STEP YOUR GAME UP! Chapter 4: Metaphors and Similes

Oh. Hey, you’ve made it this far! We’ve moved from learning how to write basic rhymes, to freestyling… NOW we’re going to add some fire to your otherwise uncooked stake, yup, you’ve guessed right, we’re going to learn about metaphors and similes. When learning these concepts, you’ll definitely want to take notes, while they may seem basic to some, it’s ok to feel a bit overwhelmed. I was when I first learned and understood these ideas, but don’t worry, I’m with you a long the way, and if you have ANY questions, feel free to ask me in the comments section below. Now, on with your journey.

Metaphors And The Simile Misconception

There is a common misconception that metaphors are metaphors when like or as is used. That is wrong, and it is continuously misused in Hip Hop most. Like or as statements ARE similes, NOT metaphors. Now, normally political correctness isn’t my thing, and I’m not trying to sound like some sort of elitist, but I find it easiest to teach these concepts by clearing up the confusion.

A metaphor is a way to reference something that bears a resemblance to what you’re trying to say, but is not literal. In other words, saying I’m an animal is a metaphor, because I’m not literally an animal, but I’m implying I bear resemblance to one. Another example:

“Eating crews, I guess I’m a cannibal”

Get it? I’m saying I eat crews, who are humans, and I’m implying I’m a cannibal because of this. Obviously I’m not literal in my rhetoric, but I resemble these traits through my aggressiveness.

Metaphors can be as complicated, or as simple as you want them to be. Metaphors are a large concept you should focus on, and while this chapter in particular is focusing on the basic elements of a metaphor, as we move through more stages you’ll see how vast and complex metaphors can be.

Components of a Metaphor

“I been in this game for years, it made me an animal”

In conjunction with the animal metaphor, I had to use a line from Biggie. Now, lets look at what makes this simple, yet effective, metaphor work.

“I been in this game for years…” describes a process; before describing the animalistic traits that the rap game had given Biggie, he set’s up his metaphor to discuss how he turned into the traits he described. Now, when he says, “It made me an animal,” Biggie shows the cause and effect relation through a metaphor. The cause was the game, and in turn it made him animalistic.

Now, I know to some this may seem childish to divulge into such detail about a fairly simple metaphor, but I believe that if you overlook points and traits of something, you will not fully grasp it. By making you look at the aforementioned line in such detail,  I believe you’ll be better off in later chapters when it comes to understanding the more advanced elements of wordplay.

Similes

A simile is anything that uses like or as. Saying that you’re feeling like a million bucks, is a simile, but saying you’re a million bucks is a metaphor. Get it? Good. I’m not going to spend a ridiculous amount of time dissecting similes because I feel they’re more straightforward then metaphors are, but for the sake of keeping everyone of any level properly up to date and in the know, I’ll provide an example:

“Funky like your grandpa’s drawers, don’t test me,
we’re in like that, you’re dead like Presley.”
- From Q-Tips verse on Steve Biko

These are nice basic, yet effective similes. By using similes Q-Tip managed to highlight his funkiness as a musician and add depth to that by saying he was like your grandfathers soiled drawers. He uses a comparison and follows up with “don’t test me,” which adds to the threat of what he’s comparing and implying he’s capable of. “We’re in like that, you’re dead like Presley,” this works because he’s now fleshing out the metaphor further by using another comparison yet bridging it from the prior line. “We’re in like that,” is the bridge, he jumps back to the prior line telling the listener by reaffirming A Tribe Called Quest’s status, and then using the simile again to push how you’re dead like the famous singer Elvis Presley. These are incredibly effective similes because they’re basic, but thought out. You must keep in mind that you DON’T need the bridges I talked about or need to look at this AS technical as I portrayed it to be, but for the sake of giving you a good understanding of what makes this work, I felt it to be necessary.

Topic: The Main Factor In Making Metaphors and Similes Work!

If you’ve been following thus far you’ll realize that topic is what makes a metaphor or simile stand out or shine. Your CHOICE of topic, your choice of comparison and your personification of grown animals all say something about your content. If you constantly compare yourself to fuzzy things and say you’re a stuffed animal, then certainly your content will be literally and metaphorically: “soft.” However, if you’re comparing yourself and personifying yourself as a giant monster truck and a meat grinder, then most definitely your content will feel a lot rougher. To be quite honest, off-beat similes and metaphors are a staple of early hip hop lyricism, and don’t take this as a negative either, BUT what I’m saying is understand that in some cases the context is more corny then, than it is now. I believe it to be appropriate to use similes and metaphors correctly in context of what you’re saying. I have always found it corny when a rapper talks serious about much of their content, and then bursts out with a simile that relates to something completely different. For example (I’m writing this myself fellas!):

I’ll put my fist to his throat,
strengthen my grip till he chokes
have him feeling awkward like pickles and coke – MC REAL TALK SUPREME

Obviously this is a massive exaggeration, but my message stands. TRY to make your content work within the context of what you’re saying. So, if you’re writing a battle verse, great comparisons to massive structures or boxers or even other great rappers is suitable, but if you’re writing a battle verse and then saying you’re hungry for some cheesecake (granted the context is fully about battling), then it sounds awkward and weird. Inconsistency is a flaw many rappers have when using metaphors and similes, don’t be one of them.

What Do I Use These For?

Good question. You’re a genius. Similes and metaphors should be looked at as STRONG poetic devices. While this chapter is focusing solely on the basics, in later chapters I’ll teach you how to weave similes and metaphors beautifully to make you feel like god with a pen. Nice simile I know. However, keep this in mind, USE THIS FOR WHATEVER CONTEXT YOU WANT. Whether it be comparing a woman to an elephant (“she was like an elephant,” or “that bitch was an elephant!”) or saying you diesel truck through people, make sure you understand the poetic context and the power you have when using metaphors and similes.

The Drawing Board

So, you’ve read my theorizations, you’ve read my break downs and you have a GOOD basic understanding. Right? Good. NOW, time for you to hit up the drawing board and do this yourself!

Exercise 1:

Write a four couplet verse – four pairs (two lines each) of lines that rhyme with eachother – that deal with you comparing yourself to food, metaphorically or by using similes. For example:

1. I’m sweet and sour sauce, tasty like your supper,
and I’m eating lots of broccoli, I was told it makes you tougher!
2. but when I’m mad, I turn red like tomatoes!
but at least I’m not dull like potatoes!

Only two couplets, but you get the idea! Now, you go ahead and write your brilliant verse!

END OF CHAPTER.

Any questions or comments? Feel free to ask them in the comments box below!

 

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Posted by LostMoniker on April 30th, 2011 :: Filed under STEP YOUR GAME UP! Tutorials For Aspiring Rappers
Tags :: diy, learn how, learn how to rap, learn how to write lyrics, learn how to write metaphors and similes, metaphors, misconceptions, simile, similes, step your game up, tutorials
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