It Was Written
Watch Dem Niggas
Nas
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
26
End
161
Internal
68
Multi
172
Slant
10
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2: Nas & Foxy Brown]
Now, how can I perfect this? (Uh, what)
Living✦ reckless, die for my necklace
Crime infected, driving a Lexus✦ with a death wish
Jetting,✦ checking my message on the speaker
Bopping to "Mona✦ Lisa",✦ brown reefer,✦ ten G's, gun, and my Visa✦
CD cranking, doing 90 on the Franklin D. Roosevelt
No seat belt, drinking✦ and thinking✦
My man caught a bad one, son, niggas✦ is frightened
Secret✦ indictments, adds on the one seeking enlightenment
My Movado✦ says seven✦ — the God hour; that's if you follow✦
Traditions started by the school, not far from The Apollo✦
My 'Fuck tomorrow' motto✦ through the eyes of Pablo✦
Escobar, the desperado, word to Cus D'Amato✦
[Chorus: Foxy Brown & Nas]
Gotta✦ watch them niggas✦ that's close to you
And make sure they do what they supposed✦ to do
'Cause you know they be thinkin'✦ about✦ smoking✦ you
Never✦ personal,✦ nowadays,✦ it's the ways
Watch them niggas✦ that's close to you
And make sure they do what they supposed✦ to do
'Cause you know they be thinkin'✦ about✦ smoking✦ you
Never✦ personal,✦ nowadays,✦ it's the ways
[Verse 3: Nas & Foxy Brown]
Some niggas✦ watch you (Uh)
See you when you think you on the low, ain't hard to spot you
You swore to keep it real after✦ you blow
Three ki's, new V's, went to Anguilla with your ho
Stayed around the hood, smoothest cat getting✦ the dough
Them old-timers advise✦ you to them problems that's ahead✦
Drama✦ with the Feds; not listening, just bobbing your head
Your Rollie shining, thinking✦ to yourself, "Nobody's taking✦ mine"
At the same time, your ho is getting✦ snatched from behind✦
Put in a van, "Where's✦ the hundred grand?!"
Stripping her hand from all the ice
Wouldn't you know? You knew these niggas✦ all your life
What made them mark you victim?
You fucked✦ up somewhere down the line
Now, they had to target✦ your Wisdom
She took 'em to your place, straight to your safe
You doubted it could happen,✦ sick of yapping
Jump in your ride, headed✦ to your side, puffing ganja✦
Get to your crib, can't find her
Just a reminder; shouldn't have your stash house where you crash out
Could've passed✦ out, your coke is gone, now you ass out
Dead bitches tell no lies, you should use your eyes!
[Chorus: Foxy Brown & Nas, Foxy Brown]
Gotta✦ watch them niggas✦ that's close to you (Uh)
And make sure they do what they supposed✦ to do (What? Hah)
'Cause you know they be thinking✦ 'bout smoking✦ you (Uh)
Never✦ personal,✦ nowadays,✦ it's the ways
Watch them niggas✦ that's close to you (Uh)
And make sure they do what they supposed✦ to do
'Cause you know they be thinking✦ 'bout smoking✦ you (Uh-huh)
Never✦ personal,✦ nowadays,✦ it's the ways (Uh)
Technical Breakdown
8.8
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres8.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm9.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity7.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.79
Production
— TrackmastersBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Nas demonstrates master-class internal rhyme density and narrative world-building, blending paranoia with high-fashion street aesthetics to define the mid-90s Mafioso rap subgenre.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
9
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
8
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhyme chainsCinematic narrative progressionAllusive pop-culture referencingStaccato rhythm displacement
Rhyme Architecture: Extremely dense, multi-syllabic internal scheme predominantly utilizing 'e-i' and 'o-a' vowel sounds. The verse centers on the 'reckless/necklace/infected/Lexus' chain, transitioning into complex multisyllabic clusters like 'Franklin D. Roosevelt/seat belt' and 'Pablo Escobar/desperado/Cus D'Amato'.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"My Movado says seven — the God hour"
① The physical time on the watch indicating 7:00 AM/PM.② A reference to the Five-Percent Nation of Gods and Earths, where seven represents the 'God' digit in the Supreme Mathematics.
"My 'Fuck tomorrow' motto through the eyes of Pablo Escobar"
① A nihilistic lifestyle fueled by immediate gratification common in the drug trade.② An adoption of the reckless, high-risk persona of the Colombian drug lord to justify his own life choices.
Exceptional rhythmic integration of disparate syllable counts
Vivid, high-stakes street narrative
Tight, cohesive thematic focus on betrayal and paranoia
Expert placement of rhymes on strong downbeats
Narrative density can occasionally overshadow the central thesis
Slight reliance on established mob tropes of the era