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Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros
Flight of the Conchords Lyrics


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I'm the mother flippin' rhymenocerous
My beats are fat
And the birds are on my back
And I'm horny, I'm horny
If you choose to proceed
You will indeed concede
'Cause I hit you with my flow
The wild rhino stampede
I'm not just wild, I'm trained, domesticated
I was raised by a rapper and rhino that dated
And subsequently procreated
That's how it goes

Here's the Hiphopopotamus
The hip hop hippo

They call me the Hiphopopotamus
My lyrics are bottomless

Sometimes our rhymes are polite
"Like, thank you for the dinner Ms. Wright
That was very delicious, goodnight"
Sometimes they're obscene
Like a pornographic dream
NC-17 with ladies in a stream of margarine
Hahahahaha yeah, some margarine

They call me the Hiphopopotamus
Flows that glow like phosphorous
Poppin' off the top of this esophagus
Rockin' this metropolis
I'm not a large water-dwelling mammal
Where did you get that preposterous hypothesis?
Did Steve tell you that, perchance?
Steve

My rhymes and records, they don't get played
Because my records and rhymes, they don't get made
And if you rap like me you don't get paid
And if you roll like me you don't get laid

My rhymes are so potent that in this small segment
I made all of the ladies in the area pregnant
Yeah, sometimes my lyrics are sexist
But you lovely bitches and hoes should know
I'm trying to correct this

Other rappers diss me
Say my rhymes are sissy
Why? Why? Why? What?
Why exactly?
What? Why?
Be more constructive
With your feedback, please
Why? Why?

Why? 'Cause I rap about reality
Like me and my grandma drinkin' a cup of tea
There ain't no party like my nana's tea party
Hey, ho

I'm the motherflippin'
I'm the motherflippin'
I'm the motherflippin'
Who's the motherflippin?

I'm the motherflippin'
I'm the motherflippin'
I'm the motherflippin'
Motherflippin'

Overall Meaning

In Flight of the Conchords' "Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenocerous," the two characters introduce themselves as rappers and proceed to showcase their contrasting styles. Rhymenocerous boasts of his "wild rhino stampede" and "trained, domesticated" nature, claiming that he was raised by a rapper and a rhino that subsequently procreated. He also uses his lyrics to seduce women, admitting that his rhymes can be sexist but he's trying to correct that. Contrarily, the Hiphopopotamus introduces himself as a creature with "flows that glow like phosphorous," emphasizing the poetics of his rhymes rather than their sensuality.


Their verses often switch back and forth between light-hearted and obscene, with the Hiphopopotamus rhyming about ladies in margarine while Rhymenocerous dares anyone to challenge his superiority. The duo also touch on the issue of authenticity in hip-hop, with Rhymenocerous lamenting that his rhymes and records don't get played or made, questioning Steve's preposterous hypotheses. Meanwhile, the Hiphopopotamus playfully encourages other rappers to be more constructive with their feedback about his style, claiming that he raps about reality, like drinking tea with his grandmother.


Overall, "Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenocerous" satirizes the hyper-masculinity and bravado that often characterize traditional hip-hop, highlighting the absurdity of animal-inspired rap monikers and sexually suggestive lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm the mother flippin' rhymenocerous
I am a skilled and powerful rapper


My beats are fat
My music is great


And the birds are on my back
I am confident and successful


And I'm horny, I'm horny
I am feeling confident and aroused


If you choose to proceed
If you want to challenge me


You will indeed concede
You will acknowledge my superiority


'Cause I hit you with my flow
Because I rap skillfully


The wild rhino stampede
My rap is powerful and intense


I'm not just wild, I'm trained, domesticated
I am experienced and polished


I was raised by a rapper and rhino that dated
I come from a family of talented rappers


And subsequently procreated
And passed their skills and talent onto me


That's how it goes
That's why I am so great


Here's the Hiphopopotamus
Here is another rapper, the Hiphopopotamus


The hip hop hippo
A hippopotamus who raps


My lyrics are bottomless
I have a never-ending supply of lyrics


Sometimes our rhymes are polite
Sometimes our lyrics are courteous


"Like, thank you for the dinner Ms. Wright
For example, thanking someone for a nice meal


That was very delicious, goodnight"
Ending the evening politely


Sometimes they're obscene
Sometimes they are explicit or offensive


Like a pornographic dream
Similar to a sexually explicit fantasy


NC-17 with ladies in a stream of margarine
Explicit sexual content involving women in margarine


Hahahahaha yeah, some margarine
Humorous acknowledgement of the explicit content


Flows that glow like phosphorous
My rap is bright and noticeable


Poppin' off the top of this esophagus
Freestyling and improvising my rap


Rockin' this metropolis
Dominating the rap scene in this city


I'm not a large water-dwelling mammal
I am not a hippopotamus


Where did you get that preposterous hypothesis?
Where did you come up with that ridiculous idea?


Did Steve tell you that, perchance?
Did someone named Steve tell you that?


My rhymes and records, they don't get played
My music is not popular or widely recognized


Because my records and rhymes, they don't get made
Because I have a hard time creating music and lyrics


And if you rap like me you don't get paid
Imitating my rap style does not guarantee success


And if you roll like me you don't get laid
Living like me does not guarantee sexual success


My rhymes are so potent that in this small segment
My lyrics are so powerful that just this short section was enough to impregnate women


I made all of the ladies in the area pregnant
My lyrics are so attractive to women that they would want to have children with me


Yeah, sometimes my lyrics are sexist
Admission that some of my lyrics are offensive towards women


But you lovely bitches and hoes should know
Addressing women using derogatory language, but admitting it is wrong


I'm trying to correct this
I am attempting to become a better person and rapper


Other rappers diss me
Other rappers insult me or criticize my music


Say my rhymes are sissy
Claiming my lyrics are weak or feminine


Why? Why? Why? What?
Asking for a reason for their criticism


Why exactly?
Asking for a specific reason for their criticism


Be more constructive
Provide helpful feedback instead of insults


With your feedback, please
Specifically asking for constructive criticism


"Cause I rap about reality
Defending my music as honest and real


Like me and my grandma drinkin' a cup of tea
Giving an example of a real-life, mundane situation


There ain't no party like my nana's tea party
Acknowledging the fun and value in simple gatherings


Hey, ho
Ending the song with a simple exclamation


Who's the motherflippin?
Rhetorical question, referring to myself


Motherflippin'
Repeatedly affirming myself as a skilled and confident rapper




Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Bret Peter McKenzie, Jemaine Atea Clement

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Comments from YouTube:

@lune78

"They call me the Hiphopopotamus, my lyrics are bottomless...."
pause
That part always gets me XD

@FlamingZelda3

I can never tell if the joke here is that his lyrics are "endless" & then he has a brain fart or if his lyrics are "bottomless" meaning there's no punch or finish to them.

@schmetty2369

@@FlamingZelda3 i think the joke is that his lyrics is botomless, meaning he never runs out of thing to say, which is why its so funny when he pauses right after he said it.

@gd5208

Such dope mc names for a joke

@BillyKrebs

my teeth are dangerous so i spit watermelons

@rockoperajon

Considering that most of the joke is built around them being lousy rappers, they come up with some damn good rhymes.

@UWGNick

Wouldn't work otherwise. There needs to be a juxtaposition.. Otherwise they would just BE lousy rappers.

@joesretrostuff

Agreed, the multi rhyming of hippopotamus was impressive

@jonwoodmass2849

​@joesretrostuff why? Be more constricted with your feedback 😂

@adiscontinuedchannel5843

the only two rappers Eminem was afraid to diss

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