Poetry is language that is more intense than the ordinary language. The elementsof poetry make it recognizable that there are techniques and styles that add tothis intensity. These elements can be found in the lyrics of many rap songs,especially within the lyrics of “What’s It Gonna Be” by Busta Rhymes andJanet Jackson. Rhyme is the most practiced element of poetry.
It is defined asbeing the repetition of sounds in language. You can find this repetition withinmany verses of “What’s it Gonna Be”. For example, in verse one “Babyjust tell me how you feel, we livin it and just givin it to you real”. The twoending words “feel” and “real” gives the song a rhyming effect. Anotherexample of rhyme is in lines eight and nine of verse one.
These lines say, “To my people who regulatin the dance floors, better step in yo business andhandle yours. “Floors” and “yours” also add the rhyming effect of thissong. The rhyme in “What’s it Gonna Be” classifies this song as beingsomewhat poetic. Poetry communicates experience, and experience comes to uslargely through the senses (seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, and touching).
Imagery is a mental and visual impression that appeals to one of the fivesenses. Visual imagery is a sense thats expressed throughout “What’s itGonna Be”. For example, verse two line twelve says, “Paintin a picture I seeit’s hot on the window”. “See” is the keyword in line twelve that showsvisual imagery. Hearing is another sense that’s used frequently within thissong.
For example, the chorus says “Gonna make, gonna make, your body screamout yeah!” This verse is very effective in expressing the sense of hearing. When it is read, the exclamation mark brings this verse alive. If theexclamation mark wasn’t there the keyword “scream” still classifies thisas an example of imagery. Voice is another element of poetry that this songseems to have.
The speakers in “What’s it Gonna Be” are Busta Rhymes andJanet Jackson. The chorus is sung by Janet and the verses are rapped by BustaRhymes. The tone of “What’s it Gonna Be” is somewhat excited and fastpaced. When you read the chorus it gives you an energetic feeling.
For example,”Gonna make, gonna make, your body wet. Gonna make, gonna make, your bodyscream out yeah!” When reading this the commas and exclamation mark speeds upthe pace of the song. Theme is the overall idea expressed within a story, song,or poem. The primary theme of “What’s it Gonna Be” is sex. Busta Rhymesand Janet are telling the listeners of this song all the things they can dosexually.
An example of this is, “And makin you women say (ahh) baby comeon”. Busta Rhymes has a somewhat “cocky” approach to sex. Janet Jacksonalso has this same “cocky” approach. For example, “Gonna make, gonna make,your body cream”. When Janet refers to “cream” she’s saying that she canmake someone reach their sexual peak. Overall this song’s theme has a verystrong sexual meaning.
Figurative language is defined as words that meansomething other than the actual meaning. The majority of rap songs have a largeamount of figurative language. “What’s it Gonna Be” has a abundant amountof this. For example, “full fledge hittin with Busta Rhymes and Janet and youknow its.
. . “. The word “hittin” means sex, so in other words this verse issaying “full fledge sex with Busta Rhymes and Janet”.
Another example offigurative language is, “Making you people just wanna bounce and get busy”. “Bounce” refers to leaving and “get busy” means having sexualintercourse, so this verse says “making you people just wanna leave and havesex”. In conclusion, “What’s it Gonna Be” has very strong poeticelements. This song had rhythm, theme, imagery, and voice.
Actually I couldn’tfind that many figures of speech, such as a metaphor or a simile, but I couldfind some figurative language. Overall I feel that this assignment made merealize how poetic some rap songs can be. This assignment also made me becomefamiliar at recognizing the elements of poetry.
