King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude
M.P.A.
Pusha T
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
50
End
194
Internal
101
Multi
229
Slant
18
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 1: Pusha T]
The three leading killers of you niggas✦
Is the shit that’s most appealing to you niggas✦
Even✦ I fell victim✦ to it, your pride don’t let you do it
The lies will get you through it
Money,✦ pussy,✦ alcohol,✦ what a wonderful cocktail
Fronted my first brick over✦ oxtails and ran with it
Dope is like a two-way✦ street
The addiction,✦ both you and me, now take a seat (Uh)
Every✦ car got a fleet, every✦ broad get a jeep
Every✦ sparkle in the club that wasn’t ours, we compete
Poor minds, poor decision✦ makers
No reward, then what’s the risk you taking?✦
New bitch I been fucking✦ might start a rap war
Won’t unveil✦ it yet, can’t tell it yet
Defense wins games✦ Bill Belichick
These hoes having✦ Google numbers, niggas✦ better✦ check
Yuugh
[Chorus: Kanye West & A$AP Rocky]
Money,✦ pussy,✦ alcohol✦
You niggas✦ pussy✦ after✦ all
Money,✦ pussy,✦ alcohol✦
You niggas✦ pussy,✦ had it all
[Post-Chorus: A$AP Rocky]
(And we way up, yeah, yeah)
(She wait up, yeah, yeah)
(I lay up, yeah, yeah)
Get in them drawers✦
(And we way up, yeah, yeah)
I had a dream I had it all
(She wait up, yeah, yeah)
(I lay up, yeah, yeah)
I woke up and really✦ had it all
[Verse 2: Pusha T]
Shout out my bitches✦ fucking✦ baseball niggas✦
That dress like Bamas✦ with guaranteed contracts
Yeah, I see your vision,✦ sick of prison✦ visits✦
Now the Major✦ League’s where you're fishing
You young and hot, so why not?
The dealers is washed,✦ the money✦ is dry, so take your best shot
We can’t judge you ‘cause we ain’t hug you
We sent you off to other✦ hoods and let them niggas✦ fuck you
For real, we made you watch from afar✦
Even✦ talked✦ down on you, tryna✦ dim your star
Until✦ we seen them foreign cars pull up
And watch them pick you up
And then we realized we missed✦ a diamond in the rough
So, make us proud, make it count
Until✦ you learn to love ‘em, make ‘em spare no amount✦
Make ‘em dig deeper✦ to keep ya, knowing you deserve it
Take advantage of it when you’re worth it
Real bitches✦ worth it
[Chorus: Kanye West & A$AP Rocky]
Money,✦ pussy,✦ alcohol✦
You niggas✦ pussy✦ after✦ all
Money,✦ pussy,✦ alcohol✦
You niggas✦ pussy,✦ had it all
[Post-Chorus: A$AP Rocky]
(And we way up, yeah, yeah)
(She wait up, yeah, yeah)
(I lay up, yeah, yeah)
Get in them drawers✦
(And we way up, yeah, yeah)
I had a dream I had it all
(She wait up, yeah, yeah)
(I lay up, yeah, yeah)
I woke up and really✦ had it all
[Verse 3: Pusha T]
I’ve been watching all you real niggas✦
I done seen more won't than you will niggas✦
Take a swing, snatch a chain
Lose your mind, go insane✦
I’m in the club, you in the club too
I got money,✦ you got money✦ too
You think it’s honey✦ dew
Whispering in my ear like a hunny✦ do
Eyeballing every✦ bottle that we running through
Trying to stand near, nigga✦ damn near
Pushing bitches✦ out the way to Instagram here
It’s no pictures, now you in your feelings
I’m a real dope boy, no stranger dealings
Bruised ego,✦ Henny-induced Debos✦
Nickel✦ bag niggas,✦ all of a sudden✦ Ninos✦
I cancel✦ all of you G-Moneys for G money✦
I get it done for quarter ki money,✦ for real
[Chorus: Kanye West & A$AP Rocky]
Money,✦ pussy,✦ alcohol✦
You niggas✦ pussy✦ after✦ all
Money,✦ pussy,✦ alcohol✦
You niggas✦ pussy,✦ had it all
[Post-Chorus: A$AP Rocky]
(And we way up, yeah, yeah)
(She wait up, yeah, yeah)
(I lay up, yeah, yeah)
Get in them drawers✦
(And we way up, yeah, yeah)
I had a dream I had it all
(She wait up, yeah, yeah)
(I lay up, yeah, yeah)
I woke up and really✦ had it all
[Produced by Kanye West and J. Cole]
Technical Breakdown
8.6
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm10.0
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 Score8.58
Production
— Kanye West, J. Cole, Che PopeBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Pusha T demonstrates elite narrative economy, using minimalist, street-hardened syntax to elevate standard tropes (M.P.A.) into a cautionary diagnostic of consumerist culture.
A
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
7
Wordplay
8
Delivery
EnjambmentMultisyllabic internal rhymeNarrative compressionThematic synthesis
Rhyme Architecture: A mix of AABB and AAAA couplets, utilizing dense internal vowel-heavy rhymes (e.g., 'cocktail/oxtails', 'Belichick/check') to drive momentum through a sparse beat.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Fronted my first brick over oxtails"
① A literal reference to early drug dealing while eating inexpensive, humble food in a low-income setting.② A juxtaposition of the 'hustle' (brick) with the reality of cultural grounding, highlighting the 'start from the bottom' origin story.
"Defense wins games Bill Belichick"
① A sports metaphor referencing the famous coach's defensive strategy as the key to winning.② A street-level admission that in his lifestyle, being defensive/cautious/guarded is the only way to avoid 'losing' (prison/death).
"These hoes having Google numbers, niggas better check"
① Women having status/fame inflated by online presence.② A warning to verify one's partners, as the 'Google number' implies a high-cost or high-risk individual that requires due diligence before involvement.
Exceptional rhythmic precision and pocket management
Effective use of minimalist, gritty imagery
Strong structural coherence that links the 'M.P.A.' theme across the entire verse
Reliance on somewhat dated 'braggadocio' tropes
Limited vocabulary breadth compared to more abstract lyricists