Hip-hop is poetry. That’s why your favorite rapper just might be a giant nerd! Here are some of the most stylish rap lyrics to reference literary devices.
1. If It’s Up, Then It’s Stuck!
“It’s big bags bussin’ out the Bentley Bentayga, man/Birkin bag, Bardi back”. How’s that for alliteration? Cardi B’s grammar game is as strong as the rest of her!
2. The Queen of Talkin’ Sh*t
“Cardi B, bad b*tch, those is f*ckin’ synonyms!” Cardi B has the crowd hype. So, calling Cardi B a “bad b*tch” is what true grammar nerds call a “redundancy”.
3. I’m Winnin’
“Err-eh-err-eh!” Childish Gambino has always been a literary rapper. As a talented vocalist, it makes sense that he makes non-human sounds come to life.
4. The Diamonds Still Shine
Moreover, Lil Wayne is one of those geniuses who never seems to get enough credit. This hip-hop song is yet another example of Weezy’s astounding wit. You a roughneck (I’m a cutthroat)! You’re a tough guy! That’s enough jokes!”
5. From Venus To Mars Back To Earth
“Warfare in your ear. Clak! Clak! Clak! Clak! Clak!” Another vivid storyteller rapping over slick beats. MF Doom is a lyricism legend.
6. I Got a Bone To Pick Like Roses
Mac Miller was a tortured artist who left behind a meaningful legacy because of his cultural context. His talent as a poet illuminates his profound journey as a doomed hero. “You can run ’til you slip on the sidewalk/And the same bone you pick gon’ break/That’s a motif!”
7. Schooled By Older Dudes
For old-school artists, narrative-heavy lyrics, which included flashbacks, were somewhat commonplace. This hip-hop song is a lyrical classic. “Same foul cats who tried to bust me!”
Do you tend to listen to the lyrics or get lost to the beat? Is an artist’s original intention more or less important than the audience’s interpretation? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment!
I tend to listen to the beat first and get absorbed. And then the lyrics. If the lyrics speak to me, then the lyrics become the reason I share the song. The artist’s intentions are important but once the music is heard by the listener, those intentions are lost. Just think about the negative pushback an artist receives when his/her song creates media hype (or more likely that the media caused the hype about the song). The excuse becomes, “Well, that was not my intention when writing that song.” And then the apology to the audience comes as a result… because no body wanna lose any record sales…. (I mean, no body wants to offend others).