Hip Hop: The Listening Game
Hip-hop is a unique poetry form that consists of “the patterns and intricacies of rhyme” and “flow, the way the words fit with the music or beat” (Morris, 223). Its impact on society has been noted for numerous decades. Hip-hop artists like MC Rakim, LL Cool J, the Sugar Hill Gang, and more use multiple literary devices such as alliteration, consonance, assonance, etc to emphasize the rhythm and flow in their music. Despite its popularity and intricacy, Hip-hop and its other forms are often dismissed because its origin is Black.
In MC Rakim’s “Follow the Leader”, assonance and consonance are used to further emphasize the rhythm and flow of the song. A verse in the song states,
“Rap is rhythm and poetry
cuts create sound effects
you might catch up if
you follow the records he wrecks” (224).
Immediately, the consonance of the r sound in rap and rhythm stand out to the listener. To the ear, it is a rhythm that wouldn’t have been accomplished without the consonant sounds. The next line also uses consonance of the c sound to emphasize the rhythm MC Rakim is trying to achieve. The use of the r and c sounds help to imitate the sounds of a DJ playing. In other words, MC Rakim is able to mimic these sounds by use of consonance in order to further emphasize the rhythm of a DJ. In the last line, assonance is used in “records” and “wrecks”. These word choices really mimic the sounds of a DJ playing. Rakim is able to make these sounds to follow the rhythm of a DJ by use of literary devices such as consonance and assonance.
The choices of these sounds also help to distract the listener from a potential diss from the rapper. The third line states, “you might catch up” (224) indicating there’s a delay in understanding. Might indicates that the listener probably won’t even understand the lyrics as they continue to listen to the song. The potential diss probably wouldn’t have been received as well had the use of consonance and assonance been used for mimicking the rhythm.
MC Rakim. “Follow the Leader.” An Exaltation of Forms: Contemporary Poets Celebrate the Diversity of Their Art, edited by Annie Finch and Kathrine Varnes, University of Michigan Press, 2002, p. 224.
Morris, Tracie. “Hip-Hop Rhyme Formations: Open Your Ears.” An Exaltation of Forms: Contemporary Poets Celebrate the Diversity of Their Art, edited by Annie Finch and Kathrine Varnes, University of Michigan Press, 2002, pp. 223–227
