Developed Rhythm and Flow

Hip-hop has been a major literary force for the past twenty years. Not only has it had an impact on the genre itself, but it has been a driving force for the ”spoken word” movement (Morris 227). Over the years Hip-hop has been influenced to be the very unique form we know today. One important thing about hip-hop, you have to know how to listen to really understand. It is important to keep in mind the intricate rhymes that are otherwise known as flow. The flow to the poem is essential especially when it comes to ‘freestyling’. When a group of rappers get together, known as cyphers, they develop a flow and put it to the test. The rapper will then choose words to fit with the flow which will determine if the rapper is ‘on point’ or ‘fell off’. Another important aspect to remember when listening to hip-hop or rap is the words are a part of the beat, they are essential to each other (Morris 225).

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Rappers were explorers of unconventional themes and unconventional forms, they didn’t stick to your typical poem structure. They used their own voices and tones that were prominent in their generation to develop rhythm and flow. Through generations of rapper like MC Rakim and Biggie Smalls a.k.a B.I.G, they manipulated the stresses of words, rhyme schemes, and patterns to make rape more distinguishable and organized. Rappers are able to put their own spin on their poems to make them more unique. This is known as cutting, the interruption of the musical patterns to create a new one. They started implementing foreign or familiar matters to manipulate the sound. Rappers would make references to popular culture by implementing expensive brands into their songs. They would also use street sounds like alarms or sirens that is known as “ghetto realism”. They also implemented violins that would be able to help the poem go in the direction of it’s lyric content (Morris 226).

Without the manipulation of the past generations and communities, we would not have the hip-hop we know today. Hip-hop poets come from a range of ages and it is almost impossible not to be influenced by B.I.G and MC Rakim. They were the ones that gave hip-hop with techniques that are still used today.

Morris Tracie. “Hip-Hop Rhyme Formations: Open Your Ears.” An Exaltation of Forms: Contemporary Poets Celebrate the Diversity of Their Art. Edited by Anne Finch and Kathrine Varnes, U of Michigan P, 2002. p.p. 223–227.