Don't care who they offend, poppin yang (like you got Yen),
Let's stop the pretend, the ones that pop pistols by they waist men
Laury Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
The breakdown room
Metaphors & Similies
Metaphors and similes are figures of speech used to compare two things. Metaphors compare two things by saying one ‘is’ another. Whereas similes use words such as ‘like’ or ‘as’ to compare two things. Both are about painting pictures with words. One is subtle and the other is more explicit, but both exhibit creativity and literary craft.
Metaphors and similes add layers of meaning to otherwise simple concepts and make complex ideas more relatable. To listeners, it shows off an artist’s confidence and emotional depth with the clever comparisons and the way they create vivid imagery.
You might not catch the meaning right away, but that’s part of the fun. Don’t you love the feeling of understanding a clever bar?!
- Comparisons using ‘like’ or ‘as’ – that’s a simile
- Unexpected or clever pairings – that’s a metaphor
- Lines that create a mental picture
- Meanings that aren’t so literal
Metaphors sometimes stretch across multiple lines, like they’re building part of a story.
- Don’t think a metaphor is just a fancy rhyme – they’re often deeply layered with meaning.
- Using similes without real depth doesn’t automatically make the bar clever.
- Don’t forget! The best metaphors reveal something new, they recapture the listener.
- Rakim – precise, intelligent comparisons that elevate his storytelling
- Missy Elliott – inventive, often playful imagery that sticks in your mind
- Busta Rhymes – energetic and exaggerated metaphors that enhance his delivery
- JID – complex, modern metaphors layered with clever wordplay