Hip Hop Is Dead

Money Over Bullshit

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

24

End

135

Internal

96

Multi

178

Slant

8

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2]
Got seven✦ candles lit, black wallpaper, black carpet✦
Thinking 'bout which nigga✦ to target✦
You kill a nigga✦ today,✦ he lives✦ forever
So I plotted out smarter, there'll be no martyrs
Black TEC on the table, Mag' four-four
Black negligée on my bitch, she's at the door
Black fish eggs, nigga,✦ that's the caviar✦
You niggas✦ fish-made, y'all niggas✦ is fifth grade niggas✦
It's fifty✦ ways to dissect the General
If I give you the top five, you will not survive
Rule 1: Cocksucker,✦ keep my name from your tongue
Rule 2: Thought you knew—don't fuck with God's Son
Rule 3: See, matter✦ fact, I just wait
If y'all reach top five, then I'ma✦ eat y'all alive✦
Each one of ya guys that claim Hip-Hop✦ is still alive✦
Like y'all ain't in agreement with Nas
I said it's dead, motherfucker✦
[Chorus]
Join me in war, many✦ will live, many✦ will mourn (It's dead, bitch!)
Money✦ Over✦ Bullshit✦ (Hahaha),✦ pistols✦ over✦ brawn
Afraid✦ not of none of you cowards,✦ but of my own strength
Afraid✦ not of none of you cowards,✦ but of my own strength
(My own strength nigga,✦ that's what I'm scared✦ of, ha-ha)✦
Join me in war, many✦ will live, many✦ will mourn
Money✦ Over✦ Bullshit,✦ pistols✦ over✦ brawn
Afraid✦ not of none of you cowards,✦ but of my own strength
Afraid✦ not of none of you cowards,✦ but of my own strength
[Verse 3]
From crack pushers✦ to 'Lac pushers✦ and ambushers✦
And morticians to fortresses
Case dismisses, laced✦ in riches,✦ cake ridiculous
From nickel and dimin',✦ to trickin' them diamonds
Vegas,✦ places✦ in Switzerland, from 9 blastin' to
I don't have to blast mine, they blast mine, black 9
You flatline, my cash climb
Buy rare art, antique pieces,✦ Mona✦ Lisa's,✦ own no leases✦
Five-star restaurant eaters; don't forget✦ who your peeps is
'Posed✦ to dine with you, sip that good wine with you
Only✦ if they grind with you, or slang for ya
Seen niggas✦ live, laugh, party,✦ and die in that very✦ same corner✦
Pretty✦ girls glance at us, status unconceivable
Private planes✦ landed✦ out in Teterboro, weed, I twirl
Once even✦ gave me a phobia✦
That I'd be in a spot, trapped like Madame✦ Zenobia
With this kid eyein' my Rollie, y'all
[Chorus]
Join me in war, many✦ will live, many✦ will mourn (Mourn)
Money✦ Over✦ Bullshit,✦ pistols✦ over✦ brawn
Afraid✦ not of none of you cowards✦ (Hahahaha), but of my own strength
Afraid✦ not of none of you cowards,✦ but of my own strength
(My own strength nigga,✦ that's what I'm scared✦ of, ha-ha-ha)✦
Join me in war, many✦ will live, many✦ will mourn
Money✦ Over✦ Bullshit,✦ pistols✦ over✦ brawn
Afraid✦ not of none of you cowards,✦ but of my own strength
Afraid✦ not of none of you cowards,✦ but of my own strength
[Outro]
There it is! QB, bitch! Yeah…
QB, bitch! Yeah, yeah… QB, bitch!

Technical Breakdown

8.6
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm9.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.62

Production

— L.E.S., Wyldfyer

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas demonstrates a mastery of persona-driven cadence, utilizing a monochromatic thematic framework (black imagery) to anchor his aggressive, calculated delivery against the backdrop of the 2006 hip-hop landscape.

A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
9
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Thematic semantic chaining (repetition of black)Anaphoric rule-settingInternal multi-syllabic rhymingPhonetic play (fish eggs/fish-made/fifth grade)
Rhyme Architecture: A dense, fluid internal scheme that relies heavily on masculine rhymes, punctuated by authoritative, rhythmic breaks during the 'Rule' section.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Black fish eggs, nigga, that's the caviar / You niggas fish-made, y'all niggas is fifth grade niggas"

① Literal wealth imagery involving luxury food items (caviar/fish eggs) to establish status.② A linguistic play on 'fish-made' (fake/manufactured) vs 'fifth grade' (immature/unrefined) contrasting his elevation with his peers' perceived lack of progress.

"If I give you the top five, you will not survive"

① A reference to the ranking of top MCs in hip-hop discussions.② A literal threat that Nas's 'top five' (tactical list of targets) results in death for those identified.

Exceptional rhythmic consistency that facilitates the menacing tone

Strong structural arc transitioning from narrative planning to direct address

Expert use of phonetic proximity for wordplay

Some lyrical assertions rely on genre-standard bravado tropes common for the era

Punchlines are at times more confrontational than structurally complex

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