Life Is Good
A Queens Story
Nas
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
22
End
170
Internal
80
Multi
271
Slant
11
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2]
Niggas✦ is very✦ hungry✦ for that bank robbery✦
Bury✦ money,✦ trying to get to a Benz from a Hyundai
The Queens Courthouse right next to the cemetery✦
Niggas'✦ rap sheets look like obituaries
You be starving in Kew Gardens
Bolognas and milk from a small carton✦
You could still feel chills from the team on 118
My nigga✦ Bim fly by like it's a dream
His face on his Shirt Kings
Laced✦ in a pinky✦ ring, in his black Benz murking
Back when Black, Rock & Ron was on the map
Cheeba✦ in yellow✦ sacks, dope sold in laundromats
Thugs bark, getting✦ amped✦ from weed
Over✦ the heart of champions, see
Ever✦ since back then, a nigga✦ been about✦ the dough
(You all know how the story✦ GO!)
[Bridge]
Go! Go! Go!
You all know how the story✦ go!
You all know how the story✦ go!
Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
[Verse 3]
"Any✦ other✦ real niggas✦ in the world besides us?" I ask
Probably✦ is, but odds are we’ll never✦ cross paths
Put your glass high if you made it out the stash spot
And here to tell a story✦ and celebrate✦ the glory✦
Drinks in the air for my niggas✦ not here
This how we do, I see you D.U.
Queens to the Heavens, salute✦ the hood legends
Crack the Patrón, Hennessy, and Glenlivets
Champagne✦ bottles drowning out the sorrows
Hope the memories'll get us through tomorrow
I'm a real O.G., 'cause back in '93
Niggas✦ couldn't fuck with me – sipping 'gnac since I was little
Laid back in a rental✦
Mouth shining, Eddie’s✦ gold caps all up in the dental✦
Nigga✦ getting✦ money✦ now
But you know I'm still mental,✦ but not simple
[Chorus]
Put your glass high if you made it out the stash spot
And here to tell your story✦ and celebrate✦ the glory✦
Drinks in the air for my niggas✦ not here
This for the fallen✦ soldiers,✦ hold it down, I told you
Pop another✦ bottle and keep the smoke rolling✦
[Verse 4]
Watch the calm realest channel his mom's spirit✦
Goosebumps cover✦ me, Mother's here, I could feel her
Blood of Christ covers me, our savior and healer✦
Drug prices✦ up or down, I know a few dealers
And some accident murderers, they act like they killed✦ on purpose
Liars brag they put work in
You ain't mean to murk him, your gun's a virgin
Better✦ stay on point, if not, it's curtains
Bebo Posse reincarnated through me probably✦
If music money✦ didn't stop me
I never✦ claimed to be the toughest
Though I'm to blame for a few faces✦ reconstructed
It's the game that we was stuck with
Now I'm the only✦ Black in the club with rich yuppie kids
Sad thing, this is the top, but where the hustlers went?
No familiar faces✦ around,✦ ain't gotta✦ grab the musket✦
It's all safe and sound, champagne✦ by the bucket✦
Where them niggas✦ I shouted out on my first shit?
Bo cooking blow, fuck is Slate at? Where Turkey✦ went?
Old videos show niggas✦ that was murdered since
Another✦ reason✦ to get further bent
[Chorus]
Put your glass high if you made it out the stash spot
And here to tell your story✦ and celebrate✦ the glory✦
Drinks in the air for my niggas✦ not here
This for the fallen✦ soldiers,✦ hold it down, I told you
Pop another✦ bottle and keep the smoke rolling✦
Technical Breakdown
8.6
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres8.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm8.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity8.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.62
Production
— Salaam RemiBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Nas masterfully utilizes geographical and cultural signifiers of Queens to create a lived-in, cinematic narrative that balances gritty street realism with evocative, nostalgic storytelling.
A
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8.5
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
8
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Internal rhyme clustersGeographic anchoringNostalgic cultural referencingCinematic narrative progression
Rhyme Architecture: Complex, dense internal rhyming patterns that weave multi-syllabic end-rhymes ('robbery/cemetery/obituaries') with heavy use of internal slant rhymes ('starving/gardens', 'Bolognas/carton').
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"The Queens Courthouse right next to the cemetery / Niggas' rap sheets look like obituaries"
① Literal description of the physical proximity between the judicial system and death/burial grounds.② A symbolic statement that for the people described, legal trouble (rap sheets) is effectively a death warrant, blurring the line between the courtroom and the morgue.
"Over the heart of champions, see"
① Reference to the 'Heart of a Champion' ethos often found in sports or street ambition.② Phonetic wordplay where the line could be read as 'over the heart of champagne, C', referencing the drug trade lifestyle and high-end consumption.
Exceptional spatial awareness in storytelling
High-density internal rhyme structures
Commanding, evocative delivery that maintains a steady cadence
Strong historical context and cultural resonance
Some imagery leans on established street-rap tropes of the era
Bridge section serves more as a rhythmic transition than lyrical depth