King's Disease III

First Time

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

14

End

99

Internal

31

Multi

121

Slant

7

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2]
First time you heard Nas
You probably heard somebody say that I pick bad beats, but I pick bad freaks
Narratives they runnin'✦ with, the classics they comin'✦ with
Ain't fuckin'✦ with what I recorded last week
For new guys, hope this the first time you heard Nas
It's a special moment, a million reasons I wrote it
My shit'll get you re-centered✦ 'cause you can tell where my soul is
The one I'm chosen,✦ like Bryce and Bronny,✦ their Pop ball
So they had to do it, my dad did music, I had to pursue it
And spread my wings on the helipad like Troop did
The truth is, a similar thing had happened to me
I listen✦ to Wayne, I listen✦ to G, I listen✦ to Dre, I listen✦ to me (listen✦ to me)
Since when did rap leave me so suspended in air?
Since Kendrick entered✦ the atmosphere, '09, I was there
On La Cienega, my nigga✦ from L.A. said there's a nigga✦ from Black Hippy✦
I was happy✦ to just witness history
[Interlude]
Like the first time I heard Slick Rick
How did you feel? (First time you heard Nas)
First time hearing✦ Biggie
I'm like, "Who's this kid? Wow" (First time you heard Nas)
When I heard Pac
That was on that song with, uh, Digital Underground like (First time you heard Nas)
Yeah, that was crazy✦
I really✦ hope that this your first time
[Outro]
It's somethin' bout
First time hearing✦ your favorite✦ artist✦
Or they become✦ to be your favorite✦ artist✦ after✦ like a long time or
Or it's instantaneous like
I know when the first time I heard Michael Jackson, Marvin✦ Gaye
Diana✦ Ross, Chaka✦ Khan, Stevie Wonder✦
Like, N.W.A., what the fuck is this shit, kid?
I was goin' crazy✦

Technical Breakdown

8.0
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm8.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.00

Production

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas demonstrates high-level consistency, leveraging autobiographical clarity and legacy-building cadence to bridge the gap between golden-era foundations and contemporary trap-influenced rhythmic pockets.

A
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Internal rhyme stackingMultisyllabic enjambmentRhythmic switch-upsAABB end-rhyme structure with high densityConversational cadence
Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB multi-syllabic end-rhyme structure with heavy internal ornamentation and multi-rhyme chains bridging lines to maintain flow momentum.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"pick bad beats, but I pick bad freaks"

① A defense against criticism regarding his historical choice of instrumentals (a common critique of his mid-career work).② A pivot to a boast about his lifestyle and romantic choices, balancing the professional criticism with personal ego.

"spread my wings on the helipad like Troop did"

① A literal reference to Master P's brother, rapper Silkk the Shocker (often associated with the label 'No Limit' and the moniker 'Troop' in various regional contexts).② A metaphor for career elevation and wealth, using the helipad imagery to signify the literal and figurative heights of his success.

"The one I'm chosen, like Bryce and Bronny, their Pop ball"

① A literal reference to the NBA heirs of LeBron James and the expectations of their legacy.② An admission of his own inherited musical destiny (his father being jazz musician Olu Dara), framing his career as an inevitable progression rather than a choice.

Commanding presence and vocal authority

Strong historical contextualization

Sophisticated use of cadence to bridge generational gaps in hip-hop

Narrative cohesion

Relies more on legacy and experience than dense lyrical puzzles

Simpler vocabulary compared to peak-era Illmatic or I Am... technicality

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