Light-Years

Welcome to the Underground

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

3

End

64

Internal

38

Multi

128

Slant

1

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Ice Cube]
"Comin'✦ straight from the underground"✦
"Comin'✦ straight from the underground"✦ (Underground,✦ underground)✦
[Verse 2: Nas]
A twenty-four karat✦ gold award addict
Manic, way beyond boss status
I need a room with the walls padded,✦ about✦ mine
Cops used✦ to pat us down, old straps we got passed✦ down
From old legends, let us hold they weapons
They saw in us the coldest
That was in they essence
Hear the street confessions
If you kill a legend,✦ now you a legend✦
The one who take out a legend,✦ he next to be a legend,✦ allegedly (Yeah)
Enamored, feel it
I channel through the annals of the life of Ali, my spirit animal
Feel his ice grill your camera crew
Epitomize, personify an open✦ letter
To multiple golden✦ eras✦ that ended,✦ I go forever✦ (Forever)✦
Official tissue, life changin' masterpiece theater✦ (Theater)✦
Fuck your candy-ass Grammy✦ grabs
I open✦ fire like Panthers behind sand bags
With my comrades, onslaught
Turn you corny✦ niggas✦ to cornstarch
I lead and you just go with it
The one who clash with the whole system✦
Since I entered the scene, I just roll different
Now, they code switching, they soul missing
A Catholic priest appears in your mirror
Y'all awaited Preem and Nas like it's Detox
Forget✦ the drum machine when Preem could just do the beatbox
Or bang on the top of a table, let his house key knock
And I can freestyle, they can't see Nas
Welcome to the underground✦
[Chorus: Ice Cube]
"Comin'✦ straight from the underground"✦
"Comin'✦ straight from the underground"✦ (Underground,✦ underground,✦ underground,✦ underground)✦

Technical Breakdown

6.6
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes8.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm3.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity8.5

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score6.57

Production

— DJ Premier

Be the first to rate the production

Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas demonstrates high-level internal rhyme chaining and rhythmic dexterity, utilizing specific cultural allusions to bridge the gap between street lore and hip-hop history, though the verse relies on aggressive persona-work rather than complex structural wordplay.

B
8.5
Multisyllabic
8.5
Internal Rhymes
3.5
Cadence / Flow
8.5
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhymingAlliterative consonant clustersHistorical allusionEnjambment for rhythmic tension
Rhyme Architecture: A complex, dense scheme utilizing multi-syllabic end-rhyme chains (addict/status/padded) layered over an dense internal network of slant rhymes and assonance (legends/essence/confessions).
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"if you kill a legend, now you a legend"

① Literal statement that fame is inherited through the violent elimination of predecessors.② A commentary on the hip-hop cycle where notoriety is earned by challenging established giants.

"turn you corny niggas to cornstarch"

① Literal transformation; using wordplay on 'corn' to imply his opposition is easily broken down or thickened/subdued.② Metaphorical reduction; stripping away the 'corny' surface of opponents to reveal a powdery, unsubstantial base.

High level of internal rhythmic density

Strong authoritative cadence fitting the 'legend' theme

Effective use of historical references to anchor the verse

Seamless transitions between rapid-fire internal rhymes and punchline payoffs

Some punchlines rely on established hip-hop tropes

Occasional reliance on standard brag-rap vocabulary

Flow can feel slightly dense to the point of obscuring narrative clarity

User Scores