Distant Relatives

In His Own Words

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

43

End

152

Internal

48

Multi

164

Slant

12

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Hook: Stephen Marley]
Jah told you
In His own words
"And I'll see you through
To guide you
Through this cold world
And I'll see you through"
Jah told you
In His own words
"And I'll see you through
To guide you
Through this cold world
And I'll see you through"
[Verse 2: Damian Marley]
Hey
Can you think of a color✦ that you never✦ seen?
Can you reminisce on places✦ you never✦ been?
Well, it's many✦ are called,✦ but are never✦ deemed✦
Worthy✦ for the cause, 'cause them never✦ clean
Help who help themselves, Jah nuh raffle dream
That's why me chummy✦ with Jah Jah like a Cherubim
Keep us strong through the winter✦ like an Evergreen✦
And all of us are more connected than it ever✦ seemed✦
All things are related, and creation✦ is a package✦
Generate✦ together and we increase the wattage✦
A how them a go manage?✦
Tell Babylon them can't do Rasta✦ damage,✦ nor stop us through the passage✦
Jah did make a promise, God is always✦ honest
Always✦ keeps his word, Yow nuh care what the plan is
Don't be astonished, Stumbling blocks vanish
One day the meek gonna✦ live inna✦ di palace✦
Woah!
[Hook: Stephen Marley]
Jah told you
In His own words
"And I'll see you through
To guide you
Through this cold world
And I'll see you through"
Jah told you
In His own words
"And I'll see you through
To guide you
Through this cold world
And I'll see you through"
[Verse 3: Nas]
Uh, yo, yo
Some ask me if I feel that Zion is surreal
And in my songs, do I plan to expose✦ and reveal
Word to the curb that's under✦ these chrome wheels
My homies✦ is the only✦ ones✦ I'm taking✦ care of
But severe✦ reality starts to become✦ more clear
And these know-it-all rappers have become✦ more weird
As if they were superior✦ and fans are inferior✦
How I balance between✦ the streets and the theories of
Collegiate✦ literature, I hold mirrors up
Give combinations of pain, joy, fear and love
Through my perspective, I can see Jah reflection✦
In the highest definition,✦ getting high with my brethren
Then I ask Him why is Africans dying from circumcision✦
They lack proper✦ surgeons and suffer✦ malnutrition✦
Underestimate✦ the wealth of their own wisdom
It's like it's been exchanged for this penicillin
Seen
[Hook: Stephen Marley]
Jah told you
In His own words
"And I'll see you through
To guide you
Through this cold world
And I'll see you through"
Jah told you
In His own words
"And I'll see you through
To guide you
Through this cold world
And I'll see you through"

Technical Breakdown

8.8
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5

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 Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.75

Production

— Stephen Marley[1]

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Damian Marley leverages an advanced, rhythmic internal rhyme architecture that mirrors his Rastafarian thematic focus, prioritizing phonetic consistency to reinforce the concept of universal connectivity.

A
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Assonant chain linkingPhilosophical interrogationPatois-inflected cadenceAABB/CCDD rhyme structural reinforcement
Rhyme Architecture: The verse utilizes a consistent AAAA rhyme scheme throughout the majority of the segment, employing near-rhymes and slant rhymes (-een/-eem/-eam) to maintain a singular, hypnotic rhythmic pocket.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"me chummy with Jah Jah like a Cherubim"

① A colloquial expression of intimacy and spiritual closeness to the divine② A theological reference to Cherubim, the celestial beings closest to God's presence, highlighting a state of divine protection

"many are called, but are never deemed / Worthy for the cause, 'cause them never clean"

① A play on the biblical proverb 'Many are called, but few are chosen'② A moral assessment that spiritual worthiness is contingent upon personal purity and intent

Exceptional rhythmic cohesion maintained through consistent vowel-sound repetition

Strong integration of spiritual/philosophical themes with technical delivery

Effective use of pacing to accommodate complex multi-syllabic phrases within a 4/4 meter

The rhyme scheme is somewhat repetitive, potentially bordering on predictable for listeners focused solely on phonetic variation

Some metaphors are didactic rather than visceral

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