The Low End Theory

God Lives Through

A Tribe Called Quest

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

283

Internal

Multi

406

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God

There's^✦ a million^✦ MCs that claim they want some

But see, I create sounds that make your ears go numb

Peace to Sayres^✦ Ave, yeah, you know how we go

My best friend Steven^✦ at the Home Depot^✦

Laurelton is in the house, I can't forget^✦ Southside

Walk past MCs like that girl did The Pharcyde

I'm labeled as the cat's meow, the MC with the know-how

Act like you know, not now but right now

Beast of the East, on MCs, I have a feast

I'd eat that ass like quiche, crack a smile like Shanice

Straight outta^✦ Jamaica,^✦ seen? Jamaica,^✦ Queens

But you could find me out in Georgia, or anywhere in between

Now if my partners don't look good, Malik^✦ won't look good

If Malik^✦ don't look good, then Quest won't look good

If the Quest don't look good, then Queens won't look good

But since our sounds are universal, New York won't look good

Picture Phife losing^✦ a battle, come on, get off it

Put down the microphone, son, surrender, forfeit

Did I hear something^✦ 'bout a crew? What they wanna^✦ do?

You better^✦ call Mr. Babyface so he can bring out the cool in you

Or it'll be a sad love song being sung by Toni Braxton

And I'll dissect you like a fraction^✦

All you wannabe top cat MCs, I'll pop you like a zit

You wanna^✦ be the champ, you more like Chief Some-shit

Big up myself every^✦ time when it comes^✦ to this

Mcs be running scared^✦ as if they're watching The Exorcist

I kick more game than a crackhead^✦ from Hempstead^✦

My styles^✦ are milk, man, you'd think that I was breastfed

You know the steelo^✦ when the diggy^✦ Dawg is on the scene

I dedicate this to all the MCs outta^✦ Queens

That goes for Onyx, LL, Run DMC

Akinyele, Nasty^✦ Nas and the Extra^✦ P

You need a chart, straight up and down, man, there ain't no other^✦

Nuff respect to all my peeps that made the album cover^✦

Yo, Tip, don't worry^✦ none, you know I get the party^✦ jumping^✦

Get on the mic and break 'em off a little, little something^✦

Yo, Tip, don't worry^✦ none, you know I gets the party^✦ jumping^✦

Get on the mic, my man, and break 'em off a little something^✦ (ooh)

Oh my God, oh my God (la, la, da, da)

Oh my God, oh my God (shooby,^✦ do, do, do)

Oh my God, oh my God (la, la, la, la)

Oh my God, oh my God (shooby,^✦ do, do, do)

Oh my God, oh my God (la, la, la, la)

Oh my God, oh my God (shooby,^✦ do, do, do)

Oh my God, oh my God (you know I'm on the other,^✦ for the top 40)

Oh, my God, oh my God (we gotta^✦ do it like this)

We got the funk doody^✦ don shit, clearly, it's the bomb shit

So recognize^✦ me, kids memorize^✦ me

Every^✦ day, I be scrounging,^✦ really^✦ I be lounging^✦

I play the down low, very,^✦ very^✦ incognito

Aries^✦ is my sign, I know that I can rhyme

Sometimes I rhyme in riddles, plus I make the honeys wiggle

Intellect is the major, some heads like to wager^✦

The skills on the hill, overlooking dollar^✦ bills

Man, you're crazy,^✦ thinking you can phase me

The Ab doesn't study^✦ mere nonsense, money^✦

Life seems to need me, MCs seem too cheesy^✦

With their doody-ass renditions of defeating competition^✦

I rock to the roll, man, yes, I'm a soul man

Bet your bottom dollar^✦ Vinia^✦ will make you holler^✦

As you stand at attention,^✦ did I forget^✦ to mention?^✦

Mcs will give me twenty^✦ if I sense that they act funny^✦

Lyrics are abundant,^✦ right there, I sound redundant^✦

Just mentioning the fact that the area^✦ is fat

I dwell in the under,^✦ so honey^✦ it's no wonder^✦

That I get plenty^✦ of tail, well I even^✦ get white

I'ma^✦ bank-hitting head crack, there, money,^✦ take that

Breaking niggas^✦ off, cut their bank, then I'm off

All my Nikes^✦ match my 'Lo hat, beat joint is mad fat

Got the cutter^✦ of the box if a kid think he's ox

For tier means creator,^✦ the poetry^✦ relator^✦

It's hemmed^✦ like Betsy^✦ Ross, let me tell you who's the boss

Oh my God (la, la, la)

Oh my God (la, la, la, smooth it out, y'all)

Oh my God (la, la, la)

(La, la, la)

Queens got a

Brooklyn got a

Bronx got a

Staten^✦ Island^✦ got a

Long Island^✦ got the zone

Jersey^✦ got a

Philly^✦ got a

Milwaukee got a

La got a

Oaktown got a zone

La, la, la, la, la, la

See I like to get down, Jack

Technical Breakdown

7.1

Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres5.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity5.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.08

Production

— A Tribe Called Quest

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

A Tribe Called Quest blends playful banter with cultural references, showcasing camaraderie and playful competition among MCs.

8.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

7.5

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

Wordplay

Delivery

Internal rhymesMultisyllabic rhymesCultural references

Rhyme Architecture: The verse utilizes a variety of rhyme schemes, prominently featuring internal rhymes and occasional end rhymes with a playful, conversational flow.

Strong internal rhyme usage

Cultural references add depth

Smooth delivery and cadence

Wordplay lacks complexity

Metaphors are somewhat basic

Doesn't push boundaries of lyricism as much as later works

User Scores

Notes

Philosophical exploration with impactful flow and delivery.