How Big of A Part Does 'Punch Lines' & 'Metaphors' play in Lyricism ?

[P. Town]

If you still using "like" or "as".....hhahahahahahaha!!

 

[kevmic]

"ima murder da beat like OJ and get way wit it"

speak on it

Punchlines and Metaphors are just some of the things used to make a dope verse. Rappers like Scarface rarely uses Punchlines or Metaphors, but his verses are so real people still consider him one of the greats. Then you have emcees like Jada, Luda, and Fab who's whole verse is saturated in Punchlines and Metaphors. It just all depends on the emcee ad how the verse is delivered. But what erks me is this new style of rapping where they will throw a metaphor in at the end of their line and not even have a complete sentence. Or it just sounds like they left out the word like or as. "I'll keep her running back and forth...Soccer team."

 

[Mr.302]

They big only for mixtapes. iF your into making actaul songs like I am. Dont over do it with them. Have you ever been told a story by some one using "Like" after every word. Like why would you, like do that.Thats what its like and thats how you lose your audience ear because it gets complicated. But do throw a couple in there, because thats normal talk,plus thier funny and clever. Yeah that new way its like picture phonics.Like how we teach kids. You say a word. and then show them a picture.

If used properly...deadly technique. But Youngmoney do it to death and half the shits corny, elementray or doesnt make sense. NOOO penmanship. (except Drake) i like him.

 

[lookdude]

They big only for mixtapes. iF your into making actaul songs like I am. Dont over do it with them. Have you ever been told a story by some one using "Like" after every word. Like why would you, like do that.Thats what its like and thats how you lose your audience ear because it gets complicated. But do throw a couple in there, because thats normal talk,plus thier funny and clever.

great point right here

 

[lookdude]

Punchlines and Metaphors are just some of the things used to make a dope verse. Rappers like Scarface rarely uses Punchlines or Metaphors, but his verses are so real people still consider him one of the greats. Then you have emcees like Jada, Luda, and Fab who's whole verse is saturated in Punchlines and Metaphors. It just all depends on the emcee ad how the verse is delivered. But what erks me is this new style of rapping where they will throw a metaphor in at the end of their line and not even have a complete sentence. Or it just sounds like they left out the word like or as. "I'll keep her running back and forth...Soccer team."

yeah that shit needs to stop in 2011 foreal

 

[SCRATCHOFF]

yeah that shit needs to stop in 2011 foreal

right... It messes up the pace of the verse... THATS Nicki' Minaj's problem. It confuses me how her delivery is so strong but she sounds so off..a rapper with a strong delivery can make even the wackest verse sound decent. Its how she paces her verse. All that "blank blank blank ...metaphor" creates random pauses in the flow that shouldn't be there... Same for Drake... Its like you want to add extra words in their lines...

 

[kevmic]

right... It messes up the pace of the verse... THATS Nicki' Minaj's problem. It confuses me how her delivery is so strong but she sounds so off..a rapper with a strong delivery can make even the wackest verse sound decent. Its how she paces her verse. All that "blank blank blank ...metaphor" creates random pauses in the flow that shouldn't be there... Same for Drake... Its like you want to add extra words in their lines...

That whole Young money click has it bad like that. Lil Wayne started that shit, but when he started that it was on songs that would work rapping like that. But now all rappers are doing it.

 

[lookdude]

^^ I like tyga cuz when he makes a song he doesn't rely on all punchlines like wayne and all of them I don't think I ever heard him use the pause rhyme scheme

 

[kidplayboy]

punchlines when used sparingly add character to a verse but when overused it becomes monotonous no matter how "dope" they are. the whole young money crew took waynes formula for success and ran with it. they didnt even build on it while he was locked up. The art of the punchline evolved from the ninties and then in early to the mid 2000's it began to decline. i wish to see the punchline taken further as opposed to being a crutch for talent deprived artists.

 

[kidplayboy]

oh yea this was nice thread..its actually the reason i decided to join the ill community..keep the REAL music convo coming

 

[lookdude]

^^^^ hell yeah niggas sleepin on my shyt

 

[ThatA]

Anyone ever heard of a guy called Phil Ade? Some of his metaphors are clever but he has a whole fucking song where he uses metaphors. I need to find the name of the song so I can take it out my iPod. That type of shit is inexcusable.

If you're gonna be metaphorical, be like Los and be clever "I'm about to phillup banks like the Fresh Prince".

 

[G.R.I.P. Money $$$]

i think it plays a medium part in songs..its good to use just the right amount for the particular song, but not too much..

and there is nothin wrong at all with using like or as. niggas b bullshittin wit that shit like its a big deal..

i think it plays a lesser part in songs aimed at females or club songs, but if done right can add to those songs as well...

but i think flow is equally if not more important..

 

[ThatA]

i fucks with Roscoe Dash's music when I hit the gym but everytime No Hands plays I groan when he says "ahead of the game no cheat codes". Is that even a metaphor? That's just pointing out the fucking obvious.

anyone got examples of good and bad similies and metaphors?

 

[RED Hood]

Metaphors and similes should always play a big part in any writing be a song,poetry,or prose. Metaphors and similes can add some visual imagery to your work . Most of the rappers now suck so they don't understand how to properly utilize them. When used correctly it can take your lyricism to another level.

