The Black Album

Hova Song (Outro)

Jay-Z

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

11

End

38

Internal

12

Multi

92

Slant

4

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
Who ever✦ thought young Shawn Carter✦ would change the game?
Used✦ to rap to the raindrops off my window pane
Ducking the plain cops, pushing endo✦ and 'caine
At the kitchen table, late night, no pen, just my brain
First album, niggas love me 'cause they thought I was poor
Guess I'm successful; industry don't love me no more
Well I'm the same nigga✦ from your corner,✦ bubbling raw
Skully✦ tilted,✦ pants sagging, damn near touching the floor
And I come with doo-rags to your so-called awards
T-shirt with my chain out like fuck y'all all
Retrospect ain't been the same since I lost my dad
He's still alive,✦ but still fuck you, don't cross my path
A&R's had me feeling like Moss in the draft
So I turned✦ the league out with Reasonable Doubt
Get your CDs out, let's go, song for song
I'm the illest nigga✦ doing it 'til y'all prove me wrong
Do you believe?
It's Hova✦ the God, uh, uh, uh

Technical Breakdown

7.7
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity8.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.66

Production

— K-Rob

Be the first to rate the production

Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The verse serves as a masterclass in biographical branding, utilizing a conversational cadence to bridge the gap between street-level authenticity and the burgeoning 'Hova' persona, while effectively leveraging the 'Reasonable Doubt' narrative as a focal point for industry critique.

B+
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
7
Wordplay
8
Delivery
AABB and AAAA mono-rhyme clustersInternal multi-syllabic chainingConversational direct addressNarrative arc structure
Rhyme Architecture: The verse primarily utilizes a sophisticated AABB rhyme scheme that leans heavily into internal rhyme clusters, particularly in the opening bars, creating a fluid, rhythmic progression that maintains the pocket through varying line lengths.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"A&R's had me feeling like Moss in the draft"

① A reference to NFL receiver Randy Moss, whose immense talent was overlooked or undervalued by many teams during his draft, mirroring Jay-Z's industry reception.② A commentary on the systemic bias in the music industry that leads executives to undervalue raw, 'street' talent until it is undeniable.

"I turned the league out with Reasonable Doubt"

① A claim that his debut album disrupted or 'turned out' the industry establishment.② A direct reference to the commercial and critical success of his specific project, Reasonable Doubt, which served as his entry point into dominance.

Exceptional command of narrative pacing

Strong vocal presence that conveys defiance and success

Coherent thematic bridge between past struggle and current status

Limited usage of dense, abstract wordplay compared to later-era lyricism

Some internal rhymes rely on common slang proximity rather than complex linguistic pivots

User Scores

Notes

Kanye's triumphant intro