Black on Both Sides
Fear Not of Man
Mos Def
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
40
End
246
Internal
134
Multi
281
Slant
17
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
Bismillah ir Rahman✦ ir Raheem✦
If you can hear me ladies✦ and gentlemen
Then I'm very✦ happy✦ that you came here
Ooh-ooh-wee!
That was for Brooklyn✦
We get it every✦ time
You got me on? Oh
Shout out to all of my crew, East-West, North-South (to the North)
All the continent, Europe,✦ all abroad international
Bring it in, bring it in, bring it in, bring it in (c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon)
It's a lot of things goin' on, y'all
21st century✦ is comin'✦
20th century✦ almost done
A lot of things have changed
A lot of things have not, mainly✦ us
We gon' get it together,✦ right? I believe✦ that
Listen,✦ people be askin'✦ me all the time
"Yo, Mos, what's gettin'✦ ready✦ to happen✦ with hip-hop?"✦
(Where do you think hip-hop✦ is goin'?)
I tell 'em, "You know what's gonna✦ happen✦ with hip-hop?✦
Whatever's happening with us"
If we smoked✦ out, hip-hop✦ is gonna✦ be smoked✦ out
If we doin' alright,✦ hip-hop✦ is gonna✦ be doin' alright✦
People talk about✦ hip-hop✦ like it's some giant livin'✦ in the hillside
Comin'✦ down to visit✦ the townspeople
We are hip-hop✦
Me, you, everybody,✦ we are hip-hop✦
So hip-hop✦ is going where we going
So the next time you ask yourself✦ where hip-hop✦ is going
Ask yourself,✦ where am I going? How am I doing?
'Til you get a clear idea✦
So if hip-hop✦ is about✦ the people
And the hip-hop✦ won't get better✦ until✦ the people get better✦
Then how do people get better?✦ (Hmm)
Well, from my understanding people get better✦
When they start to understand that they are valuable✦
And they not valuable✦ because✦ they got a whole lot of money✦
Or 'cause somebody,✦ think they sexy✦
But they valuable✦ 'cause they been created by God
And God makes✦ you valuable✦
And whether✦ or not you recognize that value is one thing
You got a lot of societies and governments
Tryin' to be God, wishing✦ that they were God
They wanna✦ create satellites and cameras everywhere✦
And make you think they got the all-seeing eye
Eh, I guess The Last Poets wasn't too far off
When they said that certain people got a God complex
I believe✦ it's true
I don't get phased✦ out by none of that, none of that
Helicopters, the TV screens, the newscasters, the satellite dishes✦
They just wishing✦
They can't really✦ never✦ do that
When they tell me to fear they law
When they tell me to try to have some fret in my heart behind✦ the things that they do
This is what I think in my mind
And this is what I say to them
And this is what I'm saying to you, check it
All over✦ the world, hearts pound with the rhythm
Fear not of men because✦ men must die
Mind over✦ matter✦ and soul before✦ flesh
Angels✦ hold a pen, keep a record✦ in time
Which is passing✦ and running✦ like a caravan✦ trader✦
The world is overrun✦ with the wealthy✦ and the wicked✦
But God is sufficient✦ in disposing✦ of affairs✦
Gunmen✦ and stockholders✦ try to merit✦ my fear
But God is sufficient✦ over✦ plans they prepared✦
Mos Def in the flesh, where you at, right here
On this place called✦ Earth, holding✦ down my square
'Bout to do it for y'all, and y'all at the fair
So just bounce, come on bounce
B-B-Bounce, b-bounce, b-bounce-bounce✦
And just-
Just step, two, three
Just step, two, three, and
Step two
Two, three and
One, two, three, and four
One, two, three, and four (we go dancin',✦ we dancin'✦ in-)
Once again✦
All over✦ the world, hearts pound with the rhythm
Fear not of men because✦ men must die
Mind over✦ matter✦ and soul before✦ flesh
Angels✦ hold a pen, keep a record✦ in time
Which is passing✦ and running✦ like a caravan✦ trader✦
The world is overrun✦ with the wealthy✦ and the wicked✦
But God is sufficient✦ in disposing✦ of affairs✦
Gunmen✦ and stockholders✦ try to merit✦ your fear
But God is sufficient✦ over✦ plans they prepared✦
Mos Def in the flesh, where you at, right here
On this place called✦ Earth, holding✦ down my square
'Bout to represent✦ in your whole atmosphere✦
'Bout to represent✦ in your whole atmosphere✦
To your atmosphere,✦ to your atmosphere✦
Ooh-ooh!
That was for you (and Brooklyn,✦ too!)
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 Complexity6.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.98
Production
— Mos DefBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Mos Def utilizes a conversational, oratorical style to dissolve the barrier between the artist and the listener, positioning hip-hop not as an autonomous cultural entity but as an existential reflection of the collective human condition.
A+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Colloquial framingSocratic dialogue simulationAnthropomorphic metaphorCall-and-response vocal layering
Rhyme Architecture: The verse employs a fluid, improvisational structure that mimics spoken-word performance. It utilizes a conversational rhythm that prioritizes natural cadence over rigid AABB structures, relying on internal slant rhymes and rhythmic repetition to maintain momentum.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"If we smoked out, hip-hop is gonna be smoked out"
① Literal drug usage/intoxication by the community.② A metaphor for the community losing focus or clarity, causing the culture to lose its vital essence.
"People talk about hip-hop like it's some giant livin' in the hillside"
① A commentary on the mythologizing of hip-hop as an external, uncontrollable force.② An observation of how critics and fans externalize hip-hop to avoid taking responsibility for the direction of the culture.
Exemplary delivery that feels immediate and intimate
Profound philosophical subtext regarding cultural accountability
Exceptional use of conversational tone to ground abstract social commentary
Sophisticated transition from stage banter to critical analysis
Limited reliance on complex multi-syllabic patterns within this specific conversational passage
The density of the vocabulary is intentionally kept accessible to maintain the 'everyman' perspective