Me Against the World
Temptations
2Pac
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
23
End
179
Internal
87
Multi
203
Slant
11
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Pre-Chorus: 2Pac & Erick Sermon]
(Hey, eyy-ayyaahhyy)✦
Throw up the finger✦
(Hey, eyy-ayyaahhyy)✦
And all my homies✦ go
(Hey, eyy-ayyaahhyy)✦
Give 'em the finger✦
(Hey, eyy-ayyaahhyy)✦
You know what, baby,✦ it's like
[Chorus: Easy Mo Bee]
I know you've been searching for someone✦
To make you happy✦ and get the job done
You say you needed✦ a man with money✦
But I can't be there, and will you still care?
[Verse 2: 2Pac]
Will I cheat or will I be committed? Heaven✦ knows
Getting✦ weak and I wanna✦ hit it, so here I go
In my ride and I'm all in, gettin'✦ high
I can hear the people calling✦ I'm passing by
Everybody✦ knows I'm balling✦ and to God
Gotta✦ keep myself✦ from falling,✦ but it's hard
All the cuties✦ know I'm under✦ pressure, what do I do?
Getting✦ shaky✦ when she pull the dress up, and say it's cool
Should I stroke or should I wait a while? You decide✦
If you tell me that you don't want it, that's a lie
Move close and let me whisper some dirty✦ words
In your ears as I kiss ya on every✦ curve
Slow down baby,✦ don't rush, I like it slow
Can't hold it any✦ longer,✦ so let it go
Open✦ the gates✦ to your waterfall up in Heaven✦
And don't worry,✦ I let myself✦ in, all I heard was—
[Pre-Chorus: 2Pac & Erick Sermon]
(Hey, eyy-ayyaahhyy)✦
Give 'em the finger✦
(Hey, eyy-ayyaahhyy)✦
And all my homies✦ go
(Hey, eyy-ayyaahhyy)✦
Give 'em the finger✦
(Hey, eyy-ayyaahhyy)✦
It's just the thug in me
You know what, baby,✦ it's like
[Chorus: Easy Mo Bee]
I know you've been searchin' for someone✦
To make you happy✦ and get the job done
You say you needed✦ a man with money✦
But I can't be there, and will you still care?
[Verse 3: 2Pac]
A lot of people think it's easy✦ to settle down
Got a woman✦ that'll please me in every✦ town
I don't wanna✦ but I gotta✦ do it, the temptation✦
Got me ready✦ to release the fluid, sensation✦
Sit down and conversate like you know me, take my hand
'Cause even✦ thugs get lonely,✦ understand
Even✦ the hardest of my homies✦ need attention✦
Catch 'em blowin'✦ up the telephone,✦ reminiscin'
I wanna✦ take you to the movies✦ and the park
A quiet spot for you to do me in the dark
Now that it's passion,✦ hold me tight
Don't need lights, I can see you by the moonlight
I know your man ain't lovin'✦ you right
You're lonely✦ and depressed, you need a thug in your life
Enough talkin',✦ you want me to leave I'll get to walkin'✦
See you later,✦ 'cause baby,✦ I'm a player, and all I heard was—
[Outro: 2Pac, Easy Mo Bee & Erick Sermon]
Oh, hey, hey
Give 'em the finger,✦ and all my homies✦ go (Oh, hey)
Yo, this how we gonna✦ do this in the nine-trey, y'know?✦ (Hey, hey, hey, hey)
Throw your fingers up
You know? They gonna✦ peep this
This how we run game on you, check it out (Everybody,✦ hey, alright)
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh
All my niggas go (And all I heard was)
Uptown✦ in the, give 'em the finger✦ (Yes, y'all)
(Hey, eyy-ayyaahhyy)✦
Throw your hands up
(Hey, eyy-ayyaahhyy)✦
Out in Uptown✦
(Hey, eyy-ayyaahhyy)✦
Give 'em the finger✦
(Hey, eyy-ayyaahhyy)✦
(Hey)
Technical Breakdown
7.9
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres5.0
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 Control8.0
Performance and control
Computed Score7.86
Production
— Easy Mo BeeBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse prioritizes emotional narrative and rhythmic consistency over complex lyrical density, using a conversational, high-stakes internal monologue to simulate the protagonist's moral conflict.
B+
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8.5
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
5
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Conversational cadenceStaccato internal rhyme chainsConfessional narrative structureRhythmic syncopation of emotional stakes
Rhyme Architecture: The verse utilizes a tightly woven AABB/CCDD structure focused on slant-rhyming the ends of lines with complex internal rhyme anchors (e.g., 'known/blown/own', 'ride/high/by/balling').
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Getting shaky when she pull the dress up"
① Physical manifestation of nervousness or intoxication② The onset of sexual arousal in a high-pressure environment
"Gotta keep myself from falling"
① Maintaining sobriety and avoiding physical or mental collapse② Resisting the emotional or moral 'fall' into infidelity and the loss of personal discipline
Exceptional command of rhythmic pocket
Strong sense of internal pacing and breath control
High emotional resonance and character authenticity
Consistent thematic focus
Lack of complex metaphorical layering
Over-reliance on repetitive rhyming conventions common to the mid-90s G-funk era
Limited semantic depth beyond the surface-level dilemma