Mayonnaise coloured benz I push miracle whip
Kanye West - Last Call
The breakdown room
Assonance
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.
You’ll find it’s used a lot in conscious rap and storytelling because of its more natural, conversational sound.
- 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