R U Still Down? (Remember Me)
Blasphemy
2Pac
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
35
End
201
Internal
104
Multi
248
Slant
9
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Bridge: 2Pac]
And I remember✦ what my poppa✦ told me
Remember✦ what my pops told me
Blasphemy!✦
[Chorus: Prince Ital Joe & Makaveli]
Nuffa✦ dem dat steal in the name of da Lord
Dem a tell nuff lie, but holdin'✦ my bird in a cloud
(Remember✦ what my pops told me)
Using✦ the name of the Lord in vain
(Blas-blas-blasphemy,✦ blasphemy)✦
(Remember✦ what my pops told me)
While de people in de ghetto✦ feel nuff pain
[Verse 2: Makaveli]
We probably in Hell already, our dumb asses✦ not knowin'✦
Everybody kissin'✦ ass to go to Heaven✦ ain't goin'
Put my soul on it, I'm fightin' devil✦ niggas✦ daily✦
Plus the media✦ be crucifyin' brothers✦ severely
Tell me I ain't God's son; nigga✦ Momma✦ a virgin✦
We got evicted, had to leave the 'burbs
Back in the ghetto,✦ doin' wild shit
Lookin'✦ at the Sun don't pay
Criminal mind all the time, wait for Judgment Day
They say Moses✦ split the Red Sea
I split the blunt and rolled✦ a fat one up, deadly✦
Babylon beware,✦ comin'✦ for the Pharaoh's kids
Retaliation,✦ makin'✦ legends off the shit we did
Still bullshittin' niggas✦ in Jerusalem waitin'✦ for signs
God comin',✦ she's just takin'✦ Her time (Haha!)✦
Livin'✦ by the Nile, while the water✦ flow
I’m contemplatin' plots, wonderin' where the thought’ll go
Brothers✦ gettin'✦ shot, comin'✦ back resurrected
It's just that raw shit, nigga,✦ check it (That raw shit)
[Bridge: Makaveli]
And I remember✦ what my poppa✦ told me
Remember✦ what my poppa✦ told me
Blasphemy!✦
[Chorus: Prince Ital Joe & Makaveli]
Nuffa✦ dem dat steal in the name of da Lord
Dem a tell nuff lie, but holdin'✦ my bird in a cloud
(Remember✦ what my pops told me)
Using✦ the name of the Lord in vain
(Remember✦ what my pops told me)
While de people in de ghetto✦ feel nuff pain
(What!)
[Verse 3: Makaveli]
The preacher✦ want me buried,✦ why? 'Cause I know he a liar
Have you ever✦ seen a crackhead? That's eternal fire
Why you got these kids' minds thinkin' that they evil?✦
While the preacher✦ bein' freaky,✦ you say, "Honor✦ God's people"
Should we cry when the Pope die? My request:
We should cry if they cried when we buried✦ Malcolm X
Mama,✦ tell me, am I wrong? Is God just another✦ cop
Waitin'✦ to beat my ass if I don't go pop?
Memories of a past time, givin'✦ up cash to the leaders
Knowin'✦ damn well they ain't gonna✦ feed us
In my brain, how can you explain time in B.C.?
It's hard enough to live now in these times✦ of greed
They say Jesus✦ is a conman✦
Well, he should understand times✦ in this crime land
My Thug Nation,✦ do what you gotta✦ do, but know you gotta✦ change
Try to find a way to make it out the game
I leave this and hope God can see my heart is pure
Is Heaven✦ just another✦ door? I leave this here
I leave this and hope God see my heart is pure
Is Heaven✦ just another✦ door? And my people say
[Chorus: Prince Ital Joe & Makaveli]
Nuffa✦ dem dat steal in the name of da Lord
Dem a tell nuff lie, but holdin'✦ my bird in a cloud
(Remember✦ what my pops told me)
Using✦ the name of the Lord in vain
(Can't I remember✦ what my poppa✦ told me, blasphemy)✦
While de people in de ghetto✦ feel nuff pain
[Collision: Jamala Lasane]
Our Father,✦ who art in Heaven✦
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom✦ come, Thy will be done
In Earth as it is in Heaven✦
Give us today✦ our daily✦ bread
And forgive✦ us our debts
As we forgive✦ our debtors
Lead us not into✦ temptation✦
But deliver us from evil✦
For God is the kingdom✦ and the power✦
And the glory✦ forever and ever✦ and ever✦
Technical Breakdown
8.8
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres8.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm9.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity7.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.79
Production
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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
2Pac utilizes blasphemous juxtaposition to ground spiritual existentialism in the physical reality of ghetto struggle, using biblical allusion to define his own martyrdom.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
9
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
8
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Religious inversionMultisyllabic internal rhyme clustersPersona adoptionAnaphoric repetition
Rhyme Architecture: A complex pattern of internal multi-syllabic rhyming (knowin'/goin'/goin') interspersed with end-rhyme chains that transition from AABB structures into loose, rhythmic couplets tied together by assonance on the 'o' and 'e' vowel sounds.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Tell me I ain't God's son; nigga Momma a virgin"
① A direct comparison of his own life circumstances to the birth of Christ.② A biting comment on the media/critics who try to dehumanize him while he aligns himself with the divine struggle against hypocrisy.
"I split the blunt and rolled a fat one up, deadly"
① A literal description of preparing cannabis.② A blasphemous inversion of the Moses 'Red Sea' miracle, replacing holy power with the destructive power of urban vice.
High emotional resonance and conviction
Sophisticated use of biblical imagery to critique systemic oppression
Strong vocal performance implying high intensity and fatigue
Consistent thematic cohesion
Simplified vocabulary in favor of direct, visceral storytelling
Occasional reliance on standard rap tropes of the era