Light-Years
Bouquet (To the Ladies)
Nas
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
25
End
153
Internal
69
Multi
175
Slant
6
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: PMD, LL COOL J, Rakim & Nas]
This one goes out to the whole Woman✦ Nation✦
"To the ladies✦ and all party-goers"✦
"Where the ladies✦ at?"
"And if you know who you are, why don't you make yourself✦ seen?"
With love from Nas and Preem, this one goes
"To the ladies✦ and all party✦ goers"
"Where the ladies✦ at?"
"And if you know who you are, why don't you make yourself✦ seen?"
[Verse 2: Nas]
Yeah, divine✦ feminine, beyond fine shit
Not a ting, not a joint, when my eyes squint
You'll see what I see, our presence✦ together is always a pleasure
So I figured I'd write you a letter✦
You a queen, you a star, supernatural
Pure gratitude by your side, but let me ask you
Why don't the world recognize your hard work?
You being unappreciated makes✦ my heart hurt
Aphrodite almighty, it's no myth you remind me
Of all motivating women✦ that's been with me, beside✦ me
Real one, love you from now to infinity
In every✦ way from spiritual, mentally,✦ physically✦
You showed✦ me how to be more empathetic
Shout to the female✦ DJ's mixin'✦ this record
And you the flyest by far, stop playin' with her
Every✦ glass raise it up, this is for my ladies✦
[Chorus: PMD, LL COOL J, Rakim & Nas]
This one goes out to the whole Woman✦ Nation✦
"To the ladies✦ and all party-goers"✦
"Where the ladies✦ at?"
"And if you know who you are, why don't you make yourself✦ seen?"
With love from Nas and Preem, this one goes
"To the ladies✦ and all party✦ goers"
"Where the ladies✦ at?"
"And if you know who you are, why don't you make yourself✦ seen?"
[Outro: Nas & DJ Premier]
This goes to all of y'all
Mia X, Yo-Yo, y'all been puttin'✦ it down
Lady✦ of Rage, Da Brat, Dimples D, Sparky✦ D, Sweet Tee
Pebblee Poo, Antoinette,✦ Jean Grae, Lola✦ Brooke, Sexyy✦ Red
Coi Leray,✦ City✦ Girls, Kash Doll, Honey✦ Bxby, Bernadette✦ Price
Charli✦ Baltimore, Trina,✦ Doja✦ Cat
La Chat, rest in poetry✦ Gangsta Boo, MC Trouble
Shout to Conscious Daughters and Oaktown's 3.5.7, Saweetie,✦ Isis
BIA, shout out to Ladybug Mecca,✦ The Sequence,✦ Debbie D, and Lisa✦ Lee
Heather B, Nikki✦ D, Azealia✦ Banks, Champ MC
Michie Mee, all y'all lit
Frick 'N' Frack, Finesse & Synquis
I could go on and keep going, shout to Eternia✦
Ice Cream Tee, rest in peace Boss
Shoutout Nefertiti, Storm, Shortie No Mass
Iggy,✦ Paula✦ Perry,✦ Ché Noir, Shawnna from DTP
Sonja✦ Blade, Khia, Little Simz, 3D Na'Tee
Armani✦ Caesar,✦ Ice Spice, Flo Milli✦
Yeah, Nonchalant "5 o'clock in the morning," Imani✦ Montana
DeJ Loaf, Nitty✦ Scott MC, Hurricane G, Ms. Melodie✦
7xvethegenius, Suga-T,✦ Young M.A.
What up, ScarLip?
Shout to Lady✦ London,✦ Lil Mama✦
What up J.J. Fad?, yeah
To the whole queendom of Rap (Brrap), love to all of y'all
Whoever I ain't name, I still love you for life
Love from Nas and Preem, yeah
Technical Breakdown
7.8
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres6.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm8.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity8.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control7.0
Performance and control
Computed Score7.76
Production
— DJ PremierBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Nas adopts a sincere, conversational flow that prioritizes earnest thematic delivery over complex lyrical acrobatics, serving the track's tribute-centric purpose.
B+
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
6
Wordplay
7
Delivery
AABB rhyme scheme maintenanceDirect addressInternal assonanceMultisyllabic anchoring
Rhyme Architecture: Primarily consistent AABB/CCDD couplet structure utilizing multi-syllabic rhymes (feminine/fine shit, squint/my eyes squint, together/pleasure/letter).
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Aphrodite almighty"
① A reference to the Greek goddess of love and beauty.② An elevation of the subject to divine status, emphasizing the speaker's reverence for her power and influence.
"divine feminine"
① A spiritual concept representing the receptive, creative aspect of the universe.② A high-level compliment used to describe the subject's grace and essential nature as a woman.
Clear, emotive thematic cohesion
Effective use of internal rhyme to maintain forward momentum
Strong structural consistency that fits the 'tribute' format
Low metaphorical density compared to his peak work
Predictable rhyme pairings
Lack of complex subtext or multi-layered entendre