Hip Hop Is Dead
Hustlers
Nas
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
18
End
115
Internal
77
Multi
183
Slant
4
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Bridge: Nas & The Game]
He a Compton-Compton✦ O.G
Mix that with a QB-QB true G, what you got's
A concoction✦ of some different✦ ghetto✦ blocks
West Coast kill the tracks, East Coast gunshots✦
He a Compton-Compton✦ O.G
Mix that with a QB-QB true G, what you got's
A concoction✦ of some different✦ ghetto✦ blocks
West Coast kill the tracks, East Coast gun— {*shot*}
[Verse 2: The Game]
1995, eleven✦ years from the day
I'm in the record✦ shop, with choices to make
'Illmatic'✦ on the top shelf, 'The Chronic' on the left, homie
Wanna✦ cop both, but only✦ got a 20 on me
So fuck it, I stole both, spent the 20 on a dub sack
Ripped✦ the package off 'Illmatic'✦ and bumped✦ that
For my niggas,✦ it was too complex when Nas rhymed✦
I was the only✦ Compton✦ nigga✦ with a "New York State of Mind"
Inside✦ the dope house, bottlin' up sherm, bangin'✦ The Firm
Dre was king then, so I waited✦ my turn
Fast forward, now I'm making✦ 'em burn
Ended✦ my peers' careers
Hollered at Nas, a hard lesson was learned
So I reconciled my differences, like he did with Jigga✦
I stopped beefin'✦ with niggas,✦ ‘cause I'm "Ether" to niggas✦
Comb the Earth, 'til there's✦ no one left
"If I Ruled✦ The World," I'd summons all you weak rap niggas✦ to death
[Bridge: Nas & The Game]
He a Compton-Compton✦ OG
Mix that with a QB-QB true G, what you got's
A concoction✦ of some different✦ ghetto✦ blocks
West Coast kill the tracks East Coast gunshots✦ (Yeah)
[Verse 3: Nas]
Yo, the Jordans sportin', come off the dice game
With a fortune walkin',✦ you a walking✦ coffin'✦
The musket,✦ I tucked✦ it
You bluff it, I bust it
You're sideways talking,✦ so I lay often✦
I wait patient, to duct tape hatin'✦
Fuck ass niggas,✦ get bucked✦ ass niggas✦
Pluck ashes✦ of Cuban✦ cigars,✦ you foolin'✦ with Nas
That's my name, and I came with Rugers✦ this time
And if I'm sane, that Soul Plane movie's✦ the bomb
Word to my mom's name tattooed to my arm
You can't revolve me, embalm✦ me, calm me, or harm me
Rob me, or dodge these bullets I'm busting
See, that's malarky you yappin'✦
I open✦ up the tripod to put the Gatling on, and I start clappin'
Nasty✦ man, from bagging grams and runnin'✦ from cops
To a mill' on the hand, a mill' on the watch, I'm fuckin'✦ with Doc
[Chorus: Marsha Ambrosius]
Hustlers,✦ dealers,✦ drop-top✦ riders✦
Make that cake, cop two five fivers✦
Pimps and players, platinum✦ diamonds✦
East to West Coast, we riders✦
Hustlers,✦ dealers,✦ drop-top✦ riders✦
Make that cake, cop two five fivers✦
Pimps and players, platinum✦ diamonds✦
East to West Coastin' O.G
Technical Breakdown
7.3
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm6.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity7.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control6.8
Performance and control
Computed Score7.25
Production
— Dr. DreBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse functions as a biographical narrative bridge between East and West Coast hip-hop eras, utilizing grounded imagery to establish credibility rather than high-level abstract wordplay.
B+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
6.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
6.8
Delivery
Narrative storytellingAllusionMultisyllabic rhyme chainsAutobiographical characterization
Rhyme Architecture: Uses heavy AABB and AAAA internal patterns, leveraging the multisyllabic density characteristic of 2000s-era storytelling rap.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"I was the only Compton nigga with a 'New York State of Mind'"
① Literal appreciation of the Nas song 'N.Y. State of Mind' in a non-traditional geographic context.② A psychological state where the artist adopted the grittier, complex lyrical approach associated with the New York sound while remaining in California.
"So I reconciled my differences, like he did with Jigga"
① A historical reference to the Nas vs. Jay-Z rap beef and subsequent peace.② An admission that the artist's own growth was modeled after observing the professional reconciliation of his mentors.
Excellent use of nostalgic, relatable scene-setting
Strong structural arc from fan to peer
Coherent thematic bridge between Compton and Queensbridge
Lacks high-level metaphorical density
Relies on exposition rather than linguistic complexity
Some internal rhymes feel forced to bridge the narrative