It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos

Public Enemy

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

326

Internal

119

Multi

401

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Intro: Flavor Flav]

Bass for your face, London!^✦

Everybody^✦ in the house, make some noise!

I want everybody^✦ in the house to say, "Ho!"

(Ho!)

Yo, Chuck – kick it to 'em, man!

[Samples]

"A ballad^✦ behind bars, or you could say 'real rock from The Rock.' An unusual^✦ musical happening in a most unusual^✦ place. The state prison..."^✦

"Get in that cell, nigga!"^✦

[Verse 1: Chuck D]

I got a letter^✦ from the government^✦ the other^✦ day

I opened^✦ and read it, it said they were suckers^✦

They wanted^✦ me for their army^✦ or whatever

Picture me giving^✦ a damn – I said, "Never"^✦

Here is a land that never^✦ gave a damn

About^✦ a brother^✦ like me and myself

Because^✦ they never^✦ did, I wasn't with it

But just that very^✦ minute,^✦ it

Occurred to me, the suckers^✦ had authority

Cold sweatin'^✦ as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?

They got me sittin'^✦ in the state pen

I gotta^✦ get out – but that thought was thought before^✦

I contemplated a plan on the cell floor

I'm not a fugitive^✦ on the run

But a brother^✦ like me begun–to be another^✦ one (Word)

Public Enemy^✦ serving^✦ time – they drew the line, y'all

To criticize^✦ me for some crime

Nevertheless, they could not understand^✦ that I'm a Black man

And I could never^✦ be a veteran

On the strength, the situation's unreal^✦

I got a raw deal – so I'm looking^✦ for the steel

[Interlude: Chuck D & Flavor Flav]

Aiyyo, Chuck, are you serious?^✦ You in the Justice, man?

Word 'em up!

I'm looking^✦ for that steel

Yo, man, we gon' break you outta^✦ there, man

We ain't going out like that, man

[Verse 2: Chuck D]

Don't you know–they got me rotting

In the time that I'm serving^✦

Telling^✦ you what happened, the same time they're throwing

Four of us packed^✦ in a cell like slaves^✦ – "oh well"

The same motherfucker got us living^✦ in his hell

You have to realize,^✦ what is a form of slavery

Organized^✦ under^✦ a swarm of devils

Straight up – word 'em up on the level^✦

The reasons are several,^✦ most of 'em Federal^✦

Here is my plan anyway,^✦ and I say

I got gusto,^✦ but only^✦ some I can trust – yo!

Some do a bid from 1 to 10

But I never^✦ did, and plus I never^✦ been

I'm on a tier where no tears should ever^✦ fall

Cell block and locked^✦ – I never^✦ clock it, y'all

'Cause time and time again^✦

Time, they got me serving^✦

To those, to them, I'm not a citizen

But ever^✦ when I catch a C.O.

Sleeping on the job, my plan is on go-ahead

On the strength, I'ma^✦ tell you the deal

I got nothing^✦ to lose

'Cause I'm going for the steel

[Interlude: Chuck D & Flavor Flav]

Aiyyo, Chuck, we're gon' break you outta^✦ there, man

Word to the strength, G

I'm going for that steel

Word up, G

They tryna^✦ put a black eye on the game by keepin'^✦ you in there

Youknowhaimsayin'? But you can't keep the Black man down

[Scratch Break: Chuck D, scratched by Terminator X]

"Now" "Now" "Now" "Now they" "Now they"

"Now they got me in a cell"

"Now" "Now" "Now" "Now they" "Now they"

"Now they" "Now they" "Now they" "Now they"

"Now they got me in a cell"

"Now they" "Now they" "Now they" "Now they"

"Now they got me in a cell"

[Interlude Continued: Flavor Flav over scratches]

Aiyyo, Chuck, we got the–

–coordinatin'^✦ on the job, baby....^✦

Aiyyo, Chuck, they gettin'^✦ you out, boy, stand tall

Aiyyo, Chuck, they–

Yo, yo, yo, yo... now... yo...

