Street's Disciple

These Are Our Heroes

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

18

End

176

Internal

70

Multi

162

Slant

5

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Hook: Nas]
Let's hear it, one for the coons on UPN 9 and WB
Who 'Yes Massa'✦ on TV
What ever✦ happened✦ to Wheezy?✦ The Redd Foxx's?
Never✦ got Emmy's✦ but were real to me
Let's hear it, two for the spooks who do cartwheels✦
Cause they said they played they parts well
Now they claim caviar,✦ hate that oxtail✦
Lambda✦ Sigma✦ Phi badge on lapel✦
Whitey✦ always✦ tell him, "Ooh, he speak so well"
Are you the one we look to, the decent✦ Negro?✦
The acceptable✦ Negro?✦ Hell nah
But they say "These are our heroes"✦
[Verse 2: Nas]
You Homey✦ The Clown, bowtie, apple pie, Bo Jangles✦
But we love Bo Jangles,✦ we know what he came through
But what's your excuse,✦ duke? You talk Black
But your album sound like you give your nuts for a plaque
You don't ride for the facts like um, say Scarface
You don't know what you feel, y'all too safe
Election done came and went, y'all worked✦ so hard for it
Huh, and in the end we all got dicked✦
These are our heroes,✦ thanks a lot, public✦ school systems still rot
Still harassed by cops, snitches on blocks
Sellin✦ they peoples out, some real folks with clout
Tavis Smiley,✦ Michael✦ Eric✦ Dyson
Stokely Carmichael,✦ let's try to be like them
Nicky✦ Giovanni poetical black female✦
Jim Brown to the people who sing well from
Fela✦ to Miriam Makeba✦
The mirror says you are the next American leader✦
So don't be, acceptin new 'We are the World' records✦
These pickaninnies get with anything to sell records✦
Cause it's trendy✦ to be the conscious MC
But next year, who knows what we'll see?
Ha-ha...✦ these are our heroes✦
[Hook: Nas]
Let's hear it, one for the coons on UPN 9 and WB
Who 'Yes Massa'✦ on TV
What ever✦ happened✦ to Wheezy?✦ The Redd Foxx's?
Never✦ got Emmy's✦ but were real to me
Let's hear it, two for the spooks who do cartwheels✦
Cause they said they played they parts well
Now they claim caviar,✦ hate that oxtail✦
Lambda✦ Sigma✦ Phi badge on lapel✦
Whitey✦ always✦ tell him, "Ooh, he speak so well"
Are you the one we look to, the decent✦ Negro?✦
The acceptable✦ Negro?✦ Hell nah
But they say "These are our heroes"✦
[Outro: Nas]
Yeah, I wanna✦ give a special shoutout to the... y'know✦
The crew doin' they thing out there reppin'✦ us hard
Big up to Tiger✦ Woods
Yeah, ya don't stop
Big up to Cuba✦ Gooding Jr
Y'know,✦ yeah, y'know✦
Taye Diggs, what up my nigga,✦ yeah, ha-ha✦
And you don't quit, and ya don't quit
And ya don't stop and ya don't quit

Technical Breakdown

7.4
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 Control7.5

Performance and control

Computed Score7.42

Production

— Buckwild

Be the first to rate the production

Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas utilizes a direct, polemic narrative style that prioritizes cultural critique over complex wordplay, grounding the verse in social frustration and rhythmic urgency.

B+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
6.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
7.5
Delivery
allusionrhetorical questioningdirect addressmultisyllabic end-rhyme chains
Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on dense, multisyllabic end-rhymes (e.g., Bo Jangles/came through/talk Black/plaque) that propel the verse forward while maintaining a consistent AABB-adjacent flow pattern.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"You talk Black / But your album sound like you give your nuts for a plaque"

① The artist utilizes AAVE or Black cultural signifiers in casual conversation to maintain authenticity.② The artist sacrifices their integrity, masculinity, or core values to achieve commercial success and industry recognition.

"Election done came and went, y'all worked so hard for it / Huh, and in the end we all got dicked"

① Political participation and campaigning by public figures for specific candidates.② The ultimate futility of the effort, resulting in being exploited or cheated by the established political system.

Strong thematic cohesion and cultural commentary

Effective use of historical and media allusions to anchor the critique

Commanding, authoritative vocal presence consistent with Nas's persona

Limited depth of linguistic wordplay, prioritizing direct messaging

Occasional heavy-handedness in the critique may alienate nuance

User Scores