Light-Years

3rd (Childhood)

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

17

End

93

Internal

27

Multi

148

Slant

5

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2]
Hear me out now, back in the days, it sure was a time
Hear me out if I've been your age and you haven't been mine
As we get older✦ and time great turns into✦ mediocre
Good turns into✦ so-so,✦ bad just means that it could be better✦
I wrote a letter✦ to the judge from Prince
A sharp minded✦ man who thought his way about✦ the pens
Corporations are not the genius that created gangster rap
Never✦ give 'em credit✦ for that, we made it that
I assisted Hip-Hop✦ 50 to that worldy✦ stage
And brought Kool Herc on stage
I made sure that Hip Hop Museum got paid
Matter✦ fact, anything✦ my name is involved with
Positivity revolves in it
Serendipitous, always✦ move with confidence
You may not see me sweat, but trust, yo, I work hard for this
Grew up around✦ heroin✦ addicts before✦ that crack shit
Crack was light compared to what the smack did
Y'all play with marbles, we play with dope fiend needles we found
Injected worms when the rain brought 'em up from the ground
It's nothin'✦ changin', some of my men
We go back like daylight savings
My third childhood, that third course, that's the main dish
Hope we get dessert, that's the cherry✦ on top
Peaceful Sundays, but we still carry✦ the Glocks, registered
If you made it this far, then it's all good
It makes me proud, I love that we goin' out hood
[Chorus]
When I flow for the street, who else could it be?
N-A-S, Nas
Resurrect✦ through the birth of my seed, Queensbridge✦
Make everything✦ right, get yours, nigga
When I flow for the street, who else could it be?
N-A-S, Nas
Resurrect✦ through the birth of my seed, Queensbridge✦
Make everything✦ right, get yours

Technical Breakdown

7.4
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 / Rhythm7.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity8.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.2

Performance and control

Computed Score7.41

Production

— DJ Premier

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas balances autobiographical gravity with a seasoned, philosophical maturity, using metaphorical food imagery to ground his narrative of growth.

B+
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
7.2
Delivery
Metaphorical extensionInternal rhyme densityHistorical allusionConversational flow
Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB and AAAA couplet structures blended with dense internal slant-rhymes, maintaining a steady, reflective cadence.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"We go back like daylight savings"

① A common idiomatic expression for a long-standing friendship.② A literal reference to the cyclical shifting of clocks, reinforcing the theme of time passing.

"My third childhood, that third course, that's the main dish"

① A reflection on his life stages (childhood, youth, elder status).② A culinary metaphor mapping his current life phase to the most substantive part of a meal.

Strong narrative cohesion and emotional weight

Effective use of multis to bridge historical and personal themes

Commanding vocal presence that feels lived-in and authentic

Lower punchline density compared to earlier Nas works

Some metaphors, like the food comparison, are straightforward rather than multi-layered

Lack of complex wordplay in the second half of the verse

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