It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Don't Believe the Hype

Public Enemy

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

211

Internal

Multi

308

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

Back

Caught you lookin'^✦ for the same thing

It's a new thing, check out this I bring

Uh Oh the roll below^✦ the level^✦

'Cause I'm livin'^✦ low next to the bass, c'mon

Turn up the radio^✦

They claim that I'm a criminal

By now I wonder^✦ how

Some people never^✦ know

The enemy^✦ could be their friend, guardian

I'm not a hooligan

I rock the party^✦ and

Clear all the madness, I'm not a racist

Preach to teach to all

'Cause some they never^✦ had this

Number^✦ one, not born to run

About^✦ the gun

I wasn't licensed to have one

The minute^✦ they see me, fear me

I'm the epitome, a public^✦ enemy^✦

Used,^✦ abused^✦ without clues

I refused to blow a fuse

They even^✦ had it on the news

Don't believe^✦ the hype

Yes

Was the start of my last jam

So here it is again,^✦ another def jam

But since I gave you all a little something

That we knew you lacked^✦

They still consider me a new jack

All the critics you can hang 'em

I'll hold the rope

But they hope to the pope

And pray it ain't dope

The follower of Farrakhan

Don't tell me that you understand

Until you hear the man

The book of the new school rap game

Writers^✦ treat me like Coltrane, insane^✦

Yes to them, but to me I'm a different kind

We're brothers of the same mind, unblind

Caught in the middle and

Not surrenderin'

I don't rhyme for the sake of of riddlin'

Some claim that I'm a smuggler

Some say I never^✦ heard of 'ya

A rap burglar, false media^✦

We don't need it do we?

It's fake that's what it be to 'ya, dig me?

Don't believe^✦ the hype

Don't believe^✦ the hype, its a sequel^✦

As an equal, can I get this through to you

My 98's boomin'^✦ with a trunk of funk

All the jealous punks can't stop the dunk

Comin'^✦ from the school of hard knocks

Some perpetrate, they drink Clorox^✦

Attack^✦ the black, 'cause I know they lack exact

The cold facts, and still they try to Xerox^✦

Leader^✦ of the new school, uncool^✦

Never^✦ played the fool, just made the rules^✦

Remember there's^✦ a need to get alarmed

Again^✦ I said I was a timebomb

In the daytime^✦ the radio's^✦ scared^✦ of me

'Cause I'm mad, plus I'm the enemy^✦

They can't c'mon and play with me in primetime^✦

'Cause I know the time, plus I'm gettin'^✦ mine

I get on the mix late in the night

They know I'm livin'^✦ right, so here go the mike, sike

Before^✦ I let it go, don't rush my show

You try to reach and grab and get elbowed

Word to herb, yo if you can't swing this

Just a little bit of the taste of the bass for you

As you get up and dance at the LQ

When some deny^✦ it, defy^✦ if I swing bolos^✦

Then they clear the lane I go solo^✦

The meaning of all of that

Some media^✦ is the whack

You believe^✦ it's true, it blows me through the roof

Suckers, liars get me a shovel^✦

Some writers^✦ I know are damn devils

For them I say don't believe^✦ the hype

Yo Chuck, they must be on a pipe, right?

Their pens and pads I'll snatch

'Cause I've had it

I'm not an addict fiendin' for static^✦

I'll see their tape recorder and grab it

No, you can't have it back silly^✦ rabbit^✦

I'm going' to my media^✦ assassin

Harry^✦ Allen,^✦ I gotta^✦ ask him

Yo Harry,^✦ you're a writer,^✦ are we that type?

Don't believe^✦ the hype

I got flavor and all those things you know

Yeah boy, part two bum rush and show

Yo Griff, get the green black red and

Gold down countdown to Armageddon

88 you wait the S1Ws will

Rock the hard jams, treat it like a seminar

Teach the bourgeois, and rock the boulevard

Some say I'm negative^✦

But they're not positive^✦

But what I got to give

The media^✦ says this

Technical Breakdown

8.9

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 / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.89

Production

— Hank Shocklee, Chuck D, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The verse functions as a masterclass in rhythmic percussion over complex lyricism, utilizing the cadence of a militant protest broadcast to establish Public Enemy's brand identity through repetitive, percussive rhyme clusters.

A+

7.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

6.5

Wordplay

9.5

Delivery

Staccato rhythmic deliveryInternal rhyme stackingCall-and-response cadencePolitical re-contextualizationPolysyllabic anchoring

Rhyme Architecture: Uses a highly aggressive AABB/AAB structure with heavy reliance on forced terminal rhymes and dense internal consonantal repetitions, mimicking a telegraphic or broadcast style.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"I'm not a hooligan / I rock the party and"

① The artist is a professional entertainer who energizes crowds.② A direct rebuttal to media characterizations of black male youths as violent agitators (hooligans).

"I'm the epitome, a public enemy"

① A concise summary of his status as a figurehead of the group.② A transformation of a societal label (a threat to public order) into a badge of cultural authority.

Unmatched rhythmic command and vocal presence

Effective use of the 'broadcast' persona

High-energy delivery that dictates the listener's engagement

Innovative use of socio-political terminology in a rhythmic format

Occasional reliance on simpler rhyme patterns to maintain tempo

Some metaphors prioritize phonetics over deep metaphorical nuance

Don't Believe the Hype

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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