Rhymes in the flow: how rappers flip the beat

Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements

Introduction
Hot Vinyl
Beat
Rhythm
Rhyme
Modes and Genres
Verses, Songs, and Albums
Style

Appendix 1: Flow Variants
Appendix 2: Variants by the Years
Root Terminology for Rap Poetics
Notes
Discography
Index

Despite its global popularity, rap has received little scholarly attention in terms of its poetic features. Rhymes in the Flow systematically analyzes the poetics (rap beats, rhythms, rhymes, verse and song structures) of many notable rap songs to provide new insights on rap artistry and performance. Defining and describing the features of what rappers commonly call flow, the authors establish a theory of the rap line as they trace rap’s deepest roots and stylistic evolution—from Anglo-Saxon poetry to Lil Wayne—and contextualize its complex poetics. Rhymes in the Flow helps explain rap’s wide appeal by focusing primarily on its rhythmic and thematic power, while also claiming its historical, cultural, musical, and poetic importance.