Black on Both Sides
Ms. Fat Booty
Mos Def
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
36
End
292
Internal
86
Multi
337
Slant
9
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
I know I can't afford✦ to stop (man, cool)
For one moment✦ (I was in love with this girl, dude)
That it's too soon to forget✦ (I was tore up, dawg)
I know I can't afford✦ to stop (I'm telling✦ you, man)
(Wow, man)
For one moment✦ (for real)
That it's too soon (it's, she's too-)
Let me tell you about✦ her
To for- (yo)
In she came with the same type game
The type of girl giving✦ out the fake cell phone and name
Big fame (big fame), she like cats with big thangs
Jewels chip, money✦ clip, phone flip, the six range
I seen her on the Ave, spotted her more than once
Ass so fat that you could see it from the front
She spot me like paparazzi
Shot me a glance in that Catwoman stance
With the fat booty✦ pants, hot damn
What's your name, love? Where you came from?
Neck and wrist laced✦ up, very✦ little make-up
The Schwinns at the Reebok✦ gym tone your frame up
Is sugar and spice the only✦ thing that you made of?
I tried to play it lowkey✦ but couldn't keep it down
Asked✦ her to dance and she was like, "Yo, I'm leaving now"
An hour later,✦ sounds from Jamaica
She sipping Cris' straight up, skanking, whining her waist up
Scene two, my fam throwing✦ a jam
Fareed✦ is on the stand, big things is in the plans (uh)
The brother Big Moon make space for me to move in
"Ay, yo, this my man, Mos, baby,✦ let me introduce"
I turn around✦ (say word)
It was the same pretty✦ bird who I had priorly observed✦
Tryna play me for the herb (yeah, that's her)
Shocked as hell she couldn't get it together
I just played along✦ and pretended I never✦ met her
"How you feeling?"✦
Oh, I'm fine"
"My name is Mos"
"I'm Sharice"✦
"I heard so much good about✦ you, it's nice to finally✦ meet"
We moved✦ to the booth reserved✦ for crew especially✦
And honey-love ended✦ up sitting directly next to me
I'm type polite✦ but now I'm looking at her skeptically✦
'Cause baby✦ girl got all the right weaponry
Designer fabric,✦ shoes, and accessories
Chinky✦ eyes, sweet voice is f- with me mentally✦
We conversated, made a laugh, yeah, you know me, bro
Even✦ though I know the steelo,✦ she wild sweet, yo
I'm 'bout to murk, I say peace to the family✦
She hop up like, "How you gon' leave before✦ you dance with me?"
She blew my whole head with that dude, I was like, "Word?"
I played it low though, I was like
"Yeah, aight, come on then, let's go"
Was mad, was so sick, I tell-
Yo, honey✦ was so blazing she was just
What? Yo, she looked✦ like Jayne Kennedy, word bond
To my mother,✦ man
She was that ill, man, she take me to the dance floor
And she start whispering to me and
"Yo, let me apologize for the other✦ night, I know it wasn't right
But, baby,✦ you know what it's like, some brothers don't be coming✦ right"
I understand, I'm feeling✦ you, besides
"Can I have a dance?" Ain't really✦ that original
We laughed about✦ it, traced✦ her arms across my shoulder blades✦
They playing Lovers Rock, I got the folded✦ fingers on her waist (on her waist)
Heating my blood up like the Arizona summer✦
Song finished then she whispered,✦ "Honey,✦ let's exchange numbers"
Scene three, weeks of dating,✦ late night conversation✦
In the crib heart racing,✦ trying to be cool and patient
She touched on my eyelids, the room fell silent✦
She walked✦ away✦ smiling, singing Gregory Issacs
Like, "if I don't, if I don't have you"
Showing✦ me her tan line and that tattoo✦
Playing Sade, Sweetest Taboo✦
Burning candles, all my other✦ plans got cancelled
Man, I smashed it like an Idaho✦ potato✦
She call me at my J-O-, "Come now, " I can't say no
Ginseng tree trunks, rocking✦ the P-funk
Cocking✦ her knees up, champion✦ lover✦ nuh ease up
Three months, she call, I feel I'm running a fever✦
Six months, I'm telling✦ her I desperately need her
Nine months, flu-like symptoms when shorty✦ not around✦
I need more than to knock it down I'm really✦ trying to lock it down (down)
Midnight, we hook up and go at it
Burn a stoge and let her know, sweetheart, I got to have it
She telling✦ me commitment is something she can't manage✦
Wake up the next morning, she gone like it was magic✦
Ah damn it, is on Harrison Ford frantic
My 911's unanswered✦ by my fly Taurus enchantress
(Next week) Moon hit me up, I saw Sharice✦ at the kitty✦ club
With some banging-ass Asian✦ playing lay it down and lick me up
What?
Technical Breakdown
8.5
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm8.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity8.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.52
Production
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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Mos Def utilizes conversational, improvisational-style delivery to ground a highly structured, rhythmic narrative about infatuation, bridging street-level storytelling with sophisticated internal rhyme chains.
A
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8.5
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
7
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Conversational interjectionsInternal multi-syllabic rhymingEnjambment for rhythmic tensionCinematic narrative progression
Rhyme Architecture: A dense AABB and AAAA-influenced structure heavily modified by spontaneous-sounding, parenthetical asides that maintain the flow while advancing the plot.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Ass so fat that you could see it from the front"
① Literal description of a curvy physique② Hyperbolic expression emphasizing the overwhelming physical presence of the subject
"She spot me like paparazzi"
① The literal act of her catching his eye② A metaphor for the invasive, high-pressure nature of fame and public observation he felt in that moment
Masterful use of vocal inflection to simulate real-time storytelling
Pacing variation via interjections
High-density internal rhyme patterns within a conversational frame
Narrative relies on archetypal tropes of the era
Certain wordplay elements are secondary to the overall rhythmic groove