The Largest Vocabulary in Hip Hop
A recent analysis has revealed the largest vocabulary in hip hop, using a methodology called token analysis. The study covers 85 artists, with a benchmark of 35,000 words from their studio albums and EPs. The findings highlight the complexity of hip hop language, including slang and unique word forms.
- ▪The analysis includes 85 hip hop artists and their vocabulary size.
- ▪A benchmark of 35,000 words was used for the study, covering multiple albums and EPs.
- ▪Token analysis was employed to count unique words, accounting for variations in spelling and slang.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
(ps. Get this project as a poster on Pop Chart Lab! It includes 40 more rappers in the analysis, including Childish Gambino, 2 Chainz, Immortal Technique, and Kendrick Lamar.) 35,000 words covers 3-5 studio albums and EPs. I included mixtapes if the artist was just short of the 35,000 words. Quite a few rappers don’t have enough official material to be included (e.g., Biggie, Kendrick Lamar). As a benchmark, I included data points for Shakespeare and Herman Melville, using the same approach (35,000 words across several plays for Shakespeare, first 35,000 of Moby Dick). I used a research methodology called token analysis to determine each artist’s vocabulary. Each word is counted once, so pimps, pimp, pimping, and pimpin are four unique words.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Pudding.
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