Kamikaze

Stepping Stone

Eminem

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

198

Internal

Multi

315

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus: Eminem]

I'ma^✦ wash away^✦ my sins

I'ma^✦ rinse away^✦ this dirt

I forgot^✦ to make amends^✦

To all the friends I may have hurt

I better^✦ stop and say my grace

From it I pray that I don't fall

'Cause on the way back down I may

End up runnin'^✦ back into^✦ them all

I never^✦ meant to use you all as my stepping^✦ stones^✦

[Verse 2: Eminem]

It was never^✦ the same and it's bothered me since

And the farther we drift apart,^✦ the more awkward it gets

The more time goes by, the more life happens

And we gotta^✦ be men, we got responsibilities

Plus we don't say how we feel

And I feel like this is what got us in the debacle we're in

Been with you guys thick and thin

But it's almost as if sometimes we're not even^✦ friends

Which reminded me, Biz, "Rockstar" was the shit

Y'all coulda^✦ got you a hit without me on the shit

If you'da^✦ put D12 on it, wish I coulda^✦ did

More to try talkin'^✦ you into^✦ comin'^✦ up off it

I know it wasn't my fault, but part of it probably is

I think of all of the trips to BET

And the rappers I wish that we woulda^✦ politicked^✦ with

Maybe y'all coulda^✦ clicked^✦ and got you some features

But that's water^✦ under^✦ the bridge

But I'm washin'^✦ my sins in it 'til my conscience^✦ is cleansed

[Pre-Chorus: Mario Resto, Mario Resto & Eminem & Eminem]

If I could leave this all behind^✦

I could open^✦ up my eyes and walk in a straight line

Down to the river^✦ with you

Help me leave this all behind^✦

[Chorus: Eminem]

I'ma^✦ wash away^✦ my sins

I'ma^✦ rinse away^✦ this dirt

I forgot^✦ to make amends^✦

To all the friends I may have hurt

I better^✦ stop and say my grace

From it I pray that I don't fall

'Cause on the way back down I may

End up runnin'^✦ back into^✦ them all

I never^✦ meant to use you all as my stepping^✦ stones^✦

[Verse 3: Eminem]

Bacardi and Hen', never^✦ thought the party^✦ would end

One minute^✦ you're bodyin'^✦ shit, but then your audience^✦ splits

You can already sense the climate is starting to shift

To these kids you no longer^✦ exist

Went from rainin'^✦ cats and dogs in this bitch

To tiny^✦ drops, little drips

And by the time your reign is over,^✦ you'll hardly^✦ be missed^✦

You start thinkin' of all the artists you dissed^✦

All the carnage you left, is this the kind of karma^✦ you get

For turnin'^✦ your fuckin'^✦ back on Bizzy,^✦ Kuniva,^✦ and Swift?

A Freudian slip, subconsciously, I honestly wished^✦

I ain't feel so much guilt and y'all didn't harbor resentment

But it's hard to pretend that y'all ain't got none

I just wish I had words, but I guess there just are none for this

To my partners, I can't say how sorry^✦ I am

This is not how I planned for our story^✦ to end

I love all of you men

But I just can't be the guy everybody depends

On for entire^✦ careers 'cause that's not even^✦ fair

I will always^✦ be here, but that spark isn't there

And I don't know how to recapture^✦ that time and that era^✦

I've tried hearkening back to, but I'm fightin' for air

I'm barely^✦ chartin' myself

Feels like I'm on the descent, but it was not my intent^✦

To treat y'all like a stepping^✦ stone

Though I ain't left no one behind,^✦ but we been down every^✦ road

Done all we possibly can, I know we kept our hopes^✦ up

But the longer^✦ we spend livin'^✦ this lie that we live

The less is left for closure,^✦ so let's let this go

It's not goodbye to our friendship, but D12 is over^✦

[Chorus: Eminem]

I'ma^✦ wash away^✦ my sins

I'ma^✦ rinse away^✦ this dirt

I forgot^✦ to make amends^✦

To all the friends I may have hurt

I better^✦ stop and say my grace

From it I pray that I don't fall

'Cause on the way back down I may

End up runnin'^✦ back into^✦ them all

I never^✦ meant to use you all as my stepping^✦ stones^✦

[Outro: Eminem]

I never^✦ meant to make you feel like my stepping^✦ stones^✦

I never^✦ meant to use you all for my stepping^✦ stones^✦

Technical Breakdown

8.7

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 / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.73

Production

— Eminem, Luis Resto

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The verse prioritizes narrative vulnerability and conversational flow over intricate wordplay, succeeding through a raw, confessional delivery that mimics an internal monologue.

9.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

6.5

Wordplay

Delivery

Conversational cadenceInternal rhyme chainsMultisyllabic enjambmentConfessional narrative structure

Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly utilizes slant-rhyme clusters that anchor the conversational tone, shifting into multi-syllabic density during reflective transitions.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"stepping stones"

① Physical objects used to cross a body of water or difficult terrain.② People exploited to advance one's own career or status, highlighting the regret of using friends for professional gain.

"coming up off it"

① The act of releasing or letting go of a song/asset.② The implication of failing to capitalize on or profit from a potential commercial opportunity, referencing the D12 industry struggle.

Authentic emotional resonance

Effective use of conversational pacing

Strong narrative cohesion

Limited usage of complex figurative language

Punchline impact is secondary to emotional exposition

Stepping Stone

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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