Distant Relatives

Leaders

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

20

End

98

Internal

64

Multi

202

Slant

17

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Stephen Marley]
This one's✦ for all the leaders✦
Leader✦
Let's all change the world
Change the world
[Chorus: Stephen Marley]
This one's✦ for all the leaders✦
Leader✦
Let's all change the world
Change the world
[Verse 2: Damian Marley]
Who do I follow?✦ (Follow)✦ Who do I copy?✦ (Copy)✦
Look into✦ the mirror, and it's you I see look at me
Everything✦ new, like it fresh from the factory
Everything✦ you do? It impact me
Your lifestyle attract me, parents try distract me
When I grow up, I want to be like you exactly✦ (Exactly,✦ exactly)✦
And as soon as I get over✦ this acne
There's✦ no way anybody coulda✦ stop me
Me gravitate toward✦ the aura✦ and all the mannerism
The sendin'✦ out of orders and man start movin'✦ busy✦
The lockin'✦ of the corners? The streets and all the buildings
Mi love you like a father,✦ mi ready✦ and mi willin'✦
Anything✦ what you a talk is law in my dominion✦
And mi have similar thoughts, I share the same opinions
Mi have it say you smart with mi best interest at heart
I'm followin' your path, yow mine when you a walk
[Chorus: Stephen Marley]
This one's✦ for all the leaders✦
Leader✦
Let's all change the world
Change the world
[Chorus: Stephen Marley]
This one's✦ for all the leaders✦
Leader✦
Let's all change the world
Change the world
[Verse 3: Nas]
They appeal to the conscious✦
The Paramount, the Caesar, the monsters
The grandiose, the martyrs, the hell on Earth pompous,✦ Ellsworth Bumpy✦ Johnsons
The Harlemites,✦ the Garveyites,✦ black as the credit card we swipe, poppin'✦ Dom tonight
For all of mine, I can see myself back at the Audubon
Malcolm on the podium, shells drop to linoleum
Swipe those, place 'em on display at the Smithsonian
Next to only✦ gems that were left behind by holy✦ men
Infectious✦ charisma of those who gave us direction✦
The anti-sexists, resistance against✦ oppression✦
Progressive thinkin', ghetto✦ speakers
Protestors against✦ the colored, only✦ section✦ to the Jena✦ 6 and
The Frost-Nixon, the contradiction;✦ the cross, the crucifixion✦
The loss we took for sinnin'✦ on Esau's back inscription✦
That it was written, that nothing is coincidencing
They took our leaders✦ and they lynched them
[Chorus: Stephen Marley]
This one's✦ for all the leaders✦
Leader✦
Let's all change the world
Change the world
[Chorus: Stephen Marley]
This one's✦ for all the leaders✦
Leader✦
Let's all change the world
Change the world
[Outro: Stephen Marley]
Change the world, change the world
Change the world
Change the world, change the world
You change the world

Technical Breakdown

8.4
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes8.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.42

Production

— Stephen Marley

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The verse functions as a masterclass in rhythmic consistency and internal rhyme density, utilizing a 'follow-the-leader' structural motif to mirror the thematic content.

A
8.5
Multisyllabic
8.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Repetitive internal assonanceAnaphora-driven cadencePolysyllabic terminal rhyme clustersPatois-inflected rhythmic syncopation
Rhyme Architecture: A dense, high-frequency AABB/AABB-adjacent structure punctuated by heavy internal rhyming on the secondary stressed syllables.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Look into the mirror, and it's you I see look at me"

① The physical act of observing one's reflection② The recognition of one's own identity as a product of the 'leader' being emulated

"Anything what you a talk is law in my dominion"

① Personal acceptance of the mentor's word as absolute truth② The transition from follower to 'leader' of one's own self-governed space (dominion)

Exceptional rhythmic lock-in with the instrumental pocket

Coherent thematic development from personal reflection to systemic influence

Dynamic vocal performance that shifts between conversational and instructional tones

Occasional reliance on simplistic 'rhyme-to-finish' fillers

Literal approach limits high-level metaphor complexity

Lack of significant subtextual layering beyond the explicit narrative

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