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Rappers, Sorted by Size of Vocabulary

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Re: Rappers, Sorted by Size of Vocabulary

#91

Post by superuser2 »

simonster wrote: post #83

The estimate of vocabulary size here is based on the number of unique words used. This seems like it is strongly biased: if two artists have the same size vocabulary, but one has released more albums and thus used more words, that artist will probably have used more unique words. To underscore this point, the number of unique words used by Aesop Rock is half of the estimated vocabulary size of the average college stu…

This is why it's "number of unique words used within the artist's first 35,000 lyrics." Sample size is held constant. (Except, maybe, those who haven't yet written 35k words?)

Re: Rappers, Sorted by Size of Vocabulary

#92

Post by [deleted] »

simonster wrote: post #83

The estimate of vocabulary size here is based on the number of unique words used. This seems like it is strongly biased: if two artists have the same size vocabulary, but one has released more albums and thus used more words, that artist will probably have used more unique words. To underscore this point, the number of unique words used by Aesop Rock is half of the estimated vocabulary size of the average college stu…

[deleted]

Re: Rappers, Sorted by Size of Vocabulary

#93

Post by logicallee »

simonster wrote: post #83

The estimate of vocabulary size here is based on the number of unique words used. This seems like it is strongly biased: if two artists have the same size vocabulary, but one has released more albums and thus used more words, that artist will probably have used more unique words. To underscore this point, the number of unique words used by Aesop Rock is half of the estimated vocabulary size of the average college stu…

Are you looking at a different link than us? The intro reads "I decided to compare this data point against the most famous artists in hip hop. I used each artist’s first 35,000 lyrics. That way, prolific artists, such as Jay-Z, could be compared to newer artists, such as Drake." and the title of the infographic (if that's all you looked at) reads "# of Unique words used within artist’s first 35,000 lyrics"

This seems to address your concern completely?

Re: Rappers, Sorted by Size of Vocabulary

#94

Post by thrownaway2424 »

Gotta wonder about the garbage-in factor of Rap Genius. From one randomly selected Aesop Rock cut:

"Please I want to donate my brain to the monstrous Panasonic profit"

I guess it could be. I always heard it as "monstrous Panasonic prophet." It would be in keeping with the previous lyric "Television, all hail grand pixelated god of fantasy."

Re: Rappers, Sorted by Size of Vocabulary

#95

Post by thrownaway2424 »

thrownaway2424 wrote: post #94

Gotta wonder about the garbage-in factor of Rap Genius. From one randomly selected Aesop Rock cut: "Please I want to donate my brain to the monstrous Panasonic profit" I guess it could be. I always heard it as "monstrous Panasonic prophet." It would be in keeping with the previous lyric "Television, all hail grand pixelated god of fantasy."

There's some other howlers in the same song like "canope" instead of "canopy", "intervenes" instead of "intravenous".

Re: Rappers, Sorted by Size of Vocabulary

#96

Post by [deleted] »

simonster wrote: post #83

The estimate of vocabulary size here is based on the number of unique words used. This seems like it is strongly biased: if two artists have the same size vocabulary, but one has released more albums and thus used more words, that artist will probably have used more unique words. To underscore this point, the number of unique words used by Aesop Rock is half of the estimated vocabulary size of the average college stu…

[deleted]

Re: Rappers, Sorted by Size of Vocabulary

#97

Post by just1dude »

danielsf wrote: post #39

author here: hit me up with questions you've got.

an artist that meets the requirements for the data, AZ. He's got 5+ albums, some of which were gold and it'd be interesting as I believe he may also be the highest selling solo artist in the top 10 aside from Ghostface

Re: Rappers, Sorted by Size of Vocabulary

#98

Post by dylanz »

skylan_q wrote: post #3

Kool Keith should be exempt from this list. He's not from any of the 4 regions listed, but from Jupiter.

I checked for him immediately once I saw this chart. Between Doc Oc, Dr. Dooom and Black Elvis, he has some insanely weird lyrics.

  We stuck together when one of my parakeets died
  You broke down and cried, for the love of animals
  I used to always cut the legs off a roach
  See if he'll stay there on a piece of tissue
  And give him a piece of toast
  That morning, he would wake up and be gone
  What, the insect had a ambulance?"

Re: Rappers, Sorted by Size of Vocabulary

#100

Post by eieio »

derwiki wrote: post #50
danielsf wrote: post #39

author here: hit me up with questions you've got.

What are Jay Z's stats? [Edit] also Notorious B.I.G. :)

Jay Z's stats are there: he's at 4,506. Pretty middle of the pack.

About Biggie:"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)"

And to respond to your child comment, I'm sure the same problem (not enough material) applied to Big L.

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