Even the sun goes down, heroes eventually die,
Horoscopes often lie,
And sometimes 'Y'
Outkast - Aquemini
The breakdown room
Internal Rhyme
An internal rhyme (or middle rhyme) is a rhyme that occurs within a single line of a verse, or between phrases within multiple lines.
The repetition of the sound generated from the rhyme adds to the rhythm of the lyrics as well as emphasising the words themselves.
Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to remember a rhyming part of a lyric? That’s the internal rhyme at work.
- Words that rhyme mid-line, not just at the end
- A kind of ‘bounce’ or internal rhythm before the bar finishes
- Rhyming syllables! They’ll often appear quickly after each other
You’ll often hear internal rhymes being used to highlight some clever wordplay or accelerate flow.
- Overuse – lyrics feel cluttered or become hard to follow
- Assonance / Consonance
- Compromised lyric meaning just to fit a rhyme
- Big Pun – masters dense internal rhyme
- Twista – fast delivery and rhythm
- Outkast – fluidity and style/flair