Rap music is one of my
favorite genres. Textually speaking, the lyrics of the rap songs contain many
rhetorical features and conventions. Behind many of the catchy beats and hooks
there lies real meaning and heart to the lyrics of a rap song. Now this does
not include the modern day “pop rap” or “club rap” that is essentially one
layered. The rap I am writing about includes artists like Kendrick Lamar,
Tupac, Logic, Notorious B.I.G., G-Eazy, and J. Cole. I will be using lyrics
from J. Cole’s song “Apparently” to describe the different rhetorical features
and conventions of a rap song.
The audience for most rap lyrics varies upon the artist. Most
rap songs are directed to anyone who wants to listen. This is the case for J.
Cole’s lyrics in the song “Apparently”. He wants people to listen, this doesn’t
mean to just hear the lyrics, but to actually listen to them and pay attention.
Cole talks about his struggles growing up and directs this to an audience who
grew up with many misfortunes like himself. However, these lyrics are aimed at
the more fortunate as well so they can gain an understanding of other people’s
struggles. Cole’s purpose for this song is to supply entertainment, purge, and
give listeners insight. He is attempting to place great meaning and purpose in
his songs, while making them still enjoyable to hear. Throughout the song one
gets a sense that Cole is purging and letting his emotions free, this is as
much of a help to him as it is for the listener. By placing his thoughts and
struggles out into the world in the form of rap lyrics, Cole is easing the mind
of some listeners. They may be going through his same struggles, feel how he
does, or gain insight and understanding into real struggles that they could
never fathom which would also help them to establish their own identity.
The context of the lyrics in “Apparently” is not completely
important. The main context for the song is the album it is in. The song
contains many ideas and thoughts that are synonymous with those in the album,
but one can listen to the song separate from the album and still gain meaning
from it. Additionally it may be helpful to have some of the context of J. Cole
and his life to fully understand some of the references like “Forest Hills”
that he uses in his song. The main context regarding Cole himself that one
should know is that he did not grow up living an easy life and constantly had
to work hard to succeed. Basically, the context for this song is the album it
comes from and also J. Cole’s backstory. The style and tone that the lyrics are
being delivered in is slow and harmonic. The lyrics contain a basic rhyme
scheme, but are full of witty remarks, metaphors, and similes like “getting
head like a coin toss”. Cole’s tone is also full of emotion which is captured
by the quick line breaks. The flow of the lyrics really helps to capture the
emotion behind the words.
Although these lyrics are different than most rap lyrics,
they contain many conventions that are what help to categorize them as rap
lyrics. The first convention would have to be the rhyme and rhythm. In this
song, like most rap songs, there is a basic rhyme scheme and fast rhythm. There
are also plenty of curse words to help liven up the lyrics a bit, which is standard
in most rap songs. The raw emotion behind the lyrics is also a good convention
that many rap songs have. This song also contains a catchy hook, another
convention, and is packed with metaphors, similes, and humorous remarks. Cole
also places many of his struggles into the lyrics, an important convention to
rap lyrics. These conventions are what help make this rap, a rap. Musically speaking,
the beat will also help to categorize it, but simply speaking in terms of
lyrics, all the conventions I mentioned will help narrow the lyrics down to a
rap song. With a hot beat and some swagger added to the lyrics, another traditional
rap convention, there would be no way that someone could not recognize this as
a rap song.
This is the link to the lyrics and their meaning to J. Cole's "Apparently"
The excellent music video:
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