Street's Disciple
Reason
Nas
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
20
End
142
Internal
83
Multi
180
Slant
8
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2: Nas]
Uh, picture a Black nanny✦ and a baby✦ in a basket,✦ pushin'✦ down 5th Ave
She never✦ had it, it's not her's to begin✦ with
She gives✦ it breakfast, baths, and dinners
Treats it so tender,✦ while her own kids live alone,✦ at home, with no phone on
Ain't had a good meal in so long, but so long as mommy's✦ a maid
Cookin'✦ and cleanin', she wanna✦ feed her kids and her kids are dreamin'
"Where's✦ my daddy?✦ Who's my daddy?✦ Have you seen him?"
I could imagine✦ them asking✦ – "What type of human✦ being
Could leave his family,✦ go back to the Carribean?
Was he locked✦ up, shot up, does he have freedom?"
Mom said wipe your tears, keep readin'✦
But Daddy's✦ somewhere, spirit✦ broken,✦ feelin'✦ defeated
A man feels he has to conquer✦ all
The world is his oyster,✦ his pearl, so y'all know
[Hook: Emily]
I can't find no reason✦ why we can't all live in peace
'Cause this world keeps spinning
Tet still I wonder,✦ what's the reason?✦
I see people hating✦ other✦ people
Tell me, what's the reason?✦
When you're workin'✦ hard but there ain't nothin'✦ comin'✦
What's the reason?✦
Oooh-whoa-ooh-whoa
[Verse 3: Nas]
I know a girl, her boyfriend was a fugitive✦
She's intuitive,✦ be on some stupid✦ shit
She called✦ the cops 'cause she hated✦ his mother✦
Now he away✦ doin' numbers, now she gay with her lover✦
How many✦ niggas✦ gon' die this summer?✦
I pump life in my music, but still life is a wonder✦
There's✦ a officer in a squad car, he's a prostitute serial✦ killer✦
It's odd, huh? 'Cause he's the same cop in church with his wife
He's molesting his son and she ignores it at night
Little bad ass bastard
Lights a match and kills Betty✦ Shabazz
In her pad while she slept
They said Prescott Bush funded✦ Hitler,✦ while the world's in a twister
Nigga,✦ what you expect? Imagine✦ what's next
[Hook: Emily]
I see people hating✦ other✦ people
Tell me, what's the reason?✦
That your kid is hungry,✦ you ain't got no money✦
What's the reason?✦
For these wars we're fighting with each other✦
Season✦ after✦ season✦
When you're workin'✦ hard, but there ain't nothing comin'✦
What's the reason?✦
[Outro: Nas, talking over Emily King harmonizing]
Uh, uh, man–man'll search the whole planet,✦ looking for what?
Try to conquer✦ all. So what?
To all my niggas✦ with they kids, that love they kids, man
All the daddies out there
To all the niggas✦ that died try'na✦ figure✦ out what's what
Try'na✦ be the biggest of the big, you know
Yeah, yeah... ladies✦ forgive✦ us. Gotta✦ forgive✦ us
For we know not what we do
Breakin' hearts, leavin'✦ the crib, buggin'✦ out and shit
Just... man... man
Technical Breakdown
8.3
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 / Rhythm8.5
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 Score8.33
Production
— L.E.S., Chucky ThompsonBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Nas utilizes a narrative-heavy, socio-economic critique that prioritizes empathy and grounded imagery over complex wordplay, creating a hauntingly cohesive character study.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Narrative storytellingCharacter foil constructionInternal slant rhymingSociological commentary
Rhyme Architecture: The verse employs a complex internal rhyme scheme that emphasizes assonance (e.g., basket/avenue, dinner/tender) flowing into a more conversational, rhythmic cadence that mimics a spoken-word delivery.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"The world is his oyster, his pearl"
① The classic idiom meaning the world is full of opportunities available to be taken.② A subversion where the 'oyster' represents the prize that remains elusive or unobtainable for those stuck in cycles of poverty.
High emotional resonance and social awareness
Exceptional narrative economy
Seamless blending of rhythm and storytelling
Lack of high-density wordplay compared to his more lyrical technical exercises
Punchline impact is lower due to the somber, serious tone