Street's Disciple

Just a Moment

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

208

Internal

Multi

241

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Hook: Quan]

As day comes^✦ and night falls

For the rest of our life, we'll miss y'all

And even^✦ though life must go on, we'll still mourn

While wishing^✦ y'all were home

As day comes^✦ and night falls

For the rest of our life, we'll miss y'all

And even^✦ though life must go on, we'll still mourn

While wishing^✦ y'all were home

[Verse 2: Nas]

Yeah, and can we have another^✦ moment^✦ of silence?^✦

For brothers^✦ who died from Black-on-Black violence^✦

From here to the Dark Continent where rebels sell diamonds

To clients all over^✦ the world, got little black girls dying

And can we please pour some more liquors?

For Will, Bokeem,^✦ Bar, Pappy,^✦ my niggas^✦

Here's^✦ another^✦ Warrior Song from Nasty^✦ and Quan

It's to him I pass the baton,^✦ to carry^✦ this on

Street's Disciple, salute^✦ to those who's gone with bullets

And I promise through rhyming, Quan gon' rep his life to the fullest

And can we please have a moment^✦ of truth?

For soldiers and troops away^✦ with helmets and boots

And families back home that pray they make it home safe

Hoping^✦ they don't get hit by a stray or missiles

This is just a moment^✦ to let you all know that we miss you

Mommy,^✦ I'm still here, wishing^✦ I was there with you

Let's take a moment^✦

[Hook: Quan]

As day comes^✦ and night falls

For the rest of our life, we'll miss y'all

And even^✦ though life must go on, we'll still mourn

While wishing^✦ y'all were home

As day comes^✦ and night falls

For the rest of our life, we'll miss y'all

And even^✦ though life must go on, we'll still mourn

While wishing^✦ y'all were home

[Verse 3: Quan]

And can we please have a moment^✦ to mourn?

For Pac, Biggie, and Pun, 'cause through us they live on

Jam Master^✦ Jay, Freaky^✦ Tah, and Aaliyah

Big L and Left Eye, when we die we hope to see ya

Can we please have a moment^✦ for children?

Who got raped^✦ and murdered, or trapped in the system^✦

Who never^✦ knew their father,^✦ never^✦ learned to dream

But was guided^✦ by drug dealers, killers, and crack fiends

For single mothers^✦ that's forced^✦ to play mom and dad

Busting her ass to give her kids' shit she never^✦ had

For my niggas^✦ in the pen, hoping^✦ rhymes'll get 'em signed^✦

So when released, they can say bye to a life of crime

For every^✦ mother^✦ that held a son in the street, bleeding

Crying a song of sorrow,^✦ too dark and deep for speaking

Just a moment,^✦ outside the day-to-day struggle

To let the ones^✦ we really^✦ care about,^✦ know that we love 'em

[Hook: Quan]

As day comes^✦ and night falls

For the rest of our life, we'll miss y'all

And even^✦ though life must go on, we'll still mourn

While wishing^✦ y'all were home

As day comes^✦ and night falls

For the rest of our life, we'll miss y'all

And even^✦ though life must go on, we'll still mourn

While wishing^✦ y'all were home

[Outro: Quan]

To my baby^✦ brother^✦ Tech

We know you was little Dex, nigga^✦

And to Fez, big bro holdin' it down for you, boy – just come home

I love you, my nigga^✦

I do this for you and me

When I shine, you shine

And most important, to my sister^✦ Tia, out there in Iraq

Just know that we got the babies^✦

My nephew,^✦ he's gon' be fine

Put my life and my blood on that

We love y'all

One

Technical Breakdown

8.7

Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.65

Production

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas balances high-level rhythmic consistency with a solemn thematic focus, utilizing direct, clear imagery to elevate the emotional resonance of the verse beyond simple storytelling.

8.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

6.5

Wordplay

8.5

Delivery

AABB rhyme schemeMultisyllabic rhyme clustersAnaphoraSocial commentary

Rhyme Architecture: Nas employs a consistent AABB-style structure with internal rhyme clusters (silence/violence/diamonds/dying/liquors/niggas) that emphasizes the gravity of the subject matter while maintaining a smooth, deliberate flow.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Dark Continent where rebels sell diamonds"

① A geographic and historical reference to the resource exploitation in Africa (blood diamonds).② A stark juxtaposition where the beauty and value of a 'diamond' is contrasted with the suffering caused by the rebel trade.

"Warrior Song"

① A specific reference to the collaboration and the emotional 'battle' of grieving lost loved ones.② An acknowledgment of the cycle of conflict mentioned in the previous lines, framing the fallen as soldiers in a perpetual struggle.

Commanding presence and gravitas in vocal delivery

Effective use of internal rhyme to bridge disparate global socio-political themes

Strong narrative cohesion that supports the emotional weight of the hook

Relies on direct statement rather than complex lyrical abstraction

Limited use of dense metaphorical layers compared to peak-era Nas records

Predictable rhyme structures at the end of each bar

Just a Moment

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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