God's Son

Warrior Song

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

122

Internal

105

Multi

226

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus: Alicia Keys & Nas]

This is a song for my warriors,^✦ a warrior's^✦ song, wy-oh

Bravehearted^✦ and strong, definition^✦ of a warrior^✦ (Definition^✦ of a warrior)^✦

Gonna^✦ keep marchin'^✦ on to the sound of my own beating^✦ drum, oh

[Verse 2: Nas]

Like King Nasir fightin' the British regime,^✦ I can't cope

My existence is hope for younger teens who lost and they broke

Earlier this year, I buried^✦ my queen in a gold casket^✦

Your mother's^✦ the closest thing to God that you'll ever^✦ have, kid

I'm askin',^✦ what would you do at your own mom's funeral?

Wanna^✦ pick her up out of it, this can't be real

Tellin'^✦ my daughter, "Grandma's gone," but I can't keep still

I can't go on, responsible for so many^✦

Her last days at the hospital

Visits^✦ from family,^✦ I'm tryin' not to bust shots at niggas^✦

Wishin'^✦ death on other^✦ niggas'^✦ mothers^✦ ain't right, but why mommy?^✦

She raised^✦ me in the projects alone,^✦ her untimely

Exit from her heavenly body^✦ got me ready^✦ to body^✦ somethin' quickly

Can't be happy,^✦ fuck a party,^✦ she can't party^✦ with me

So your apologies^✦ are burnin'^✦ your own soul

To the kids with no parents at home, grab a hold

[Chorus: Alicia Keys & Nas]

This is a song for my warriors,^✦ a warrior's^✦ song, wy-oh

Bravehearted^✦ and strong, definition^✦ of a warrior^✦ (Uh, warrior)^✦

Gonna^✦ keep marchin'^✦ on to the sound of my own beating^✦ drum, oh

[Verse 3: Nas & Both]

Fight 'til the fight is over,^✦ for my peoples, I die, see

When you thought they were soldiers, they turned^✦ out to be nobodies^✦

I think they out to get me, helpless, was livin'^✦ sinful^✦

If you was me, all this pain I'm feelin'^✦ would been done killed^✦ you (I'm a warrior)^✦

It only^✦ made me stronger

But in my head, it gets darker^✦ who wishin'^✦ evil^✦ on you

Sometimes I wish I was dead, but I took heed to the calling (I'm a warrior,^✦ yeah)

'Cause I been high, I been low, searchin'^✦ for a way to go, every^✦ single night I pray

And Lord, I'm on this battleground, lost, just waitin'^✦ to be found, I guess it's just a warrior's^✦ way, uh

[Chorus: Alicia Keys & Nas]

This is a song (This is a song) for my warriors^✦ (For my warriors,^✦ to my warriors),^✦ a warrior's^✦ song, wy-oh

Bravehearted^✦ and strong (Bravehearted),^✦ definition^✦ of a warrior^✦ (Definition^✦ of a warrior)^✦

Gonna^✦ keep marchin'^✦ on to the sound of my own beatin'^✦ drum

This is a song for my warriors^✦ (For my warriors),^✦ a warrior's^✦ song, wy-oh

Warriors,^✦ baby,^✦ KrucialKeys

Braveheart,^✦ y'all

Bravehearted^✦ and strong, definition^✦ of a warrior^✦ (Definition^✦ of a warrior)^✦

Gonna^✦ keep marchin'^✦ on to the sound of my own beating^✦ drum, oh

[Outro: Nas]

This to all my warriors^✦ who breathe with the heart of a lion

To everybody that lost they mother,^✦ they father^✦

Rest in peace, moms

My mother's^✦ last words, "Never^✦ give up"

A true warrior^✦ who raised^✦ me in the hood, in a war

Love you, girl, uh, you know keep I'll marchin',^✦ yeah, yeah, yeah

We never^✦ give up

To all my warriors,^✦ haha^✦

Braveheart^✦

Definition^✦ of a warrior,^✦ ha

Technical Breakdown

7.9

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 / Rhythm6.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.5

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.94

Production

— Alicia Keys

Be the first to rate the production

Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas leverages visceral grief to ground the 'warrior' theme in emotional vulnerability rather than mere aggression, using technical internal rhyme chains to heighten the feeling of psychological distress.

B+

9.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

6.5

Cadence / Flow

7.5

Vocabulary

7.5

Wordplay

Delivery

Assonant internal chainsEnjambment for emotional pacingEmotional anchoringMulti-syllabic rhyme schemes

Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB/CC with dense internal slant rhymes (e.g., 'regime/cope/hope/broke') that maintain a propulsive, march-like cadence consistent with the track's theme.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"got me ready to body somethin' quickly"

① A violent reaction to the pain of his mother's death, implying he is ready to commit murder or violence.② A lyrical reference to his reputation as a master of 'bodying' beats or verses, juxtaposing his rap persona with his personal grief.

"she can't party with me"

① Literal statement that his mother has passed away and cannot join him in celebration or social events.② A dismissal of superficial industry lifestyle ('fuck a party'), reframing his career as a lonely, somber march.

Raw emotional authenticity

High-density internal rhyme structures

Masterful transition from historical metaphor to personal tragedy

Commanding vocal urgency

The rhyme density occasionally feels claustrophobic given the somber subject matter

Some metaphors are more descriptive than lyrically complex

Warrior Song

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

User Scores