Define Lyrical...

[B86]

I generally respect all opinions on musical taste but I'm tired of hearing BIG, Pac, Jay and NAS as the "face" of lyricism. I need help defining what lyrical is because just as an example, I've heard off the dome freestyles on Lil Wayne mixtapes that are more "lyrical" than anything any of the nikkas I listed could even imagine.

No hate on the artists I listed, as there's music that I love from all of them, but I just want to know what "lyrical" means to yall

 

[SirBiatch]

Lyrical means "generic rhymes about fitted, sneakers, chicks, guns and other dull nikka shyt that have no connection to anything deep, imaginative, storytelling or just plain witty". An over-reliance on the meaningless technical shyt to disguise the fact that you can't and shouldn't be rapping.

Answer your question?

 

[ManBearPig]

creativity, metaphors, similes, advanced story telling abilities, punchlines, versatility, subject matter, or all of the above


This is lyrical because if the concept


This had similes for days


ra the rugged man verse was a very vivid story


This had creativity and metaphors

 

[SpacelySprockets]

Ive heard people say Pac isnt an all time rapper because he wasnt lyrical, I feel like people change their meaning of what lyrical is to support whatever agenda theyre trying to get off. One minute if you arent spitting bars about serious political shyt u arent lyrical, the next minute if u arent spitting multi's with punchlines you arent lyrical.

 

[B86]

I appreciate the answers so far

 

[ImmaGetJoeClarkArrested]

I think people tend to over complicate what lyrical is. I think it's simple, it's the ability to surprise. To come up with rhymes words and schemes that are not predictable or generic

 

[NoHalfWay]

Verses/lines that make you rewind it back

 

[Citi Trends]

lyrical changes depending on the backpacker who's yelling about it

i've seen dudes who literally make no sense with what they're saying and or it's redundant and just a bunch of big words and that's lyrical
other times it's story telling, like literally telling a story like reading from a book

at the end of the day "lyrical" is subjective. any lyrics that you can feel can be lyricl. I've heard deep ass songs that don't say much or aren't filled with metaphors

 

[Tha_Mac]

I don't police or politic I release the hottest shyt
Got people bothered with the fact my nikkas get powered flipped
And you can trust we make 5 for every dollar spent
By staying with them quarters and dimes but it's not a cent
Our goals to get presidents we smoke there's our evidence
Been wildin' ever since Mary J graced my presence
And that's not to blame not ashamed that I cocked them thangs
Been a petty thief sold caine and took the Lord's name in vain
Listen mane many have been slained for monetary gain
People shouldn't die but we gotta eat on the contrary mane
Since the 7th of January came I've been on this expedition
On this mission and it culminates with my ascension
To the throne it's known at this instant my second is distant
I passed you quick if you blinked you missed it
I'm persistent, consistent you boys none existent
Knewport til I die I'ma represent it

I feel like the best lyricist 2001 my Genesis not Sega
The beginning and end the alpha and omega
It's starts and ends with me in this industry
I'm in da streets and avoid dead ends endlessly
The hip hop prototype I could tell you what the doe doe's like
Classic album like Nas so I don't need foe moe mics
Moving slo mo right The Matrix I'm at my apex
Literally and figuratively my mind is like an annex nikkas
I'm so ahead of you not defined by red or blue
I'm defined by what's in my mind, head and vocal tubes
You hear the horn and strings this Capricorns King
Capping at your vehicle so I'm capping at your darn screen
My crown is tilted town is gifted my pounds will leave you lifted
Weed smoke plus my music a hallucinogen experiment
You should experience it neither one is expensive shyt
I don't need to explain this shyt just get it through your brain and shyt


That's my definition others may differ.

 

[The Ruler 09]

Dope effective lyrics.

And lyrical in certain contexts more complex in terms of either rhyme schemes, multies, metaphors, punchlines, amount of rhymes, alliteration, wordplay, imagery, poetic qualities, abstract qualities etc.

Lyrical isn't something you can say is ONE thing because there's many different styles of being lyrical. Someone who isn't lyrical is more simplistic with the rhymes and lacks technique.

The best rappers are by and large always lyricists, who take pride In their lyrics, if you look at Rakim, Nas, 2 Pac, Big Pun, Big Daddy Kane, AZ, and many others they are putting down dope lyrics.

Some complex lyricists are artists like..

Canibus, K-Rino, Chino XL, Pharohe Monch, Ras Kass, Rakim, Percee P, Kool G Rap, Big Pun. I could go on.

But anyone who disses lyrical rappers is probably some clown who don't really like Hip Hop like that. As nearly all the great MC's are lyricists, I can't think of a terrible or poor lyricist that was ever great....

 

[Tommy Sheppard]

Verses/lines that make you rewind it back

you have being lyrical and punchlines micwd up.

 

[mortuus est]

For me, Lyrical is Gza, Rza, GFK, etc etc

 

[NoHalfWay]

you have being lyrical and punchlines micwd up.

Nah. There's plenty of Pac, Scarface verses and lines that I rewind back

 

[kingdizzy01]

means can actually rap. not that dr seuss shyt ' i got a car, it go hard (adlib)' bullshyt

 

[FRIED MASON]

Being able to paint a picture regardless of the topic.