1.34 Operationalizing variables and rap statistics: A few years back, the Web site Rap Genius (now just Genius) analyzes rap music using what it calls RapMetrics (rapgenius.com/posts/63- Introducing-rapmetricstm-the-birth-of-statistical-analysis-of- rap-lyrics). It developed a measure called rhyme density, which is the proportion of all syllables that rhyme with another syllable. Eminem's Without Me, for example, has a rhyme density of 0.49 (49%), because almost half of the lyrics rhyme with another syllable, whereas Notorious B.I.G.'s Juicy only has a rhyme density of 0.23 (23%). The people behind Rap Genius say, "Over the course of a career, the rappers with the highest rhyme densities are basically the best technical rappers."

a. How does Rap Genius operationalize the best rapper?

b. List at least three other variables that might be considered in determining the best rapper.

c. Across all songs, MF Doom came in first with an overall rhyme density of 0.44, and Cam'ron came in second with a rhyme density of 0.41. What kind of variable is the ranking, and what kind of variable is the rhyme density?

d. Rap Genius summarized its rhyme density discussion by saying: "MF Doom surprised us a little. First the big New Yorker profile and now this... it's too much! Cam'ron is much more culturally relevant and interesting (plus he doesn't need to wear a mask, he's naturally silly), so we at RapMetrics™ consider him the G.O.A.T. [greatest of all time] MC [rapper] overall.” Rap Genius, therefore, changed its operational definition a bit. What has it added to its operational definition of the overall G.O.A.T. MC?