King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude

M.F.T.R.

Pusha T

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

13

End

158

Internal

78

Multi

219

Slant

6

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: The-Dream]
Creep up on these niggas,✦ creep up on these niggas✦
Speak up on these niggas,✦ speak up on a nigga✦
Walk up in that bitch and wave at everything✦
Walk up in that bitch and wave at everything✦
Go and make it bang, go and make it bang
Gettin'✦ followed✦ by them hollows,✦ go and make it bang
Niggas✦ ain't been to church in a minute✦
But it's funny✦ how that TEC make a nigga✦ get religious✦
Amen✦
[Verse 2: Pusha T & The-Dream]
You rather✦ be more famous✦ than rich (Amen)✦
Play your role, it's easy✦ being my bitch
It's only✦ right for a queen to floss your shit
Rolex crowns, I emboss✦ your wrist
The minimums, niggas✦ ain't synonyms
Dual exhausts, driving✦ flying saucers
Diamond crosses, hang Takashi portraits
Street millionaires rub shoulders
And laugh at bitches fuckin'✦ promoters
Hoping✦ that they get noticed, still driving✦ a Focus✦
What'd you fuck him for if you didn't know what the goal was?
Shine, remote✦ control blinds
That turn on the time lapse, controlled by the iPad, ahh
My living✦ room rap scream crack money✦
I don't trust rap niggas✦ or rap money✦
See this air hole tech and get rat from me
[Chorus: The-Dream]
Creep up on these niggas,✦ creep up on these niggas✦
Speak up on these niggas,✦ speak up on a nigga✦
Walk up in that bitch and wave at everything✦
Walk up in that bitch and wave at everything✦
Go and make it bang, go and make it bang
Gettin'✦ followed✦ by them hollows,✦ go and make it bang
Niggas✦ ain't been to church in a minute✦
But it's funny✦ how that TEC make a nigga✦ get religious✦
Amen✦
[Verse 3: Pusha T & The-Dream]
Niggas✦ talkin'✦ it, but ain't living✦ it (Amen)✦
Two years later✦ admitting it, all them niggas✦ is renting shit
They ask why I'm still talking dope, why not?
The biggest rappers in the game broke, voilà
They say it's hate, but it's these well-dressed snakes✦
That learn to walk on the concrete, I just saw it and spoke to it
Yuugh, you ain't know, you got coached through it
Woo, the rap fans got hoaxed through it
Haa, the whole time I sold coke through it
Nigga,✦ and records I was Bo through it
King Push is synonymous✦ with kingpin
Chess moves✦ on your checkerboard, king him
Yeah, this is gun slingers and Goyard
Ugh, this is O-Dog in the courtyard, yeah
You wonder✦ why I'm still here
I'm America's worst nightmare, night-night, nigga✦
[Chorus: The-Dream]
Creep up on these niggas,✦ creep up on these niggas✦
Speak up on these niggas,✦ speak up on a nigga✦
Walk up in that bitch and wave at everything✦
Walk up in that bitch and wave at everything✦
Go and make it bang, go and make it bang
Gettin'✦ followed✦ by them hollows,✦ go and make it bang
Niggas✦ ain't been to church in a minute✦
But it's funny✦ how that TEC make a nigga✦ get religious✦
Amen✦
[Outro: The-Dream]
Amen✦
Hey
Waving✦ at these niggas✦
Voila✦

Technical Breakdown

8.2
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 / Rhythm7.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.16

Production

— Boi-1da, Frank Dukes, Hudson Mohawke, The-Dream

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Pusha T employs a highly controlled, icy staccato delivery that maximizes the impact of his luxury-focused, multi-syllabic internal rhyme schemes, demonstrating mastery over the 'coke-rap' subgenre's aesthetic.

A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
8
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhyme chainsAssonance-heavy vocabularyStaccato cadenceInternalized luxury imagery
Rhyme Architecture: Complex pattern of internal multisyllabics centered on long 'o' and 'i' vowel sounds, utilizing consistent off-beat syncopation that forces listeners to focus on the sharp consonant endings of words like 'wrist', 'synonyms', and 'portrait'.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"The minimums, niggas ain't synonyms"

① The speaker is referring to the low standards or bottom-tier status of other rappers.② A linguistic play indicating that the speaker and his peers are not 'the same' as those who adhere to minimum standards.

"Rolex crowns, I emboss your wrist"

① Physically placing a luxury watch onto someone's wrist.② A metaphorical claim of ownership/dominance, 'crowning' or marking the subject as his possession through high-end jewelry.

"Shine, remote control blinds / That turn on the time lapse"

① Literal description of automated home automation and luxury lifestyle mechanics.② A metaphor for controlling the perception of time and success, where the speaker decides when the 'blinds' open to reveal his 'shine' or success.

Exceptional rhythmic consistency

High density of internal rhyme chains

Commanding, stoic vocal presence

Coherent luxury-themed world building

Somewhat narrow lyrical subject matter

Punchlines rely heavily on established status tropes

Vocabulary choices prioritize phonetic flow over deep narrative complexity

User Scores