Me Against the World
Outlaw
2Pac
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
22
End
148
Internal
116
Multi
231
Slant
6
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
Outlaw,✦ Outlaw,✦ Outlaw✦
(They came in to sin)
Outlaw,✦ Outlaw,✦ Outlaw✦
(Dear God, I wonder✦ could you save me?)
[Verse 2: 2Pac]
Before✦ I close my eyes I fantasize✦ I'm livin'✦ well
When I awake✦ and realize✦ I'm just a prisoner in Hell
Just as well, 'cause in my cell I'm keepin'✦ pictures of these bastards✦
Exercisin', visualizin', everyone inside✦ a casket✦
Picture me blasted, surrounded by niggas✦ in masks
Sent with the task to harass✦ and murder✦ my ass
Will I last? Heaven✦ or Hell? Freedom or jail?
Shit's hard, who can you tell? And if we fail?
High speeds, and Thai weed on the freeway
When will they learn to take it easy?✦ Uh
Drive-by's and niggas✦ die, murder✦ without a motive✦
By makin'✦ motherfuckers✦ fry
Got me runnin'✦ from these coward-ass crooked-ass cops
Helicopters tryna✦ hover✦ over✦ niggas✦ 'til we drop
Got no time for the court, my only✦ thought is open✦ fire
Hit the district attorney, but fuck that bitch 'cause she's a liar
Now it's time to expire,✦ I see the judge, spray the bitch
"Motherfuckers✦ is crooked!"✦ is what I scream, and hit the fence
I commence to get wicked,✦ spittin' rounds as the plot thickens
Never✦ missin',✦ an early✦ grave is my only✦ mission
If I die, never✦ worry,✦ bury✦ me beside✦ my four-five✦
May God forgive✦ me, I was high, label✦ me a
[Chorus]
Outlaw,✦ Outlaw,✦ Outlaw✦
(They came in to sin)
Outlaw,✦ Outlaw,✦ Outlaw✦
(Dear God, I wonder✦ could you save me?)
[Verse 3: Kadafi, Kastro, EDI Amin & Napoleon]
Society lied to me, I ain't never✦ gonna✦ try to be
My mob'll be doin' robberies, and stickups on these wannabes
I witnessed niggas✦ lose they chest
For ordinary reasons niggas✦ bodies✦ put to rest
So I just swallow my Beck's and holla,✦ "Fuck 'em!"
And if I'm next, just let a nigga✦ step with somethin', I ain't fearin'✦ nuttin'✦
Young and thuggin', prepared for bustin'✦ if that's my destiny
Ready✦ for whatever, see you niggas✦ can't get the best of me
Hold me down, definitely no need for askin'✦
Now he mashin',✦ top speed,smokin' weed, laughin' (Biotch!)
'Cause when I bust 'em they gonna✦ shiver✦
The killers cry soldiers got bodies✦ floatin' in the river,✦ what is they sayin'?
Talkin'✦ 'bout prayin', they need to stop, that ain't gon' help
These niggas✦ sprayin' up my block, tryin' to take my wealth
[Chorus]
Outlaw,✦ Outlaw,✦ Outlaw✦
(They came in to sin)
Outlaw,✦ Outlaw,✦ Outlaw✦
(Dear God, I wonder✦ could you save me?)
Outlaw,✦ Outlaw,✦ Outlaw✦
(They came in to sin)
Outlaw,✦ Outlaw,✦ Outlaw✦
(Dear God, I wonder✦ could you save me?)
[Outro: 2Pac]
Fuck the judge, I gotta✦ grudge
Punk police,✦ niggas✦ run the streets
Hahah,✦ it ain't nuttin'✦ but music
Shit's changed✦
1995 the game has changed,✦ motherfuckers✦ is actin'✦ real strange
The rules✦ is all rearranged✦
You got babies✦ lyin' dead in the streets
These punk police✦ is as crooked✦ as me
But all I see is motherfuckers✦ actin✦ less than G's
Stop bein' a playa-hater, be a innovator nigga✦
Fuck that shit, don't be no entertainer and a stranger
Be a real motherfucker keep it real pack that steel
'Cause you know these streets is real ill
Muh'fuckers✦ wanna✦ see me in my casket✦
Jealous, motherfuckin' bastards✦
I never✦ die, thug niggas✦ multiply
'Cause after✦ me is Thug Life baby✦
Then the young thugs
Then the youngest thug of all, my nigga✦ RahRah!✦
Technical Breakdown
8.2
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm7.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity8.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.23
Production
— Sam SneedBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse relies on raw, visceral urgency and high-intensity narrative delivery, sacrificing complex metaphorical wordplay for immediate cinematic impact, perfectly capturing the 1996 West Coast aggression.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Multisyllabic rhyme chainsInternal rhyme densityCinematic narrative progressionDynamic vocal projection
Rhyme Architecture: Uses heavy AABB and AAAA couplets with aggressive multisyllabic internal rhyming (e.g., 'exercisin', visualizin', casket'), creating a claustrophobic, driven pace that mirrors the paranoia of the content.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Just as well, 'cause in my cell I'm keepin' pictures of these bastards"
① Accepting his current state ('just as well') due to lack of options.② A literal play on 'cell' as a prison housing his mental target list.
"Picture me blasted"
① An invitation to imagine the rapper under the influence ('blasted' as high).② A grim foretelling or visualization of his own assassination ('blasted' as shot).
Unmatched vocal intensity and command
Strong narrative arc from internal reflection to external violent action
Technically dense rhyme schemes that prioritize rhythm
Relies on literal descriptions rather than layered lyrical abstraction
Lacks the linguistic density of high-tier punchline-focused lyricism