God's Son

I Can

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

212

Internal

Multi

248

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus]

I know I can (I know I can)

Be what I wanna^✦ be (Be what I wanna^✦ be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

I'll be where I wanna^✦ be (I'll be where I wanna^✦ be)

I know I can (I know I can)

Be what I wanna^✦ be (Be what I wanna^✦ be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

I'll be where I wanna^✦ be (I'll be where I wanna^✦ be)

I know I can (I know I can)

Be what I wanna^✦ be (Be what I wanna^✦ be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

I'll be where I wanna^✦ be (I'll be where I wanna^✦ be)

[Verse 2]

Be – b-boys and girls, listen^✦ again^✦

This is for grown-looking^✦ girls who's only^✦ 10

The ones^✦ who watch videos^✦ and do what they see

As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID

Careful,^✦ 'fore you meet a man with HIV

You can host the TV, like Oprah Winfrey

Whatever^✦ you decide,^✦ be careful^✦ – some men be

Rapists – so act your age, don't pretend to be

Older^✦ than you are, give yourself time to grow

You thinking^✦ he can give you wealth, but so?

Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know?

You thinking^✦ life's^✦ all about^✦ smoking^✦ weed and ice

You don't wanna^✦ be my age and can't read and write

Begging different women^✦ for a place to sleep at night

Smart boys turn to men, and do whatever^✦ they wish

If you believe^✦ you can achieve,^✦ then say it like this

[Chorus]

I know I can (I know I can)

Be what I wanna^✦ be (Be what I wanna^✦ be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

I'll be where I wanna^✦ be (I'll be where I wanna^✦ be)

I know I can (I know I can)

Be what I wanna^✦ be (Be what I wanna^✦ be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

I'll be where I wanna^✦ be (I'll be where I wanna^✦ be)

[Verse 3]

Be – be–fore^✦ we came to this country

We were kings and queens, never^✦ porch monkeys

There was empires in Africa^✦ called^✦ Kush

Timbuktu, where every^✦ race came to get books

To learn from Black teachers, who taught Greeks and Romans^✦

Asians,^✦ Arabs, and gave them gold, when

Gold was converted to money,^✦ it all changed

Money^✦ then became^✦ empowerment for Europeans

The Persian military invaded

They heard about^✦ the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred^✦

Africa^✦ was almost^✦ robbed^✦ naked^✦

Slavery was money,^✦ so they began^✦ making^✦ slave ships

Egypt was the place that Alexander The Great went

He was so shocked at the mountains with Black faces^✦

Shot up they nose, to impose,^✦ what basically

Still goes on today,^✦ you see?

If the truth is told, the youth can grow

They learn to survive, until they gain control

Nobody^✦ says you have to be gangstas, hoes

Technical Breakdown

7.2

Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres4.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity5.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.5

Performance and control

Computed Score7.19

Production

— Salaam Remi

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas uses a didactic, pedagogical flow that prioritizes rhythmic clarity and moral messaging over complex lyrical density, effectively adapting his 'street' cadence for a younger demographic.

8.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

7.5

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

Wordplay

7.5

Delivery

AABB rhyme scheme adaptationDidactic cadenceConversational direct addressStaccato delivery for emphasis

Rhyme Architecture: The verse utilizes a tight, consistent AABB structure with internal multisyllabic clusters (e.g., 'girls/listen', 'videos/see') that anchor the listener, prioritizing narrative accessibility over intricate wordplay.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"You thinking he can give you wealth, but so?"

① A rhetorical challenge questioning the value of superficial wealth provided by a predatory partner.② A dismissal of the 'so what' mentality, highlighting that immediate financial gain is secondary to the long-term cost of being exploited.

Strong pedagogical authority

Impeccable rhythmic pocket placement

Effective use of conversational pacing to sound like a mentor

Clarity of message tailored to target audience

Lack of complex figurative language or double entendres

Predictable rhyme structures

Didactic tone may lack the lyrical nuance found in Nas's earlier catalog

I Can

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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