The Blueprint

The Ruler's Back

Jay-Z

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

201

Internal

Multi

225

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

Uh-huh,^✦ uh, uh, uh-uh^✦

Uh-huh,^✦ uh, uh, uh

Woo, woo, woo, woo

I, am, back, niggas^✦

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, uh-oh,^✦ uh-oh,^✦ woo

Ladies^✦ and gentlemen,^✦ H, to the Izzo^✦

I wanna^✦ thank everybody out there for they purchase

I surely^✦ appreciate it, woo

What you about^✦ to witness is my thoughts

Just my thoughts man, right or wrong

Just what I was feeling at the time, uh

You ever^✦ felt like this, you vibe with me

Walk with a nigga^✦ man, just vibe with me

Yo, gather^✦ 'round hustlers^✦ that's if you still livin'^✦

And get on down, to that ol' Jig rhythm

Here's^✦ a couple of jewels^✦ to help you get through your bid in prison^✦

A ribbon^✦ in the sky, keep your head high

I, Young 'Vito,^✦ voice of the young people

Mouthpiece for hustlers,^✦ I'm back motherfuckers^✦

Your reign on the top was shorter than leprechauns

Y'all can't fuck with Hov', what type of X y'all on?

I got great lawyers for cops so dress warm

Charges don't stick to dude he's Teflon^✦

I'm too sexy^✦ for jail like I'm Right Said Fred

I'm not guilty,^✦ now gimmie back my bread

Mr. District Attorney,^✦ I'm not sure if they told you

I'm on TV every^✦ day, where the fuck could I go to?

Plus, Hov' don't run, Hov' stand and fight

Hov' a soldier, Hov' been fightin' all his life so

What could you do to me? It's not new to me

Sue me, fuck you, what's a couple dollars to me?

But you will respect me, simple as that

Or I got no problem goin' back

I'm representin' for the seat where Rosa^✦ Parks sat

Where Malcolm X was shot, where Martin^✦ Luther^✦ was popped^✦

So off we go, let the trumpets^✦ blow

And hold on, because^✦ the driver^✦ of the mission^✦ is a pro

The ruler's^✦ back

Uh, uh-huh,^✦ uh, uh

I, am, back, niggas^✦ (Woo, woo, woo, woo)

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Turn the motherfuckin' music up

The ruler's^✦ back

I, am, back, niggas^✦

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Well in these times,^✦ well at least to me

There's^✦ a lot of rappers out there tryin to sound like Jay-Z

I'll help you out, here's^✦ what you do

You gonna^✦ need a wide lens 'cause that's a VER' big shoe

And you got a couple of beans and you don't have a clue?

Your situation^✦ is bleek, I'ma^✦ keep it real 'cause

Fuckin'^✦ with me, you gotta^✦ drop a mill'?

'Cause if you gonna^✦ cop somethin' you gotta^✦ cop for real

Don't only^✦ talk it, walk like it from the Bricks to the booth

I can predict the future^✦ like Cleo the psychic

You can't date skee-os and wife it (Uh-uh)^✦

And you can't sell me bullshit, we know the prices^✦

So what your life is? We gon' roll

'Til the wheels fall off, y'all muh'fuckers^✦ check the tires^✦

Off we go, let the trumpets^✦ blow

And hold on, because^✦ the driver^✦ of that Bentley^✦ is a pro

The ruler's^✦ back

Uh, uh

I, am, back, niggas^✦

Feels good! Ha

Pah, holla^✦ at me!

The ruler's^✦ back

Yeah, woo

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Now bounce, c'mon, bounce

Uh, woo, woo

Bounce, c'mon, bounce

Uh, uh, yeah, yeah

Bounce, c'mon, bounce

Uh, yeah, just my thoughts ladies^✦ and gentlemen^✦

Just what I'm feelin^✦ at the time, you know what I mean?

Know what I mean?

Technical Breakdown

7.3

Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm8.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity5.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.33

Production

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Jay-Z effectively blends clever wordplay with commanding delivery, solidifying his status as a top-tier lyricist while addressing resilience and rebirth.

B+

7.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

Wordplay

Delivery

internal rhymesmultisyllabic rhymesaddressing the audience directlyuse of metaphorvisual imagery

Rhyme Architecture: The verse employs a mix of end rhymes and internal rhymes, creating a dynamic flow that's characteristic of Jay-Z's style.

strong internal rhyme scheme

dynamic delivery

engaging audience

metaphorical references

some clichés in the context of the era

relatively straightforward punchlines

User Scores

Notes

A triumphant declaration of return, filled with bravado and punchy lines.