Are The Days Of The 3 Verse Format Dead?

[Playaz Eyez]

Mostly referring to solo artist songs, but this has also been the case even for groups. Seems like songs get shorter and shorter as time goes on. That old traditional format of 3 verses + 3-4 hooks seems rare. Even the non-single/album cuts have gone this way. Doesn't matter the type of artists either. It became very alarming to me with a ton of Famous Dex songs the past couple of years, then I was "" at the first time I willingly listed to Lil' Pump's "Gucci Gang". How did we get to the point where an artist's single is 1 verse sandwiched in between long hooks ?? Even the Ying Yang Twins have the traditional format in a bunch of their songs Not saying the shorter format is exclusively a recent thing, but it is HEAVY right now. Seems like Migos are really the only ones that stay using the normal format, as they really don't care how long their songs are.

Just posting for reference - Traditional:










Recent times:

 

[Renegade47]

i’ve noticed this.

i’ve also noticed mad people cutting the song off before the third verse and switching to another song. shyt is mind blowing.

 

[Tetris v2.0]

- Low attention span from audience
- Easier to juke streaming numbers
- Low talent rappers unable to make three coherent verses

Choose one, or all of the above lol

 

[letti cook]

i actually prefer shorter songs/less verses now

95% of its due to my attention span being shot

the other 5 is because, i love songs that have a different structure from the norm

sometimes that extra verse, repeating that hook, letting the beat ride out mad long...shyt is just unnecessary...wrap that shyt up b...especially if the hook, beat and flow are basically the same everytime around

 

[Dominic Decoco]

A few local artists still do it.

Not every song but they try to keep it original.

 

[Tetris v2.0]

i actually prefer shorter songs/less verses now

95% of its due to my attention span being shot

the other 5 is because, i love songs that have a different structure from the norm

sometimes that extra verse, repeating that hook, letting the beat ride out mad long...shyt is just unnecessary...wrap that shyt up b...especially if the hook, beat and flow are basically the same everytime around

True, I like random interlude joints that defy the norm.

It seems like rappers are pushing that format tho, and I don't think it's for "artistic integrity"
... at all lol

 

[Playaz Eyez]

i’ve noticed this.

i’ve also noticed mad people cutting the song off before the third verse and switching to another song. shyt is mind blowing.

Do you know when exactly did this start happening? It's not anything new, but it's just outrageous realizing how many songs are < 3:30 now.

Just peep these examples, 21 y/o Playboi Carti:

22 y/o Pastor Troy

25 y/o Rich The Kid

25 y/o T.I.

 

[BaRRyG]

Mostly referring to solo artist songs, but this has also been the case even for groups. Seems like songs get shorter and shorter as time goes on. That old traditional format of 3 verses + 3-4 hooks seems rare. Even the non-single/album cuts have gone this way. Doesn't matter the type of artists either. It became very alarming to me with a ton of Famous Dex songs the past couple of years, then I was "" at the first time I willingly listed to Lil' Pump's "Gucci Gang". How did we get to the point where an artist's single is 1 verse sandwiched in between long hooks ?? Even the Ying Yang Twins have the traditional format in a bunch of their songs Not saying the shorter format is exclusively a recent thing, but it is HEAVY right now. Seems like Migos are really the only ones that stay using the normal format, as they really don't care how long their songs are.

Just posting for reference - Traditional:










Recent times:

First time hearing lil pump, I thought that shyt was a parody... How in the fukkin world does that kid get a deal?

How all these new rappers are rich from the rip?

The game sour like a pickle b

 

[Renegade47]

Do you know when exactly did this start happening? It's not anything new, but it's just outrageous realizing how many songs are < 3:30 now.

Just peep these examples, 21 y/o Playboi Carti:

22 y/o Pastor Troy

25 y/o Rich The Kid

25 y/o T.I.

believe it or not i noticed around 2010 when i first came across mac miller in high school around 2:17 this nikka hardly ever spit 3 verses and i never noticed until he said the shyt. then i went back and started paying attention to other new rapper i listened to at the time and they werent doing the shyt either.

 

[OfTheCross]

I was just thinking about this while listening to NBA Youngboy...

His songs fly by but they're dope. I just felt odd that they ended so quickly. He says a lot in 2 verses.

In his case, or at lease the songs I was listening to, I think that although he didn't have a 3rd verse he still had 3 verses of bars.

The song is shorter thought cause you only get the hook 1nce or 2wice instead of 3 or 4 times

 

[LauderdaleBoss]

The shorter the song, the more you play that shyt back.

As an emcee myself. I haven't recorded a 3 verse 16 bars each type song since like 2013-2014

 

[Henri Christophe]

Whats the point?

3 verses is time consuming and the DJ only plays one verse anyway.

You can take 3 verses and spread them across 3 songs and get more streaming revenue

 

[Tflasha]

shyt been dead - the attention span of the average listener is 1min15sec

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

- Low attention span from audience
- Easier to juke streaming numbers
- Low talent rappers unable to make three coherent verses

Choose one, or all of the above lol

this is the one i definitely think of when i come across songs like this. like breh, you already can't rap, aint saying shyt, but you're that garbage you cant find a way to fill a total of 48 bars?


singers have lowkey been doing this also, all these bass heavy beats and whispery vocals, it takes a few listens to realize 2/3 of a song is just the chorus...case in point

 

[Double Burger With Cheese]

It’s been dead for a few years now breh