The Black Album

Dirt off Your Shoulder

Jay-Z

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

256

Internal

134

Multi

256

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Produced by Timbaland]

[Intro]

You're now tuned^✦ into^✦ the muh'fuckin'^✦ greatest!^✦

(Ugh, ugh, uh-huh-uh-huh, ugh)

(Jigga,^✦ uh-huh-uh,^✦ uh-uh)^✦

Turn the music up in the headphones (Jigga)^✦

(Uh-huh-uh,^✦ Jigga,^✦ uh-uh,^✦ uh-uh,^✦ ugh)

Tim, you can go on and brush your shoulders^✦ off, nigga^✦

I got you

(Ugh, ch-ch, ugh, ugh, Jigga)^✦

Ugh, yeah

[Chorus]

If you feelin'^✦ like a pimp, nigga,^✦ go on—brush^✦ your shoulders^✦ off

Ladies^✦ is pimps, too; go on—brush^✦ your shoulders^✦ off

Niggas^✦ is crazy,^✦ baby;^✦ don't forget^✦ that boy told you

Get that dirt off your shoulder^✦

[Verse 1]

I probably owe it to y'all, prolly^✦ be locked^✦ by the force

Tryna^✦ hustle some things that go with the Porsche

Feelin'^✦ no remorse, feelin'^✦ like my hand was forced^✦

Middle finger^✦ to the law, nigga,^✦ grippin' my balls

Said, the ladies,^✦ they love me — from the bleachers, they screamin'

All the ballers is bouncin' — they like the way I be leanin'^✦

All the rappers be hatin'^✦ off the track that I'm makin'^✦

But all the hustlers — they love it just to see one of us make it

Came from the bottom^✦ of the bottom^✦ to the "Top of the Pops"

Nigga,^✦ London^✦ (Woo), Japan^✦ (Woo), and I'm straight off the block

Like a running back — get it, man? I'm straight off the block

I can run it back, nigga,^✦ 'cause I'm straight with the Roc (Come on)

[Chorus]

If you feelin'^✦ like a pimp, nigga,^✦ go on — brush your shoulders^✦ off (Woo)

Ladies^✦ is pimps, too; go on — brush your shoulders^✦ off (Woo)

Niggas^✦ is crazy,^✦ baby;^✦ don't forget^✦ that boy told you

Get that dirt off your shoulder^✦

You gotta^✦ get (Get) that (That) dirt off your shoulder^✦

[Verse 2]

Your homie Hov' in position, in the kitchen with soda^✦

I just whipped up a watch, tryna^✦ get me a Rover^✦ (Woo)

Tryna^✦ stretch out the coca,^✦ like a wrestler, yessir

Keep the heckler close — you know them smokers'll test you

But, like, fifty-two^✦ cards went out — I'm through dealin'^✦

Now, fifty-two^✦ bars come out — now, you feel 'em

Now, fifty-two^✦ cars roll out; remove^✦ ceiling in case fifty-two^✦ broads come out

Now, you chillin' with a boss, bitch, of course; "S.C." on the sleeve

At the 40/40 club, ESPN on the screen

I paid a grip for the jeans (Woo), plus, the slippers is clean (Woo)

No chrome on the wheels (Woo), I'm a grown-up for real, chyeah!

[Chorus]

If you feelin'^✦ like a pimp, nigga,^✦ go on — brush your shoulders^✦ off (Woo)

Ladies^✦ is pimps, too; go on — brush your shoulders^✦ off (Woo)

Niggas^✦ is crazy,^✦ baby;^✦ don't forget^✦ that boy told you

Get that dirt off your shoulder^✦

You gotta^✦ get (Get) that (That) dirt off your shoulder^✦

You gotta^✦ get (Get) that (That) dirt off your shoulder^✦ (Woo)

You gotta^✦ get (Get) that (That) dirt off your shoulder^✦

[Verse 3]

Your boy back in the building; Brooklyn, we back on the map

Me and my beautiful bee-itch in the back of that 'Bach

I'm the realest that run it, I just happen^✦ to rap

I ain't gotta^✦ clap at 'em — niggas^✦ scared^✦ of that black

I drop that Black Album, then I back out it

As the best rapper^✦ alive^✦ — nigga,^✦ ask about^✦ me

From bricks to Billboards, from grams to Grammys

From O's to opposite Orphan^✦ Annie

You gotta^✦ pardon^✦ Jay for sellin'^✦ out the Garden^✦ in a day

I'm like a young Marvin^✦ in his hey'

I'm a hustler, homie; you a customer, crony^✦

Got some dirt on my shoulder^✦ — could you brush it off for me?

[Chorus]

If you feelin'^✦ like a pimp, nigga,^✦ go on — brush your shoulders^✦ off (Woo)

Ladies^✦ is pimps, too; go on — brush your shoulders^✦ off (Woo)

Niggas^✦ is crazy,^✦ baby;^✦ don't forget^✦ that boy told you

Get that dirt off your shoulder^✦

You gotta^✦ get (Get) that (That) dirt off your shoulder^✦

You gotta^✦ get (Get) that (That) dirt off your shoulder^✦ (Woo)

You gotta^✦ get (Get) that (That) dirt off your shoulder^✦

[Outro]

You're now tuned^✦ into^✦ the muh'fuckin'^✦ greatest!^✦

Best rapper^✦ alive^✦

Technical Breakdown

8.5

Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5

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 Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.53

Production

— Timbaland

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The verse functions as a masterclass in rhythmic pocket manipulation, where the wordplay is secondary to the sheer kinetic force and 'cool' factor of the delivery.

9.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

7.5

Wordplay

Delivery

Multisyllabic enjambmentStaccato syncopationInternal rhyme chainsRhythmic pocket mastery

Rhyme Architecture: The verse utilizes a complex AAAA rhyme scheme driven by forced/rhymes (force, Porsche, remorse, force, balls) that maintains a tight, percussive consistency throughout the passage.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Tryna hustle some things that go with the Porsche"

① Physical items or lifestyle markers associated with luxury vehicle ownership.② A veiled reference to illicit goods or drug trade logistics that fund said luxury lifestyle.

"Middle finger to the law, nigga, grippin' my balls"

① A gesture of defiance towards police and a display of hyper-masculine bravado.② A rhythmic anchoring device that punctuates the end of the rhyme scheme with a vulgar but emphatic stress point.

Commanding presence and vocal intensity

Exceptional synergy with Timbaland's production

Effortless control of complex cadence

Strong structural cohesion

Simplicity of vocabulary relative to lyrical density

Over-reliance on repetitive rhyming vowel sounds for rhythmic effect

Lacks deep metaphorical complexity

Dirt off Your Shoulder

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

User Scores