The Black Album
Change Clothes
Jay-Z
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
29
End
240
Internal
62
Multi
261
Slant
8
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
Yeah ma, your dude is back, made back roof is back
Tell the whole world the truth is back
You ain't got to argue about✦ who could rap
Cause the proof is back just go through my rap
New York New York yeah where my troopers at
Where my hustlers where my boosters at
I don't care what you do for stacks
I know the world glued you back to the wall
You gotta✦ brawl to that
I been through that, been shot at shoot back
Gotta✦ keep it peace like a Buddhist
I ain't a New Jack nobody✦ goin' Wesley✦ Snipe me
It's less than likely,✦ move back
Let I breathe Jedi Knight
The more space I get the better✦ I write
(Oh) Never✦ I write, but, if, ever✦ I write
I need the space to say whatever I like, now just
You know I stay, fresh to death
I brought you from the projects✦
And I'm a take you to the top of the globe so let's go (change numbers✦ and go)
Uh huh yeah, uh (now girl I promise✦ you, no substitute)✦
It's just me
And I goin' tell you again✦ let's get ghost in the phantom
You could bring your friend we could make this a tandem✦
You could come by yourself and you could stand him
Best believe I sweat out weaves, give Afro✦ puffs like R.A.g.e.
You get if you could move it
Back it on up like a you Haul truck
Then run and tell them thugs you heard HOV knew
He and the boy for real make beautiful music
He is to the east coast what Snoop is, to the west coast what Face is to Houston
Young HOV in the house it's so necessary✦
No bra with the blouse it's so necessary✦
No panties✦ and jeans that's so necessary✦
Now why you fronting✦ on me is that necessary✦
Do I to you look like a lame
Who don't understand a bra with a mean shoe game
Whose up on Dot Dot Dot and Vera✦ Wang
Ma are you insane,✦ let's just
(What you want me to do?)
You know I stay, fresh to death
I brought you from the projects✦
And I'm a take you to the top of the globe so let's go (change numbers✦ and go)
Uh huh yeah, uh (now girl I promise✦ you, no substitute)✦
It's just me
Uh, uh (sexy✦ sexy)✦ Woo!
Uh huh (sexy✦ sexy)✦ It's so necessary✦ right)
Uh huh, woo! (Sexy✦ sexy)✦ that's right it's a groove
Uh huh, it's a groove (sexy✦ sexy)✦ bring it back
Young HOV in the house it's so necessary✦
No bra with that blouse it's so necessary✦
No panties✦ and jeans it's so necessary✦
Why you fronting✦ on me?
Let's go to my hotel✦ cause this don't go well
With those S Dots, gotta✦ to stay fresh ma
Ma, I don't shop what the rest by
Oh no ma please respect ma
Jiggy✦ this is probably✦ purple label✦
Or that BBC or it's probably✦ tailored
But y'all niggas acting✦ way to tough
Throw on a suit get it tapered up, and let's just
You know I stay, fresh to death
I brought you from the projects✦
And I'm a take you to the top of the globe so let's go (change numbers✦ and go)
Uh huh yeah, uh (now girl I promise✦ you, no substitute)✦
It's just me
Uh uh (sexy✦ sexy)✦ sing along
Yeah, uh (sexy✦ sexy)✦ turn your radio✦ up
Woo! (sexy✦ sexy)✦ Put your hands in the air if your in the car
Uh! Snap your fingers now (sexy✦ sexy)✦ woo, uh
Uh, uh, your boy is back
Uh huh, uh, uh, uh, the bounce is back
Uh, uh, woo, uh HOV is back, peace!
Technical Breakdown
7.8
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 / Rhythm8.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity6.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control7.5
Performance and control
Computed Score7.79
Production
— The Neptunes100% approve · 1 vote
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse functions as a sophisticated demonstration of Jay-Z's mid-2000s commercial persona, prioritizing rhythmic fluidity and internal rhyme density over dense, labyrinthine metaphors.
B+
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8.5
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
7.5
Delivery
Internal rhyme chainingMultisyllabic enjambmentPhonetic play with pop-culture referents
Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AAAA mono-rhyme clusters (back/rap/at/stack) evolving into complex multisyllabic internal sequences.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"I ain't a New Jack nobody goin' Wesley Snipe me"
① A reference to the film New Jack City where Wesley Snipes plays the villain.② A wordplay on 'Snipe' as in to eliminate or assassinate a rival rapper.
"Gotta keep it peace like a Buddhist"
① Maintaining calm and non-violence.② A phonetic play on 'keep it piece' referring to carrying a firearm for protection.
"let's get ghost in the phantom"
① To leave quickly or disappear.② A specific reference to the Rolls-Royce Phantom vehicle model.
Exceptional rhythmic pocket and consistent pulse
High-level internal rhyme frequency
Strong command of tone and persona-consistent delivery
Limited metaphorical depth compared to his more lyrical output
Relies heavily on standard braggadocio tropes of the era
Vocabularic range is constrained by the commercial focus