Chipmunk has passed on tips for writing rhymes to encourage school kids to rap.

The ‘Diamond Rings’ star is heading a hunt to find the UKs next Rhyme Master in a competition in association with Britain’s National literary trust, which is running a search across the nation’s secondary schools to find the best wordsmiths, sponsored by US record label Def Jam.

Urging children to pay attention in class, Chipmunk said: “General tips for rhyme writing – practice at all different tempos, slow tracks faster tracks, different vocals tones. When you’re in English and you’re studying your similes and metaphors really take that in, because that really helps, the clever rhymes l the ones that people don’t get straight away, but only when they listen back.”

He also urged entrants not to self aggrandise, and remain true to their roots, whatever they may be.

He added: “Always be yourself, talk about what’s true to your life, because whether small or large there is someone that will relates and the worst thing you can do is make people fall in love with the character you’re portraying to be so just be yourself, go for it.”

The ‘Def Jam Rapstar: Rhyme Master’ competition is open to students aged between 12 and 17 and requires entrants to write a rap of up to 400 words, which will be judged by on the language used, the structure of the piece, rhythm, rhyme and creativity.

Teachers are also being urged to acknowledge rap as a part of their teaching and incorporate it into their lessons through the project.

To download backing tracks for the competition, find further information about the competition or to enter, visit http://www.defjamrapstarschools.com/