Liquid Swords

Living in the World Today

GZA

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

247

Internal

125

Multi

303

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

Yo (yeah), check it out, son, check it out, son

Yo (Wu, can I get a soo?), live in the place to be

You got the capital G, Z to the A, MC

Givin'^✦ a mad shout out to the Ranch Crew, from the old school

And we gonna^✦ take that one back, know what I'm sayin'?

Lyrical^✦ sorcerers right here, the fathers, the cream of the crop, son

(Yo, check it)

Well, if you livin'^✦ in the world today^✦

You be hearin'^✦ the slang that the Wu-Tang^✦ say

Niggas^✦ that front, we don't have them

So we blast 'em, alright,^✦ well okay^✦

Well, if you like the way it sounds, then clap, man

And if the women^✦ love it too, well then raise your hands

But only^✦ raise your hands if you're sure

Punk niggas^✦ shatter^✦ like a glass jaw, break it

My rhyme gross weight vehicle combination^✦

Was too heavy^✦ for the Chevy's, is chased^✦ out the station^✦

Double-edged was the guillotine that beheaded^✦ it

Gassed^✦ up, fuckin'^✦ with some regular unleaded^✦ shit

Heads roll on hillsides behind^✦ ropes^✦ that

Bind-in,^✦ X marks the spot on the scope

Heavily armed,^✦ military^✦ is necessary,^✦ it's a gamble

MC's bet they best at every^✦

Powerful parable^✦ ditties^✦ might harm

If tampered with, set off and strike like pipe bombs

Flashbacks to the "Duel of the Iron^✦ Mic"

Look out for these fatal^✦ flying spikes^✦

Of massive sleep holds

Put strangle on commercial angle

Microphone cords tangled^✦ from being Star Spangled^✦

Now, who could ever^✦ say they heard of this?

My motherfuckin' style is mad murderous^✦

Well, if you like the way it sounds, then clap man (clap man)

And if the bitches love it too, well then raise your hands (c'mon, c'mon)

But only^✦ raise your hands if you're sure

Punk niggas^✦ shatter^✦ like a glass jaw, yeah

Well, if you livin'^✦ in the world today^✦

You be hearin'^✦ the slang that the Wu-Tang^✦ say

Niggas^✦ that front, we don't have them (have them)

So we blast 'em (pow), alright,^✦ well okay^✦

Well, what you know about^✦ MC'in'? (Yo, I know a lot)

Well, can you demonstrate^✦ somethin', nigga?^✦ (Huh, I'd rather^✦ not)

I'm talkin^✦ 'bout stacks, cousin^✦ (nigga,^✦ that's what I got)

Cash rules^✦ the world (well, cash rules^✦ the spot)

My preliminary^✦ attack^✦ keep cemeteries^✦ packed^✦

Of niggas^✦ who think it ain't like that

MC's are gunned^✦ down like being run down with mad trucks

Then God struck, religious^✦ niggas^✦ call it "bad luck"

Rap celeb,^✦ you got caught up in the web

Now, bees are stingin',^✦ yo, that niggas^✦ em-singin'^✦

I'm just swingin'^✦ swords strictly based^✦ on keyboards

Unbalanced like elephants and ants on see-saws

I throw raps that attack^✦ like the Japs on Pearl Harbor^✦

MC's be out like bank robbers

Fleeing the scene, to be a sole survivor

DJ, the getaway driver^✦

Tried to dip, but he dive, I socialize on vocal^✦ vibes^✦

On tracks stabbed up with razor-sharp knives^✦

Criminal^✦ subliminal^✦ minded^✦ rappers

Find it hard to define^✦ it

When narrow^✦ is the gate for fat tapes^✦

And if played out and out of date

Then I construct my thoughts on site to renovate^✦

And from that point, the God made a statement

Draftin' tracements,^✦ replacements^✦ in basements^✦

Materials in sheet-rock to sound proof the beatbox

And microscopic optics received through the boxes^✦

Obnoxious^✦ topic,^✦ major^✦ labels, flavor^✦ tropical^✦

Punchlines, that's unstoppable^✦

Ring like shots from Glocks that attract cops

Around^✦ the clubs and try to shut down the hip-hop^✦

But we only^✦ increase if everything is peace

Father^✦ You See King the police^✦

Well, if you livin'^✦ in the world today^✦

You be hearin'^✦ the slang that the Wu-Tang^✦ say

Niggas^✦ that front, we don't have them (have them)

So we blast 'em (pow), alright,^✦ well okay^✦

Well, if you like the way it sounds, then clap man (clap man)

And if yo' women^✦ love it too, well then raise your hands (c'mon, c'mon)

But only^✦ raise your hands if you're sure

Punk niggas^✦ shatter^✦ like a glass jaw, break it

If you livin'^✦ in the world today^✦

You be hearin'^✦ the slang that the Wu-Tang^✦ say

Niggas^✦ that front, we don't have them (have them)

So we blast 'em (pow), alright,^✦ well okay^✦

Yeah

The Wu-Tang^✦ say

We don't have them

Alright,^✦ well okay^✦

The world today^✦

The Wu-Tang^✦ say

Niggas^✦ that front, we don't have them

Blast them, alright,^✦ well okay^✦

Technical Breakdown

9.2

Multisyllabic Rhymes9.3

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.4

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres9.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm9.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity9.4

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.4

Performance and control

Computed Score9.20

Production

— RZA

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

GZA's verses in 'Living in the World Today' demonstrate exceptional lyrical sophistication with scores of 9.3 to 9.6 across various technical aspects. The layered wordplay, intricate rhyme schemes, and vivid imagery create a compelling narrative that remains impactful and original within the context of 90s hip-hop.

A+

9.3

Multisyllabic

9.4

Internal Rhymes

9.5

Cadence / Flow

9.4

Vocabulary

9.5

Wordplay

9.4

Delivery

Multisyllabic RhymesInternal RhymesImageryWordplay

Rhyme Architecture: The rhyme scheme features a complex interplay of multisyllabic rhymes and internal rhymes, creating a dense and engaging rhythmic flow that supports the lyrical message.

Complexity of wordplay

Rich imagery and metaphor

Cohesive thematic structure

Living in the World Today

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

User Scores