God's Son
Book of Rhymes
Nas
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
21
End
116
Internal
70
Multi
226
Slant
6
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Break]
Oh shit, Tina!✦
I been lookin'✦ for this bitch number,✦ damn
No, this rhyme is weak
This is weak, I remember this bullshit✦ right here
(My book of rhymes)✦
Gandhi✦ was a… what the fuck?
[Verse 2]
"Gandhi✦ was a fool, nigga,✦ fight to the death
The US Army✦ is a school that teach you plights of conquest"
(I wonder✦ when I wrote this… nah, it's weak)
"If money's✦ your religion,✦ sky's the limit,✦ live life
Numbers is big business, makes✦ the poor live trife
The glimmers of hope provoke those without dollars to dream
Through your existence become✦ wealthy, Knowledge Is King
Pimps and card sharks, thieves
Murderers with hard luck, addicts and fiends
Prostitutes passin'✦ for teens – it's my society✦
Cops that shoot blacks is routine for notoriety✦
Grow up watchin' well-dressed niggas✦ with charms
Beautiful✦ ladies✦ on their arms
Dangerous✦ new cars was my fantasy for Nas
Rubbin'✦ my lips with Campho-Phenique – still behind the ears wet
Turned✦ out to be pioneers, vets
Amongst hustlers, crack sellers, and liars and squares"
(Nah, that was weak there)
"My people be projects or jail, never✦ Harvard or Yale..."
Pardon me, type in my two-way✦ while I'm chargin' my cell
"It's hard to be iced✦ up with Gucci,✦ God – poverty's real
I can't fight you, 'cause you would sue me
Niggas✦ be groupies
I see imitators tryna✦ make albums
Spittin' my style and they don't even✦ realize that I notice✦ they stealin' Nas' shit
I pump some Rick James✦ with that Teena✦ Marie
My nina✦ lean on me, like Scoob and Scrap"
This can't be my book of rhymes✦
[Break]
This can't be my book of rhymes,✦ writin'✦ this bullshit!✦
(My book of rhymes)✦
Nah, neva✦ that! Fuck that!
Aw, why you laughin', Alchemist?
Hah, you a funny✦ nigga...✦
Naw, yeah... (My book of rhymes)✦
I'm tellin'✦ you, I'ma✦ come up with some new shit now
Fuck that! I'ma✦ write again✦ now, fuck that!
I musta✦ been high, or some shit… what the fuck is this?!
[Verse 3]
"Look how we treat pregnancy, women✦ in the hood
Our value's✦ so low, our values✦ are no good
Things our mothers✦ told us we should've heeded✦
'Cause now we need it
We older,✦ almost able t—"
"I'm jealous✦ of you, how come you so beautiful?✦
Smellin' fresh, youthful,–intelligent
While I'm stressin' and shit
Ayo, I envy✦ you ‘cause all you do is smile at things come your way
"Such an innocent child," is what some say
I get upset✦ ‘cause I just want to be treated the way you are
Like a star, not a worry✦ in this world, thus far
But wait a minute,✦ we both need your mother's✦ attention✦
I must be crazy,✦ jealous✦ of my own baby✦ infant"✦ (Ah-ha,✦ kinda✦ crazy)✦
Technical Breakdown
8.2
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 / Rhythm7.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity8.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control8.5
Performance and control
Computed Score8.21
Production
— The AlchemistBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Nas demonstrates high-level self-critique, using the conceit of reviewing his own 'old journals' to bridge the gap between juvenile lyricism and mature, observational social commentary.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Metatextual narrative frameworkInternal rhyme chainsSocial realism imageryMulti-syllabic terminal rhyming
Rhyme Architecture: A sophisticated AABB/CCDD structure that occasionally breaks into dense internal rhyming couplets, prioritizing narrative flow over simplistic end-rhyme lock-ins.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Knowledge Is King"
① A reference to his seminal debut album Illmatic and the importance of street wisdom.② A play on the phrase 'Knowledge is power', positioning his lyrical intelligence as the ultimate status symbol.
"still behind the ears wet"
① Literal youth/naivety ('still wet behind the ears').② Reference to the literal application of Campho-Phenique to acne or skin issues during his adolescence, grounding the metaphor in physical childhood reality.
Exceptional rhythmic pocket and breath control
Authentic, gritty social commentary
Clever meta-narrative device that excuses weaker 'old' bars while showing growth
Some metaphors rely on mid-90s stylistic tropes (card sharks/pimps)
Interjected skit dialogue intermittently breaks the immersion of the verse