King's Disease

King's Disease

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

13

End

94

Internal

31

Multi

167

Slant

4

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
Yeah
Hello, ladies✦ and gentlemen
Hit-Boy✦
I made the fade famous,✦ the chain famous✦
QB on my chest match the stainless
Amazing Grace, I'm gracefully aging✦
Without✦ masonry I made more paper to play with
No rap in my playlist, sold dimes✦ on my day shift (King)
So, can I breathe? Can I walk? Can I speak? Can I talk?
Can I floss without✦ you wanting me outlined in chalk?
Family✦ gossiping, pocket✦ watching him
Jealousy keeps blossoming, ain't let it box me in (King)
'Cause you are not a king if you can't come out a thing
That you got yourself in, claiming nobody✦ helping
The stupidest part of Africa✦ produced blacks that started algebra
Proof, facts, imagine if you knew that as a child, bruh
Nostalgia, how I remember✦ things
Remember✦ crowns, remember✦ kings, they want your reign to cease (King)
You a king, you will be next to me, doing your own king shit, most definitely
We're so "Say less when I speak", y'all estrogen speak
Respected✦ by kings only,✦ address me as chief
Invested in things only✦ a vet would
Only✦ lames✦ front on kings, that's expected✦ from creeps
You mad at my niggas and any✦ woman✦ with interest in me
You could've made it (You was good), look at all the time wasted
Now you gotta✦ retract statements, shoulda stuck to the basics
All you had to do was tell the truth, like, fuck all the fake shit
You should want every✦ brother to make it out
But brothers want trophies, they troll for clout
Rap is weird, weird flex, but okay✦
You ain't as ill as you think, you just okay✦
You got pressed in the hood, fix your jibs up, I'm on top
Stop fighting it, yo, stop with the over-righteousness
It's so lame, this media✦ circus✦ greedy✦ and worthless
My life got 'em tight, why they wanna✦ see me hurt up? (Why me?)
Real kings everywhere, stand up
It come with the game (King's Disease)

Technical Breakdown

7.5
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 / Rhythm6.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity8.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.54

Production

— Hit-Boy, Audio Anthem, Corbett, Cyanca, G. Ry, Haze, J. Pelham, Pat Junior, Penthouse Parti, Rogét Chahayed, MonoNeon

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas demonstrates a mature, authoritative mastery of rhythmic pocketing and internal rhyme density, blending autobiography with cultural critique through sophisticated multisyllabic patterns.

B+
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
6.5
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Multisyllabic rhyme chainsInternal rhyme densityRhythmic syncopationHistorical allusionEnjambment
Rhyme Architecture: The verse utilizes a complex AABB and slant rhyme structure, heavily reliant on internal sound echoes within the bars (e.g., 'famous/stainless/aging/playing'), facilitating a smooth, conversational yet technically demanding flow.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Without masonry I made more paper to play with"

① Refers to the literal profession of masonry/construction work.② Refers to 'Freemasonry' and the secret societies often associated with success/power in rap mythology, stating he achieved wealth without those associations.

"outlined in chalk"

① The literal crime scene outline of a body.② Metaphorical representation of being targeted for assassination due to his success/floss.

"you are not a king if you can't come out a thing"

① If you cannot escape a difficult situation you created.② A play on 'out of a thing' vs 'a king', emphasizing kingship through problem-solving and self-reliance.

Masterful cadence control within the trap-adjacent pocket

High density of internal sonic connectivity

Commanding, authoritative vocal persona

Seamless integration of historical facts with personal narrative

Occasional reliance on standard hip-hop tropes regarding jealousy

Pacing slows slightly in the final list-heavy section

Some rhyme pairings lean toward near-slant which can feel less 'locked' than his peak 90s work

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