Imitation 7 (2010): Drake Ft. T.I and Swiss Beats, Fancy

Assignment #9
Rap and Spoken Word

The song “Fancy” by Drake featuring T.I and Swiss Beats is about what they think is the typical female. They talk about how women think they are all that when they are looking their best. They use the word “fancy.” Basically when women get all dressed up, they think, they are on top of the world.

You getting ready so I know we gon be here awhile
in the bathroom flat irons and nail files
spending hours in salons on your hairstyle
in the mall steady racking up the air miles
hit the gym step on the scales stare at the number
you say you dropping 10 pounds preparing for summer
and you don't do it for the man, men never notice
you just do it for yourself you're the fucking coldest

I think this song is a boast, because Drake, T.I and Swiss beats all brag about how females brag when they pampered themselves. For example, Swiss Beats talks about how women think they are fancy when they have they “hair done, nails done, everything did.” I noticed that they talk as if they were the females considering themselves fancy.

The context of this song is basically a typical female lifestyle. The reason for Drake writing this song is to prove a point; that most females have similar things in common. For example, making sure everything is done nice from face down. He also probably wrote this so when his fans listen to it they can somehow relate to it. Most rappers rap about things others can relate to, I’ve noticed.

In this song the lyrics consist of many literary elements. For example, it has different rhyme schemes. In the eight bars above there is mainly end rhyme. However, Drake uses near rhyme also. For example, he rhymes “awhile,” “flies,” “hairstyle,” and “miles.” Even though miles and files rhyme together creating an end rhyme, but “awhile,” “flies,” “hairstyle,” and “miles” rhymes together creating a near rhyme, which I find clever. Also, in one of the verses T.I use assonance when rhymes champagne range in the same line. Another literary element I’ve noticed in this song is tone. The way the song is preform is using a lot of attitude. They sound like they are yelling trying to prove a point that no one seems to understand. In the end, they want everyone to realize and understand it.