Videos by According2HipHop
We typically do not think of rappers as poets, but the truth is that they are. Our favorite artists employ several literary devices to create the music that we love. Here are four rappers who started as poets.
Kendrick Lamar
As a Compton, California native, Kendrick Lamar was heavily influenced by the works of Tupac Shakur. That much is evident through his music. So it should come as no surprise that Kendrick employs the use of poetry in his rhymes the same way that Shakur did. Lamar’s use of literary devices such as allusion, irony, and foreshadowing has made him one of the more unstoppable forces in hip-hop. Lamar’s status as a poet was solidified when he won a Pulitzer Prize award for his 2018 studio albums, DAMN. The award is the nation’s highest honor in newspaper and online journalism, literature, and musical composition.
Ye (Kanye West)
It’s hard to think of something that Ye, formerly known as, Kanye West, hasn’t done throughout his career. West has written music, produced it, and become one of the fashion industry’s biggest icons. But before he became a household name, West was just a kid from the South Side of Chicago who enjoyed participating in spoken word. West famously performed one of his poems at the iconic Def Poetry Jam during his rise to superstardom. The poem that he performed that evening would go on to become one of the most well-known songs in his extensive discography. The song?All Falls Down off of his 2004 College Dropout album.
Earl Sweatshirt
Most people know Earl Sweatshirt as one of the rappers who came up in Odd Future along with Tyler the Creator. But Earl’s introduction to the arts started way before he became a rap star. Sweatshirt became a writer of poetry at the Community Magnet School in Los Angeles. His poem “Mummies” which he wrote when he was just in elementary school has become one of his most well-known works among fans. He has also used his poetic upbringing to carve out a successful music career, as he has sold more than 100,000 records worldwide.
Noname
Most people know Noname for feuding with J.Cole during the George Floyd protests. But she is a really talented artist. According to her Wikipedia page, Noname began writing and performing at Poetry Slams in 2010. It didn’t take long for her career to take off from there. In 2013 she began to gain notoriety for her feature verse on Chance The Rapper’s song “Lost” from his iconic “Acid Rap” mixtape. Noname has used her influence to push more poetry in hip-hop by starting a book club, which has become very popular.
