Distant Relatives

Friends

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

52

End

258

Internal

69

Multi

216

Slant

23

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus 2: Damian Marley]
Of the real friends that serve you long
Your memories✦ might fade
Your real friends will serve you long
Sunshine✦ or rain
Your real friends will serve you long
Acquaintances will fade
Your real friends won't do you wrong
Real friend don't change
[Verse 2: Nas]
Only✦ talking✦ with winners, a loser✦ or two got my number✦
Still they think they real but they just really✦ awfully bitter✦
Salty✦ niggas✦ hate the smarter ones,✦ these are the doubters
Who sour 'bout my run, I barely✦ made it out the slums
My value high 'cause I do more than rap about✦ a gun
I made money✦ for niggas,✦ y'all never✦ looking✦ out for none
I helped✦ millionaires✦ get to that very✦ position✦
Some real millionaires.✦ See, that's ill, 'cause look at statistics
Real millionaires✦ and I ain't talking✦ ghetto✦ riches,✦ thorough✦ business
You mistreating niggas,✦ heard your folks bleed in prison✦
You ain't a G and if you was I don't recall✦
Who would roll with y'all, bunch of fucking know-it-alls who's dough is small
Look what's it come to our rapport's good no more
We was good before✦ till I saw what type a dude you took me for
We had a chance to take paper✦ down, what I took was more
Because of hatred,✦ opportunity wasted✦
[Chorus 3: Damian Marley]
Your real friends will serve you long
Your car and clothes will fade
Your real friend won't do you wrong
Real friend don't change, hey
[Verse 3: Damian Marley]
Your real friend won't run in war nuh care what the cost is
You real friends are in for all the wins and the losses✦
Fi Real! No question✦ at all them ready✦ fi rise the tallest
Take to the enemies✦ all for one and one for all this
Real friend will hear you out, no secret✦ feelings
Real friends won't sell you out, no bargain pleading
For real, always looking✦ out a meal
When outside a drought your real friend won't hide you out, no
[Chorus 4: Damian Marley]
Your real friends will serve you long
When all else fails
Your real friend won't do you wrong
Real friend don't change
[Verse 4: Nas]
May laughter from backstabbers turn to tears faster✦
I wish for you no snake shall slither past ya you have to
Keep your vision✦ clear cause only✦ a coward✦ lives✦ in fear
My surroundings got only✦ real powerful niggas✦ here
Real men we have a code of ethics, no question✦
No jealousies,✦ no feminine✦ tendencies,✦ we expecting
No gossip, no phony✦ logic, no counting your homey✦ pocket✦
Spare no expense✦ for legal✦ defense✦ if your homey✦ locked✦ up
No keeping tabs on who was the last who looked✦ out
Selfishness that's a character flaw, no holding out
Yo, what happened to the honor? You're dealing with sensitive Primadonna drama
Teflon✦ love for my dudes✦ who solid
[Chorus 5: Damian Marley]
Your real friends will serve you long
Your memories✦ might fade
Your real friends will serve you long
Sunshine✦ or rain, eh
Your real friends will serve you long, woe ya woe
When all else fails
Your real friends won't do you wrong
Real friend don't change
[Bridge: Damian Marley]
Now plentiful
Or scantily✦
My cup be full
Or emptily✦
With arm in arms
We'll all trod on
Through destiny
A friend that's true
Is there for me
Respect is due
They care for me
Should I be down
Or even✦ out
They're next to me
Hey
[Outro: Damian Marley]
Your real friends will serve you long
Your memories✦ might fade
Your real friends will serve you long
Sunshine✦ or rain, hey
Your real friends will serve you long, woe ya woe
When all else fails
Real friends won't do you wrong
Real friend don't change
Real friend don't change
Real friend don't change
Real friend don't change
Real friend don't change

Technical Breakdown

8.4
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

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 Control7.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.41

Production

— Damian Marley

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas utilizes a conversational, almost cautionary cadence to emphasize social dynamics and loyalty, prioritizing internal rhyme density and socio-economic critique over complex lyrical wordplay.

A
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
7.5
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhyme chainsConversational direct addressSocio-economic juxtapositionSyncopated rhythmic breaks
Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB/ABAB hybrids with heavy internal rhyming clusters (e.g., number/bitter/doubters/sour/slums/gun). Nas maintains an 8-bar build-up that transitions into a reflective, narrative-driven monologue.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"I made money for niggas, y'all never looking out for none"

① I provided financial opportunities for my peers.② The contrast between the speaker's generosity and the ingratitude of the 'friends'.

"I ain't talking ghetto riches, thorough business"

① Moving beyond street-level hustle (illegal income).② Transitioning to professional, legitimate corporate or entrepreneurial success.

Authentic, authoritative narrative voice

Exceptional rhythmic placement of internal rhymes

Clear, punchy delivery that avoids over-complication

Coherent thematic progression

Reliance on standard 'hustle' tropes

Lack of high-level metaphoric complexity

Predictable subject matter compared to peak Nas

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