Stillmatic

Destroy & Rebuild

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

364

Internal

208

Multi

465

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

This is a journey into^✦ the world's most largest

And notorious^✦ projects, Queensbridge^✦

Listen^✦ while Nas saves^✦ his hood from the most cowardest rappers

He had a mass appeal^✦ and a little boy smile

Depressed, has a complex, his mouth was foul

You need to stay around^✦ I feel like tellin'^✦ some stories^✦

First there's^✦ this arrogant fuck, his name's^✦ Cory^✦

Hang around^✦ my man's 'Like' and 'Big Trevor'^✦

Trevors still locked^✦ up, Like's^✦ gettin'^✦ his cheddar

Cory^✦ changed his name to arr, whatever

Cornchip, Buckwheat lookalike, its Mega^✦

Right, Mega^✦ was his name sorry^✦ about^✦ that

But its so hard to put a cowards^✦ name in my rap

Always^✦ actin'^✦ tough, a jokester be frontin'

He got snuffed, he got shot in the thigh, he did nothing^✦

But that's Nas, always^✦ lookin'^✦ out for brethren^✦

'Cause when 'brethren'^✦ don't return love it don't stress him

'Cause gangstas do gangsta^✦ shit, real recognize real

Still laughin' to the bank and shit

Back to Cor, got him a deal but his rhymes^✦ was whack

Def Jam mad that he signed^✦ the contract

Now he got jealous^✦ and mad at my shine

Making^✦ silly^✦ tapes,^✦ I'm always^✦ on his mind

Nonsense, not to be obnoxious^✦ kid

Mega,^✦ for the record you could suck my dick

Bitch, you're from around^✦ the way it's sad what this do to me

But Queensbridge,^✦ we gotta^✦ have unity^✦

They say, "The bridge is over,^✦ the bridge is over"^✦

Nah, this is a time we destroy^✦ and rebuild^✦ it

They say, "The bridge is over,^✦ the bridge is over"^✦

Nah, we're the strongest^✦ hood but weak niggas^✦ kill it

So they say, "The bridge is over,^✦ the bridge is over"^✦

Nah, this is the time we destroy^✦ and rebuild^✦ it

They say, "The bridge is over,^✦ the bridge is over"^✦

Nah, we're the strongest^✦ hood but it's these cowards^✦ that kill it

So now they say

Since we're on the subject of traders and flunkies^✦

Mega^✦ ain't the only^✦ faggot^✦ in my hood, dummies^✦

There's^✦ plenty^✦ that wanna^✦ be me but cannot^✦

Its like King Arthur^✦ and Knight Sir Lancelot

Lefty^✦ and Donnie Brasco,^✦ Gotti and Paul

Before^✦ I woulda^✦ told you Prodigy's my dog

Through the ups and downs, robberies^✦ and all

Though I always^✦ knew he wanted^✦ my downfall

He would say his little slick shit and act real funny^✦

For what? Nigga^✦ you're butt and it got back to me

Askin'^✦ a Braveheart^✦ to get back your jewelry

You ain't from my hood, don't even^✦ rep QB

Nature^✦ moved^✦ to Marcy^✦

Man dick ridin'^✦ Nature,^✦ nothing^✦ else to say

Man Nature^✦ moved^✦ to Marcy^✦ (what? Far)

Back with ass niggas^✦ in fear (far away)^✦

Fuck them niggas,^✦ go ahead^✦ with the program man, proceed

Old lady^✦ pocketbook snatcher, car thief

'Of course' we ain't friends, you never^✦ stood on no blocks

Streets or corners with zombies,^✦ and ghouls and gangsters

Cops, drug dealers with pools of blood anger^✦

Just fills me when niggas^✦ let out of town to set shot

And get filthy^✦ rich, it's just not

No more morals, no loyalty, no more community

Queensbridge,^✦ we gotta^✦ have unity^✦

They say, "The bridge is over,^✦ the bridge is over"^✦

Nah, this is a time we destroy^✦ and rebuild^✦ it

They say, "The bridge is over,^✦ the bridge is over"^✦

Nah, we're the strongest^✦ hood but weak niggas^✦ kill it

So they say, "The bridge is over,^✦ the bridge is over"^✦

Nah, this is the time we destroy^✦ and rebuild^✦ it

They say, "The bridge is over,^✦ the bridge is over"^✦

Nah, we're the strongest^✦ hood but it's these cowards^✦ that kill it

So now they say

I put the name on the map after^✦ Marly^✦ and Shan

QB, before^✦ the ROC had one jam

Before^✦ the Death Row and Bad Boy beef

I had streets locked^✦ with raw talent, haha,^✦ I laugh at the weak

So this's about^✦ cleanin' up house, my own backyard^✦

Famous home of rap stars well known be gettin'^✦ robbed^✦

P how many^✦ times?^✦ Ain't you shamed^✦ that

Jungle was bustin'^✦ his gun to get your weak chain back?

