All I can say is that if you co-write in a song, make sure your name is on the copyright when it gets sent to DC. Then when royalty time comes you are covered... otherwise its off to court you go and you may or may not win.

I would copyright the beat first before I let anyone else use it ... then you can do what ever you want with it and not have to worry about it.

Peace of mind? Priceless!

so after I copyright the beat, and then I decide to put another artist on it, (or put myself on it), do I copyright it again? And what exactly does it mean to be a co-writer? Actually writing the lyrics? or writing the beat too?

I am not sure about rap songs but regular songs are copyrighted "lyrics by..." "music by.."
or if it is the same person doing both is "lyrics and music by..." I assume that if the beat is the music that would be by you, and if the rap is the lyric, that would be for your cowriter. Download the form PA from the library of congress, fill it out and send it back with 30 bucs and it is copyrigted-

There is a book called confessions of a record producer that you really should read. It answers I think all of the questions you're been asking.

What is the difference between a PA form and an SR Form?

Thanks for the book recommendation!