Untitled

Breathe

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

15

End

54

Internal

40

Multi

105

Slant

8

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
In America,✦ you'll never✦ be free
Middle fingers✦ up, fuck the police✦
Damn, can't a nigga✦ just breathe?
Braveheart, still QB's Finest
Grinding, enough diamonds to change the climate
Not only✦ do you see a nigga✦ shining, you can see a nigga✦ breathe
Jewels enchanted like they was new from Atlantis (Uhh)
Cruise with the hammer,✦ jealous✦ hearted, can't stand him
Haters are scandalous,✦ damn, can't a nigga✦ just breathe? (Woo!)
To all my niggas getting money✦ in the streets (Get money)✦
Middle fingers✦ up, fuck the police✦ (Fuck 'em)
Light up my trees, and I just breathe...
[Verse 2]
I'm, fresh out of city✦ housing, ain't have too many✦ options
Pennies on a pension✦ or penitentiary bounded
Plenty✦ Henny✦ in me, envy✦ was simply✦ they trend, see
My enemy✦ was every✦ hater✦ that was bigger✦ than me
The high life, the fly life
Pierre Hardy,✦ imitation✦ of Christ
Ice-wear gaudy,✦ since '94 flossy✦
The Lex was an excellent choice now fast forward me
The pestilence of the ghetto✦ informed me
As a shorty,✦ to push nothing less than a 740
With fresh linen, sip Pellegrinos with Airs on
They sick, mixing✦ they water✦ with Airborne
[Interlude]
Oh, they so sick!
Look how I got 'em going crazy,✦ look at that!
You gotta✦ let it out, stress, ain't good man
You gotta✦ breathe (Breathe...)
And America,✦ we gotta✦ be free
[Outro]
Breathe...
Breathe...
Breathe...
Breathe...

Technical Breakdown

8.8
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes8.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres8.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm9.0

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 Score8.79

Production

— Dustin Moore, J. Myers

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas demonstrates masterful internal rhyme density and socio-economic storytelling, balancing aggressive assertions of success against the systemic claustrophobia of his environment.

A
9.5
Multisyllabic
8.5
Internal Rhymes
9
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
8
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhymingPhonetic mirroringConsonanceSocio-economic contrast
Rhyme Architecture: The verse utilizes an intricate multi-syllabic structure centered on long vowel sounds (options/pension/penitentiary/envy/trend-see) that propels the narrative forward without feeling forced.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Pennies on a pension or penitentiary bounded"

① The lack of financial security in low-income housing leading to low-paying, soul-crushing work (pension).② The high statistical probability of incarceration (penitentiary) as the only alternative path.

"Plenty Henny in me, envy was simply they trend, see"

① Consuming Hennessy as a coping mechanism.② Observing that jealousy and resentment of his success was the standard behavior (trend) of his detractors.

"The Lex was an excellent choice"

① Selecting a Lexus vehicle as a reliable luxury automobile.② A play on 'Lex' (the law), suggesting he navigated the dangerous environment ('the streets') with the precision of a scholar of survival.

Exceptional rhythmic pocket and breath control

Coherent thematic progression from childhood environment to status symbols

Sophisticated use of phonetic repetition to create internal momentum

Reliance on established brand-name luxury tropes

Some punchlines rely on established status imagery rather than clever subversion

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