Many will not classify hip-hop as poetry, but when one analyses the rhythm, the alliteration, and the metonymy used in hip-hop, they will be obligated to interlink poetry and hip-hop forever. The great Tupac Shakur categorized himself as a poet. Andre 3000 characterizes himself as a poet. Similarly to Kendrick Lamar, who uses several elements of poetry in the song “King Kunta” , to demonstrate his supremacy as hip-hop king and a great poet. Kendrick Lamar is an famous rapper from Compton, California. Lamar has over a million records sold and on July 4, 2016, he performed for President Obama at the White House. The song “King Kunta” by Kendrick Lamar is a remarkable song, that has many meanings. Kendrick Lamar uses the song to get the “whole …show more content…
Kunta Kinte is the main character in the movie “Roots”. Kinte was a brave African-American slave, who legs were amputated by his slave master after attempting to flee from the plantation. Kinte was considered icon. He was hated by white men, but loved by slaves. Kendrick Lamar takes the same stance, indicating that people who dislike hip-hop will hate him, but music lovers will iodize him. Also he illustrates that when he finishes creating music he will be considered an icon also. Lamar starts the song off by saying that “I got a bone to pick” using synecdoche to indicate that he needed to make an statement to opposing rappers (line 1). Lamar continued to use synecdoche when mentioning that the “Black man taking no losses” detonating that all his opponents will, and has failed when coming for his crown(line 10). The song “King Kunta” by Kendrick Lamar could be classified as an ode, paying homage to Kunta Kinte. The author uses a metaphor when stating “Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, Kunta” indicating that other rappers are trying to interfere with his advancement as the king of hip-hop, the same way slave-owners stopped Kinte dreams of freedom (line 9). Furthermore the author attacked the