Untitled
America
Nas
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
10
End
99
Internal
59
Multi
167
Slant
4
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Nas, Flo Simpson & Both]
America✦ (Americaaaaaa),✦ pay attention✦
Wake up (Americaaaaaa),✦ this is not what you think it is
America✦ (Americaaaaaa),✦ pay attention✦
This is not what you think it is
[Verse 2: Nas]
Blessed, the Lord is a G, he gotta✦ be
Who's the god of suckers and snitches? The economy✦
Lipstick from Marilyn Monroe, blew a death kiss to Fidel✦ Castro✦
He'd want me to spit this
Only✦ the strong survive, Nas bear witness
The hypocrisy is all I can see
White cop acquitted for murder,✦ black cop cop a plea
That type of shit make me stop and think
We in chronic need of a second look of the law books
And the whole race dichotomy✦
Too many✦ rappers, athletes and actors
But not enough niggas✦ in NASA✦
Who give you the latest dances,✦ trends and fashion?✦
But when it comes✦ to residuals, they look past us
Woven✦ into✦ the fabric, they can't stand us
Even✦ in white tees, blue jeans and red bandanas
[Chorus: Nas, Flo Simpson & Both]
America✦ (Americaaaaaa),✦ pay attention✦
Wake up (Americaaaaaa),✦ this is not what you think it is
America✦ (Americaaaaaa),✦ pay attention✦
This is not what you think it is
America✦ (America,✦ Americaaaaaa✦
This is not what you think it is)
[Verse 3: Nas]
Assassinations,✦ diplomatic relations✦
Killed✦ indigenous people, built a new nation✦
Involuntary labor, took a knife split a woman✦ naval
Took her premature baby,✦ let her man see you rape her
If I could travel✦ to the 1700s
I'd push a wheelbarrow full of dynamite through your covenant
Love to sit on the Senate✦ and tell the whole government
"Y'all don't treat women✦ fair", she read about✦ herself in the Bible
Believing she the reason✦ sin is here
You played her, with an apron✦ like, "Bring me my dinner,✦ dear"
She the 'nigga'✦ here, ain't we in the free world?
Death penalty in Texas✦ kill young boys and girls
Barbarity, I'm in the double-R casually
Bugging how I made it out the hood, dazzle me
How far are we really✦ from third world savagery?
When the empire✦ fall, imagine how crazy✦ that'll be
[Chorus: Nas & Flo Simpson]
America✦ (Americaaaaaa,✦ Americaaaaaa)✦
America✦ (Americaaaaaa✦
This is not what you think it is)
America✦ (Americaaaaaa,✦ ohh
This is not what you think it is)
[Outro: Nas]
America✦
Technical Breakdown
7.7
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres8.5
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 Control7.5
Performance and control
Computed Score7.68
Production
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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Nas utilizes sharp social critique disguised as pop-cultural commentary, effectively utilizing homophones and juxtaposition to highlight systemic inequality.
B+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
6.5
Cadence / Flow
7.5
Vocabulary
8.5
Wordplay
7.5
Delivery
Political allegoryInternal rhyme chainsJuxtaposition of cultural iconsSociological commentary
Rhyme Architecture: A dense weave of multisyllabic end rhymes complemented by heavy internal rhyming clusters (e.g., 'suckers/snitches/economy').
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Who's the god of suckers and snitches? The economy"
① A commentary on the capitalist structure creating incentives for betrayal.② A personification of 'the economy' as a false deity that demands moral sacrifice.
"But not enough niggas in NASA"
① A literal critique of the lack of Black representation in space exploration.② A structural critique of how Black excellence is channeled toward fleeting cultural 'trends' rather than high-level scientific and institutional power.
"Woven into the fabric"
① Refers to the literal clothing mentioned in the next line (white tees/jeans).② Metaphorical reference to how Black individuals are embedded in, yet alienated from, the national 'fabric' of America.
Exceptional word economy
Strong thematic cohesion
Effective use of contrast to highlight systemic failure
Delivery intensity remains somewhat plateaued compared to the volatility of the subject matter
Relies on established cultural archetypes that slightly limit the subtext