The breakdown room

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words or syllables that are close together.

Assonance creates great rhythm in lyrics, especially when it is used alongside other rhyming techniques. It allows lines to flow without needing perfect rhyming words.

Even the sun goes down, heroes eventually die,

Horoscopes often lie,

And sometimes 'Y'

Outkast - Aquemini

• Middle of words that have the same repeated sound
• A bouncy, rhythmic feeling in the lyrics

• Assonance is not rhyme. The vowel sounds match, but the words themselves don’t have to rhyme
• It’s not about spelling – it’s about the sound.
• Using assonance without intention can start to sound forced or repetitive

• Rakim – subtle vowel repetition to create musicality
• Aesop Rock – complex internal vowel sounds that give his lines texture
• Mick Jenkins – uses internal vowel sounds to tie complex lines together