Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
It's Like That
Jay-Z
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
32
End
248
Internal
44
Multi
198
Slant
8
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Liz Leite (Jay-Z)]
How tight is your flow? ('Cause I'm like that yo)
How right is your dough? ('Cause I'm like that yo)
How white is your blow? ('Cause I'm like that yo)
Only,✦ write what you know ('Cause I'm like that)
How tight is your flow? (Just like that yo)
How right is your dough? (Just like that, huh)
How white is your blow? (Uh huh, 'cause I'm like that)
Only,✦ write what you know (Watch this, yeah, watch this yo)
[Verse 2: Jay-Z]
I'm a hop, skip and a jump from grippin' the pump
Spittin' a couple of curse words, and hittin'✦ you chump
Shit, I get digits in lumps
I'm a motherfuckin' problem, is this what you want?
Overachiever, I love chicks that puff cheeba✦ in reefer✦ paper✦
I hate the ones✦ that blow up your beeper✦
'Cause I go in deeper,✦ I only✦ bone divas✦
Impregnate the world when I come through your speakers (ha ha!)
Fuck hot, my records got the fever✦
Niggas✦ kick dirt, get ya whole block sweeped up
I creep up when the beef heats up
Caught him with his feet up and shoes off, 'bout to snooze off
Hatin'✦ 'cause you can't turn the booze off
You dudes✦ is too soft, why I don't fuck with you all
I might bark at X, or spit at The LOX
But, other✦ than that, I don't be fuckin'✦ with cats
Just me, Ty and B-High, thug it like that
E, Dame and Biggs, what's fuckin'✦ with that?
Y'all can never✦ diss Jigga,✦ get nothin'✦ for that
Other✦ than a couple of slugs in your back (ha ha)
Rappers y'all, runnin'✦ around✦ like I won't gun ya down
Last nigga✦ that fronted, two shots spun him around✦
Lord, accept this offerin', here's✦ somethin' for your crown (please)
I meant no malice,✦ I just met his challenge and won
[Chorus: Liz Leite (Jay-Z)]
How tight is your flow? ('Cause I'm like that yo)
How right is your dough? (Just like that yo)
How white is your blow? ('Cause I'm like that yo)
Only,✦ write what you know (I'm just like that yo)
How tight is your flow? ('Cause I'm like that yo)
How right is your dough? ('Cause I'm like that yo)
How white is your blow? ('Cause I'm like that yo)
Only,✦ write what you know (Just like that yo)
How tight is your flow?
How right is your dough?
How white is your blow?
Only,✦ write what you know
How tight is your flow?
How right is your dough?
How white is your blow?
Only,✦ write what you know
[Ad-libs throughout Chorus: Kid Capri & Jay-Z]
Put your hands up, put your hands in the air
Put your hands up, get 'em up come on!
Put your hands up, get your hands in the air
Put your hands up, get 'em up, everybody put 'em up come on!
Get 'em up come on!
You know what I'm sayin'
I'm built like that, you heard?
On a whole level, we can get it on, you know
Jigga✦
Kid Capri,✦ yo
Soundtrack to the streets, nigga✦
Huh
'Cause I'm like that yo, ya heard?
Holla✦ back
Bounce with me, bounce
[Outro: Jay-Z]
Girls and guns (uh-huh,✦ bounce)
All I want (Bounce with me, come on, bounce)
Stock exchange✦ (uh-huh,✦ bounce)
Rocks and thangs (Jigga,✦ haha)✦
Girls and guns (Kid Capri✦ shit, huh)
All I want (What's fuckin'✦ with that, huh?)
Stock exchange✦ (Like that yo)
Drops and thangs (I'm just like that yo)
Technical Breakdown
8.0
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm9.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity5.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control8.0
Performance and control
Computed Score7.98
Production
— Kid CapriBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Jay-Z utilizes a high-octane, aggressive cadence typical of his late 90s persona, prioritizing rhythmic bounce and internal rhyme density over dense metaphorical layering, effectively matching the high-energy production.
B+
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
9
Cadence / Flow
5
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Internal multisyllabic rhymingAssonance-heavy rhythmic patternsDynamic cadence shiftsPersona-driven swagger delivery
Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on dense AAAA-style block rhyming (pump/chump/lump) transitioning into a rapid-fire internal rhyme sequence (beeper/deeper/divas/speakers/fever) that maintains a consistent percussive flow.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Impregnate the world when I come through your speakers"
① Biological conception serving as a metaphor for the pervasive reach of his music.② The act of 'birthing' a new standard or legacy through high-impact audio delivery.
"Fuck hot, my records got the fever"
① His music exceeds the industry standard of being 'hot' or popular.② His tracks are metaphorically sick or infectious, implying a dangerous or uncontrollable quality.
Commanding vocal presence and confidence
Strong rhythmic synchronization with the beat
Effective use of internal rhymes to maintain forward momentum
Cohesive persona maintenance
Vocabulary remains standard for the era and lacks conceptual depth
Wordplay is occasionally reliant on aggressive braggadocio rather than complex wit
Structural reliance on repetitive end-rhymes can feel predictable