They don't respect you a checks due for me for your fame

Mega,^✦ I hope you blow so I'm sayin' your name (Mega,^✦ Mega)^✦

Hoes play your position 'cause you'll never^✦ be king

Even^✦ Jigga^✦ want the crown, oh that's sad, poor thing

I'm representin' Queensbridge,^✦ USA^✦

Where two sk's go off every^✦ day, new flesh lay

All you little roaches and rats

Besides my man Ricky,^✦ Nas the true ruler^✦ is back

So haters say

"The bridge is over,^✦ the bridge is over"^✦

Nah, this is a time we destroy^✦ and rebuild^✦ it

They say, "The bridge is over,^✦ the bridge is over"^✦

Nah, we're the strongest^✦ hood but weak niggas^✦ kill it

So they say, "The bridge is over,^✦ the bridge is over"^✦

Nah, this is the time we destroy^✦ and rebuild^✦ it

They say, "The bridge is over,^✦ the bridge is over"^✦

Nah, we're the strongest^✦ hood but it's these cowards^✦ that kill it

So now they say

The bridge is over^✦ my dick, 'Bridge'll never^✦ be over^✦

Long as I'm alive^✦ and breathin', Braveheart^✦ to the graveyard^✦

I'm the William Wallace of this shit

Heyo P, Prodigy, I got love for you man, I love you man

You know what I'm sayin', just get them unloyal niggas^✦

From out your circle, you can't save everybody

Niggas^✦ invited you to the hood, rep it right my nigga^✦

Be untouchable my nigga,^✦ so we'd be Mobb for life for real

And thats real, 'eyo Nature,^✦ I can't hold your hand through this shit man

I'm not your father^✦ man, be your own man, stand on your own too

I believe^✦ in you, believe^✦ in yourself nigga^✦ or don't even^✦ rep this man

'Eyo Mega^✦ you wanna^✦ be a gangsta?^✦

Y'all, there's^✦ real gangster shit goin' on in the streets man, yo' niggas^✦ is in the grind

Where you be at man? Niggas^✦ be buckin'^✦

Wait, why you never^✦ buckin',^✦ where you been at, man?

All of a sudden^✦ you the motherfuckin'^✦ Neo Brown of the fucking hood

It's disgusting man, stay out the magazines

Keep my name outta^✦ your motherfuckin'^✦ mouth

There's^✦ no more room for jealousy, we destroying and rebuilding

That means the cowards^✦ get out and the real niggas^✦ stay

Niggas^✦ been hatin^✦ me since I been nine, shinin'^✦

With suede motherfuckin'^✦ balles^✦ on in silks

I'ma^✦ always^✦ be this young don, don't be like the niggas^✦ on the other^✦ side

Hatin'^✦ me cause I'm beautiful, real niggas^✦ in Queensbridge^✦

Y'all niggas,^✦ come up and get this money^✦ and move on baby^✦

Technical Breakdown

9.0

Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.96

Production

— Mike Risko, Baby Paul

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas utilizes a conversational, narrative-driven flow to deconstruct the authenticity of his peers, employing a 'gossip-rap' technique that turns personal history into a weaponized lyrical dismantling.

A+

9.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

7.5

Wordplay

8.5

Delivery

Narrative storytellingCharacter assassinationConversational cadenceMultisyllabic rhyme chainsInternal rhyme density

Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB/AABB variations with high-density internal rhyme patterns. The scheme moves between descriptive narrative (A) and targeted insults (B), utilizing slants to maintain conversational rhythm.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"He had a mass appeal and a little boy smile"

① Referencing the rapper's actual stage name 'Mass Appeal' (or play on the term mass appeal)② Pointing to the superficiality and childishness of the rapper's personality/demeanor

"Def Jam mad that he signed the contract"

① A literal statement about a business dispute regarding the rapper's recording deal② A dismissal of the rapper's worth as a commercial entity to a major label

"Cornchip, Buckwheat lookalike, its Mega"

① Physical mockery referencing specific pop-culture caricatures② Systematic dehumanization of the subject to frame him as a clown rather than a threat

Exceptional command of narrative arc

High-level internal rhyme placement

Vocal delivery feels authentic and urgent

Masterful use of vernacular to establish persona

Relies heavily on specific internal drama that may lack context for modern listeners

Vocab score is lower than Nas's peak 'Illmatic' intellectualism due to the raw/aggressive nature of the beef

Destroy & Rebuild

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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