Listeners' perception of rhyme in rap music: Effects of beat alignment and word placement

Rhyme is a defining feature of rap lyrics, shaping both linguistic structure and musical flow. While most research on rap has focused on cultural or historical analysis, few studies have explored how listeners perceive rhyme within rhythmic contexts. This study examines how beat alignment and word placement influence rhyme perception, highlighting the role of temporal and structural cues in rap music appreciation. We conducted an online behavioral experiment in which participants listened to short, originally composed rap excerpts and tapped to indicate perceived rhyming words. Stimuli varied across six conditions that manipulated beat alignment (on-beat, off-beat, or mixed) and rhyme position (phrase-final versus mid-phrase). After completing the tapping task, participants also rated each clip on rhyme-detection difficulty and musical appeal. Results show that rhyme detection accuracy was highest when rhymes occurred at the end of phrases and were aligned with the beat. Off-beat rhymes, especially in mid-phrase positions, were detected less frequently and elicited longer response times, suggesting increased attentional engagement. Perceived difficulty closely mirrored the accuracy pattern, while musical appeal remained relatively stable across conditions. These findings provide new insight into how musical timing and linguistic expectations together shape listeners’ perception in hip-hop.