Prompt Thought #5— Using ChatGPT to Breakdown of Andre 3000’s Verse on ‘Scientists and Engineers’ by Killer Mike

Link to full conversation, here: https://chat.openai.com/share/c340ec8e-70ff-4cc7-a842-b8c0c8d583a0

This is all just gonna be raw from GPT because I don’t really have anything to say on this verse besides the fact that I love it. I just think that the implications for this is incredible for education. Especially for learning multiple languages. The fact that you can have this piece of technology that can examine sentences and break it down from a symbolic, syntax, grammar, linguistics-esque perspective is brilliant. So without further ado my conversation (My input is Bold / This was done using ChatGPT3.5 Turbo):

Break down this verse from a linguistic perspective as well as a literary device perspective:

Communication comin’ in

Too much that I can’t communicate with all of them

I do wish I had scientist or engineer friends

Let’s go, get out of here, petrol is cheaper than it’s ever been

And then, who’s to say when all would end?

All I know is when the portrait painted better have your portion of the rent

A dollar more and you will get upgraded

When you’ve think you’ve made it, you are then

Just tolerated, overrated

Hope I’m eighty when I get my second wind

Small potatoes all I ate before potato chips would cut my corner lips

Operator, operator, I would pray that you connect me to a sip

Of sangria, Zambia, camera cameo, hand me a handful of hips

A stamina stampede of happily happenings, dabblin’ into obliv-ion, neon, beyond the ambiance

Be honest, you promised that you will live

Do summers ever forget?

Pajamas feel like a kid, cucumber will make her drip

Do jump on it, hit a split, hookahs don’t really do shit

Duke Ellington in this bitch, rebelling is like an itch, oh

I’ma, I’ma live forever

— -

From a linguistic perspective, this verse demonstrates the use of various literary devices and wordplay. It employs rhymes, alliteration, repetition, and vivid imagery to convey its message.

The verse begins by expressing a difficulty in communication and the desire for specific types of friends, scientists, or engineers. It then mentions the idea of leaving the current situation, highlighting the affordability of petrol. The uncertainty of the future is acknowledged, with the mention of not knowing when things will end.

The following lines emphasize the importance of individual effort, suggesting that one should secure their portion of the rent by making sure they contribute. The concept of advancement is introduced, suggesting that a dollar more would lead to an upgrade, but even then, one might only be tolerated and overrated rather than truly valued.

The verse continues with a mix of playful and metaphorical language, such as referring to eating “small potatoes” before potato chips, and requesting an operator to connect to a sip of sangria, evoking a sense of pleasure and escape. The mention of various places and sensations contributes to the vivid imagery.

The line about promising to live and questioning if summers are forgotten conveys a sense of mortality and the desire for longevity. The verse then shifts to a more light-hearted tone, mentioning the comfort of wearing pajamas and the potential aphrodisiac effect of cucumbers.

The verse concludes with a mixture of playful and introspective lines, including a reference to Duke Ellington and the itch of rebellion. The final line boldly declares the intention to live forever, capturing a sense of immortality or eternal spirit.

Overall, the verse demonstrates a blend of linguistic devices, vivid imagery, and wordplay to convey a range of emotions and themes, including communication, ambition, uncertainty, longing, and the desire for eternal life.

— -

Go line by line

Certainly! Let’s break down the verse line by line:

1. “Communication comin’ in”

This line establishes the theme of communication, indicating that messages or information are being received.

2. “Too much that I can’t communicate with all of them”

Here, the speaker expresses being overwhelmed by the volume of communication they receive, making it impossible to respond or engage with everyone.

3. “I do wish I had scientist or engineer friends”

This line reveals the speaker’s desire for specific types of friends, scientists, or engineers, suggesting a longing for intellectual companionship.

4. “Let’s go, get out of here, petrol is cheaper than it’s ever been”

This line suggests a desire to leave the current location or situation, using the affordability of petrol as a reason to do so.

5. “And then, who’s to say when all would end?”

Here, the speaker acknowledges the uncertainty of the future, questioning when the current circumstances or experiences will come to a conclusion.

6. “All I know is when the portrait painted better have your portion of the rent”

This line employs a metaphor, implying that in life, one must contribute their fair share or fulfill their responsibilities to secure their place or worth.

7. “A dollar more and you will get upgraded”

The verse continues with a play on words, suggesting that by paying a slightly higher price or making an additional effort, one can attain an upgrade or improvement.

8. “When you’ve think you’ve made it, you are then / Just tolerated, overrated”

This line employs rhyme and repetition to convey a sense of disillusionment. It suggests that even after achieving a perceived level of success, one might only be tolerated or considered overrated rather than truly appreciated.

9. “Hope I’m eighty when I get my second wind”

This line expresses a hope to experience a renewed burst of energy or enthusiasm later in life, symbolized by the metaphorical “second wind.”

10. “Small potatoes all I ate before potato chips would cut my corner lips”

Here, the speaker uses a playful metaphor, comparing previous insignificant experiences (“small potatoes”) to something more enjoyable and satisfying (“potato chips”).

11. “Operator, operator, I would pray that you connect me to a sip”

This line utilizes repetition and a plea to an operator to humorously connect the speaker to a refreshing sip of something, potentially indicating a desire for pleasure or escape.

12. “Of sangria, Zambia, camera cameo, hand me a handful of hips”

This line showcases alliteration and a vivid portrayal of desired experiences, mentioning the drink sangria, the country Zambia, capturing moments on camera, and the sensual image of holding hips.

13. “A stamina stampede of happily happenings, dabblin’ into obliv-ion, neon, beyond the ambiance”

Here, the verse employs alliteration and vivid imagery to describe a rush of joyful events and a playful exploration beyond ordinary experiences into realms of oblivion, neon, and atmosphere.

14. “Be honest, you promised that you will live”

This line calls for honesty and reminds someone of a promise they made to live their life fully, embracing authenticity and seizing opportunities.

15. “Do summers ever forget?”

This line poses a question about whether past summers, representing memories and experiences, are easily forgotten or fade away over time.

16. “Pajamas feel like a kid, cucumber will make her drip”

This line combines a sense of nostalgia, with pajamas evoking childhood, and a playful suggestion that cucumbers have an arousing effect.

17. “Do jump on it, hit a split, hookahs don’t really do shit”

Here, the verse utilizes rhymes and wordplay, suggesting engaging in energetic activities, performing a gymnastic split, and expressing skepticism about the effects of hookah smoking.

18. “Duke Ellington in this bitch, rebelling is like an itch, oh”

This line references jazz musician Duke Ellington and evokes a rebellious spirit, comparing it to an itch that needs to be scratched or satisfied.

19. “I’ma, I’ma live forever”

The verse concludes with a bold declaration of immortality, expressing the speaker’s determination to live eternally or have a lasting impact.

By analyzing each line, we can better understand the linguistic elements, literary devices, and themes present in the verse.

This is crazy and cool as hell.

GPT is capable of bringing in input from multiple perspectives, for example knowing about Duke Ellington and who he is, and is capable of figuring out the point of a line. The first line also shows a great example of how GPT is capable of understanding a sentence on a ‘meta’ level, where it both understands the placement of the line itself, the beginning, the meaning and background and history of the term “communication coming in”, and being capable of putting that information together to form a coherent output.

Expect more of these