surprisingly well.

- An 82% accuracy was achieved for separating the true next line from a randomly chosen line, says researcher Eric Malmi.

Second, a rhyme density measure was  introduced  and  showed that DeepBeat, an algorithm for rap lyrics generation, outperforms the top human rappers by 21 % in terms of length and frequency of the rhymes in the produced lyrics.

The validity of the rhyme density measure was assessed by conducting a human experiment which showed that the measure correlates with a rapper's own notion of technically skilled lyrics.

Here is one DeepBeat generated on the topic of love:

For a chance at romance I would love to enhance
But everything I love has turned to a tedious task
One day we gonna have to leave our love in the past
I love my fans but no one ever puts a grasp
I love you momma I love my momma – I love you momma
And I would love to have a thing like you on my team you take care
I love it when it’s sunny Sonny girl you could be my Cher
I’m in a love affair I can’t share it ain’t fair
Haha I’m just playin’ ladies you know I love you.
I know my love is true and I know you love me too
Girl I’m down for whatever cause my love is true
This one goes to my man old dirty one love we be swigging brew
My brother I love you Be encouraged man And just know
When you done let me know cause my love make you be like WHOA
If I can’t do it for the love then do it I won’t
All I know is I love you too much to walk away though

Future work could focus on refining storylines, and ultimately integrating a speech synthesizer that would give DeepBeat also a voice.

Researchers Eric Malmi and Pyry Takala, professors Tapani Raiko and Aristides Gionis from the Department of Computer Science at the Aalto University and professor Hannu Toivonen from the University of Helsinki and HIIT developed a machine-learning algorithm that learned to rap. To train the machine-learning algorithm, the researchers began with a database of over 10,000 songs from more than 100 rap artists.

More information:

Eric Malmi, eric.malmi@aalto.fi

  • Updated:
  • Published:
Share
URL copied!

Read more news

A woman in white stands in a theatrical dressing room with violet walls, a lit vanity mirror, and hanging clothes.
Cooperation, Research & Art Published:

Hämeenlinna Art Museum’s exhibition brings artworks to life through film

Hämeenlinna Art Museum will open a new exhibition Kehyskertomuksia: 24 fps / Reframing Cinema, produced in collaboration with the Aalto University Department of Film ELO.
Open Access Week 2025 poster with nine images behind the open access symbol and event details.
Research & Art Published:

Publishing Research Data Alongside Research Articles

Data availability statements are increasingly required by scientific journals. They include information on what data are available, where they can be found, and any applicable access terms
Open Access Week 2025 poster with nine images behind the open access symbol and event details.
Research & Art Published:

Who publishes our open access publications?

Researchers at Aalto and Helsinki Universities favor open access journals with author fees published by large publishers. Popular journals without author fees are often published by universities or societies.
Bioinspired film, leek. Photo by Maija Vaara and Mithila Mohan, Aalto University
Research & Art Published:

Learning, growing, and exploring: a path through doctoral studies at Aalto

Hamidreza Daghigh Shirazi reflects on his doctoral journey at Aalto University