 

[da champ]

True like when ur telling a story example;

Look...
I woke up without a heart beat
But, I remember we was just in the car deep
Was at a light, and got approached by a car thief
He pulled out but didn't ask for no car keys
A loud noise without a voice but i'm tryna scream out...shit is not fair
I can't tell you where i'm at or how I got here
Surrounded by all white, maybe it's just cloudy
Escorted by two men who knew everything about me
Both of 'em so strong, kept sayin' hold on
Feel like my soul's gone...naked no clothes on
I know this can't be my fate, I scream wait
As they drop me in front of a gate
They left no trace...I can see my every breath
Like a cold day, stood in front a man with no face - Joe Budden

That Metaphor Puts such a vivid picture in your head and it doesnt take away from the song. Actually it ADDS to it and thats what its suppose to do......

This is a great example of how it adds to a song. Similes, metaphors, punchlines and all that are cool depending on when/how they are used and whether or not it adds to the song.

My question is, which rapper was the one that started the trend of calling similes, metaphors?

 

[JokerzWyld]

Like anything else, it's good in moderation and with purpose. Similes may be fairly simple in structure but can still be abstract and deep; for example, "Nas Is Like" is a song built around a simile but the content is abstract hyperbole that makes it a lot deeper and complex. "Nas is like freedom or jail, clips are insert/ a babies being born same time my man is murdered/ the beginning and end." It's content is subject to your interpretation which changes with each person.

Metaphors are dope too.

"I seen a dead bird flying through a broken sky" -Nas

It's physically impossible to see something like that, but it describes his frame of mind or emotional state.

Punchlines are all based on delivery, but they have a purpose. Back in the days artists used shocking punchlines to get attention.

"when i was twelve i went to hell for snuffin Jesus" -Nas

That line was dope in that verse and it helped get Nas on. The only downside i can see to a punchline is that it's so free, in other words, it's often not bound by a concept or anything of substance. That's why punchline rappers aren't looked at as talented.

As far as lyricism as a whole goes, it all depends on an artist's ability to use and apply it to certain content, and how well a person can interpret it. Many artists use multiple forms of figurative language at one time, like Nas in "Who Killed It?". He introduced a woman (the personification of Hip Hop) and told a narrative using various allusions (references to hip hop classics) all at once.

Lyricism/figurative language is great, but a lot of folks aren't willing to interpret what artists say, so it's pretty much useless.

 

[da champ]

Like anything else, it's good in moderation and with purpose. Similes may be fairly simple in structure but can still be abstract and deep; for example, "Nas Is Like" is a song built around a simile but the content is abstract hyperbole that makes it a lot deeper and complex. "Nas is like freedom or jail, clips are insert/ a babies being born same time my man is murdered/ the beginning and end." It's content is subject to your interpretation which changes with each person.

Metaphors are dope too.

"I seen a dead bird flying through a broken sky" -Nas

It's physically impossible to see something like that, but it describes his frame of mind or emotional state.

Punchlines are all based on delivery, but they have a purpose. Back in the days artists used shocking punchlines to get attention.

"when i was twelve i went to hell for snuffin Jesus" -Nas

That line was dope in that verse and it helped get Nas on. The only downside i can see to a punchline is that it's so free, in other words, it's often not bound by a concept or anything of substance. That's why punchline rappers aren't looked at as talented.

As far as lyricism as a whole goes, it all depends on an artist's ability to use and apply it to certain content, and how well a person can interpret it. Many artists use multiple forms of figurative language at one time, like Nas in "Who Killed It?". He introduced a woman (the personification of Hip Hop) and told a narrative using various allusions (references to hip hop classics) all at once.

Lyricism/figurative language is great, but a lot of folks aren't willing to interpret what artists say, so it's pretty much useless.

I'd personally consider that imagery as opposed to metaphor because nothing's really being compared. Just my opinion.
Rather intelligent post, sir. I personally love allusions, which is why I was so hyped at Jay-Z's verse he did on the Snoop Dogg remix for I Wanna Rock.

I got a couple Jeezy CDs. I got a couple Ross joints. I loved Slim Thug's CD he did on Star Trak. Got a couple Scarface joints. However, I'm a big fan of examining rap and picking out literary elements and deciphering their meanings and analyzing how they contribute to an artist's idea, thought, or emotion. (By the way, PLEASE don't think I'm saying Scarface isn't lyrical, but he usually sticks to imagery - not really a simile, metaphor, entendre sorta dude).

This is also why I was so pleased with Jay-Z's Decoded book. I knew that book would help bring hip-hop a bit more respect as legitimate art and poetry. Thanks to that book, a few more people are listening to the complexity of the lyrics as opposed to just singing along to the hook.

But really, who the f*** was the one that made all rappers start calling similes, metaphors? And the thing that's funny is that I'm positive a lot of those MCs know the difference but keep/kept calling the similes metaphors anyway.

 

[ibedamned]

niggas became to dependent on both nowadays.

 

[supaman4321]

As far as how I look at a verse the most important thing is the subject matter, what are you talking about?

Then How are you talking about it, this is where metaphors, punchlines, flow, and delivery come into play

breath control and energy would come into play somewhere, but the point is that the punchlines and metaphors should never be the main focus they should compliment it

having a million different ways to say how ill you are or how you'll kill somebody can only be appealing for so long.