By Joe Vitale
Successful ideas of the Information Age always begin with noticing a common dilemma. The hard part, though, is not coming across the dilemma, but finding its solution. For three Yale students, the dilemma began with confusion over a Cam’ron lyric. It read, “80 holes in your shirt: there, your own Jamaican clothes.” It certainly was not the first time someone pondered the meaning of a specific hip-hop lyric — but it may have been one of the last times there was not an explanation within reach.
The solution the students came up with was two-fold. The first part was the multi-million dollar idea: a website built to explain rap lyrics. The second part was finding users to generate content. The result was Rap Genius, which, according to their website, claims to be the “guide to the meaning of rap lyrics” placed at the intersection of rap lyrics, Wikipedia and Urban Dictionary.
Rap Genius, furthermore, contains thousands of hip-hop song lyrics and cites user-generated explanations that help listeners better understand song meanings. The home page displays its latest uploads, but also a search bar for exploring artists, albums and lyrics. Typing in a hip-hop song followed by the term “lyrics” in any search engine, though, will surely list Rap Genius in the top three results.
Along the lines of Wikipedia or Yelp, Rap Genius is crowd-sourced, meaning that content is generated by users. Rap Genius allows users to create accounts and increase their “Rap IQ” by explaining lyrics and having other users express approval through a virtual “thumbs up.”
Many critcized Rap Genius for translating songs into “nerdspeak.” They believe there is a cultural division keeping hip-hop artists at a distance from white listeners. Rap Genius, disagreed, saying instead that it attempts to “critique rap as poetry” and the purpose is to dissect hip-hop lyrics and use their meanings to better grasp a song’s message. Rap Genius is not meant to make it easier for white people to listen to hip-hop.
While the philosophy may be unique to music, it is often used in other art forms, but, Rap Genius tries to bridge this gap by treating each set of lyrics like a Shakespearean sonnet. It is only when every piece is understood can one take away a comprehensive meaning.
There is much to say about a genre whose prime component calls for the creation of a new method of critique. Unlike in most pop, rock and alternative music, hip-hop lyrics are not easily accessible as it is a constantly evolving art form. These lyrics are filled with colloquialisms, metaphors, double entendres and allusions that artists use to showcase their talent in a unique fashion. For this reason, hip-hop songs are often stories relying on witty wordplay and hip-hop knowledge; they focus on form just as much as function.
This is not to say that Rap Genius makes hip-hop any less unpleasant to those who despise its aggressive nature. Hip-hop, like all good novels, movies and other art, does not try to hide behind a fasade of heart-warming lyrics and catchy beats. Lyricists talk about everything from wealth and misogyny to alcohol and drug abuse, but it does not mean they ignore family, friendship, acceptance and romance. Many artists do so with such perception and acuity, it is difficult to grasp what is being conveyed with just a single listen. The positive side of hip-hop is often lost in the dark beats and vulgarity. Rap Genius helps people find it.
Along with literature, cinema, and other visual arts, hip-hop deserves a deeper and fuller analysis. Understanding lyrics not only teaches us about who is writing the music, but also about ourselves.
The website’s slogan, an allusion to a Notorious B.I.G. line, reads, “If you don’t know, now you know.” When coming across a hip-hop song you cannot discern, it would be wise of you to check out Rap Genius. If you don’t know, you will. And you will probably be surprised to see how much we overlook when it comes to hip-hop.