[Verse 3: Chuck D]

Don't you know I caught a C.O.

Falling asleep^✦ on Death Row

I grabbed his gun, and he did what I said so

And every^✦ man's demand^✦ got served^✦

Along^✦ with the time they served,^✦ decency was deserved

To understand^✦ my demands, I gave a warning

I wanted^✦ the governor, y'all, and plus the warden^✦

To know, that I was innocent, because^✦ I'm militant

Posing^✦ a threat, you bet it's fucking up the government^✦

My plan said I had to get out and break North

Just like Oliver's neck, I had to get off

My boys had the Feds in check

They couldn't try nothing^✦

We had a force to instigate a prison^✦ riot

This what it takes^✦ for peace

So I just took a piece

Black for Black inside,^✦ time to cut the leash

Freedom to get out to the ghetto,^✦ no sell-out

6 C.O.'s we got, we ought to put their head out

But I'll give 'em a chance, 'cause I'm civilized^✦

As for rest of the world, they can't realize^✦

A cell is hell, I'm a rebel,^✦ so I rebel^✦

Between bars, got me thinking like an animal^✦

Got a woman^✦ C.O. to call me a copter^✦

She tried to get away,^✦ and I popped^✦ her

Twice, right? Now who wanna^✦ get nice?

I had 6 C.O.'s, and now it's 5 to go

And I'm serious,^✦ call me delirious^✦

But I'm still a captive,^✦ I gotta^✦ wrap this

Time to break, as time grows intense

I got the steel in my right hand, now I'm looking^✦ for the fence

[Verse 4: Chuck D]

As I ventured^✦ into^✦ the courtyard

Followed by 52 brothers,^✦ bruised, battered, and scarred but hard

Going out with a bang, ready^✦ to bang out

But power^✦ from the sky, from the tower^✦ shots rang out

A high number^✦ of dose, yes, and some came close

I figure^✦ I trigger my steel, I still stand and hold my post

This is what I mean, an anti-nigga machine

If I come out alive,^✦ then they won't come clean

Then I threw up, my steel bullets flew up

And to my surprise the water^✦ tower^✦ blew up, who shot

What, who, what, the bazooka was who

And to my rescue, it was the S1Ws

Secured^✦ my getaway, so I just got away^✦

The joint broke from the black smoke

Then they saw it was rougher than the average bluffer

'Cause the steel was black, the attitude exact

Now the chase is on, telling^✦ you to c'mon

53 brothers^✦ on the run, and we are gone

Technical Breakdown

8.9

Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.95

Production

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

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The verse functions as a masterclass in narrative tension, utilizing a rigid, authoritative delivery to juxtapose personal resistance against institutional oppression, defined by its iconic use of cadence as a tool of political defiance.

A+

8.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

Wordplay

9.5

Delivery

Aggressive prosodyNarrative framingSyncopated flowPolitical allegoryInternal rhyme density

Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB or AAAA couplets with heavy usage of internal rhymes to bridge lines, creating a relentless, driving momentum consistent with the 'Black Steel' narrative arc.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"real rock from The Rock"

① The literal genre of the music being performed.② A reference to Alcatraz ('The Rock'), establishing the prison setting of the narrative.

"they were suckers"

① Colloquial term for naive or easily duped individuals.② A direct political condemnation of the draft system as inherently exploitative and foolish.

Exceptional command of rhythmic authority

Powerful integration of storytelling and socio-political commentary

High-density rhyme scheme that never sacrifices intelligibility for complexity

Coherent, building narrative structure

Limited usage of abstract double-entendres (as the focus is on direct, literal confrontation)

Vocabulary is intentionally accessible, prioritizing impact over polysyllabic complexity

User Scores

Notes

Chuck D's prison break narrative over the Bomb Squad's most cinematic production. An absolute landmark