Magic

Wave Gods

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

17

End

112

Internal

35

Multi

120

Slant

5

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Nas]
No comparison,✦ we more solid✦ than they are
Me and Hit-Boy,✦ they say we like the new Gang Starr
Me and Flacko,✦ they say we the new wave gods
Shout to Max B, he could be home any✦ day, God
[Break: Nas, Raekwon, Casanova Rud & A$AP Rocky]
Hold up and analyze
Yeah, A$AP Mob got Mass Appeal✦
Come on, get on, get some
Call up Nasty✦ Nas, niggas✦ hit the lick like ah, ah, ah
[Verse 2: Nas]
Wake up out the bed, wrap my durag up
Say a prayer, I'm thankin' God that mom dukes✦ had us
Monotone style like Guru✦ on some Preemo✦ cuts
Crewneck by McQueen, go nuts
Jewels over✦ my white hoodie like Juvie in '9-8
It's movies✦ that I make, Peruvian white flake
It tore the community✦ at a high rate, adversity✦ I faced✦
I roll my own gas to make sure that it's not laced✦
Damn, I used✦ to hit the block hopin'✦ they see me
Watchin' Video✦ Music Box, sittin'✦ close to the TV
I was inspired by Whodini and Kool G
Got my first pair of J's, thought I was 2-3 (Air)
Invest✦ in all my G's before✦ we rest in peace
'Cause we sure to rest in peace, my shorty✦ is a piece
A piece of mind, a dimepiece, I might buy her a piece of property
You might've had some joints, but ain't nothin'✦ like me and Rocky✦ seen
[Chorus: Nas]
No comparison,✦ we more solid✦ than they are
Me and Hit-Boy,✦ they say we like the new Gang Starr
Me and Flacko,✦ they say we the new wave gods
Shout to Max B, he could be home any✦ day, God
[Break: Nas, Casanova Rud, Kool G Rap & C.L. Smooth]
Come on, get on, get some
Yeah, A$AP Mob got Mass Appeal✦
We do our thing, son
Listen✦ close as I prove my point
[Outro: A$AP Rocky]
Tell Hit we got a hit, ayy, ayy
Tell Hit we got a hit, ahh
Call up Nasty✦ Nas, niggas✦ hit the lick like ah, ah, ah

Technical Breakdown

7.7
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 / Rhythm7.0

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 Score7.66

Production

— Hit-Boy

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas leverages historical hip-hop canon and visceral nostalgia to craft a verse that functions as both an autobiographical bridge and a stylistic homage to his influences.

B+
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7
Wordplay
8
Delivery
intertextual allusionmultisyllabic internal rhyminghistorical homagenostalgic imagery
Rhyme Architecture: A dense, conversational flow characterized by AABB and AAAA end-rhyme patterns interspersed with heavy internal multisyllabic clusters (e.g., 'bed/durag/prayer/thankin'/had us').
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"thought I was 2-3"

① The iconic jersey number worn by Michael Jordan.② A direct reference to the year Nas 'arrived' or the specific height/level of his perceived success at the time of his youth.

"Jewels over my white hoodie like Juvie in '9-8"

① Visual aesthetic referencing the rapper Juvenile's iconic fashion sense during his 1998 commercial peak.② An anchoring of the current lifestyle of the speaker to the golden era of Southern hip-hop, highlighting the enduring influence of the era's 'drip'.

Masterful integration of cultural touchstones (Video Music Box, Juvie, Guru)

Strong sense of narrative progression from humble beginnings to success

Highly rhythmic internal structure

Authentic delivery that maintains a relaxed yet authoritative presence

The dependence on name-dropping as a stylistic crutch

Linear narrative lacks complex metaphorical subtext beyond the direct references

Some rhymes feel functional rather than revelatory

User Scores