King's Disease II

Nobody

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

24

End

204

Internal

82

Multi

232

Slant

11

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Nas]
In one city,✦ one country,✦ one state
Some place to be nobody✦
Some place to be
Some place you wouldn't know probably✦
Some place to be nobody✦
[Verse 2: Nas]
My dawg bought a plane, said "Let's go to Paris"✦
That's where baguettes are from, French bread that's long and narrow✦
I like the other✦ definition,✦ rectangular carats✦
The concept of this song is rather✦ esoteric
This girl said in Grenada we should go get married
Broke the meanin'✦ down of the Virgin✦ Mary✦
And you got your own place
My favorite part of the night when you text me that you made it home safe (I'm home)
I'm contemplatin' at the home base
How I'm used✦ to breakfast in the ghetto,✦ sippin'✦ OJ
That's a picture right there, a moment✦ in time
Before✦ anybody wanted✦ a photo✦ of mine
Before✦ the internet energy✦ and social✦ decline
Destroyed the vibe, foolin'✦ us with the headlines
(Keepin'✦ us blind) Vultures eat you alive✦
(Take heed to the signs) Wishin'✦ I'd find
[Chorus: Nas]
One city,✦ one country,✦ one state
Some place to be nobody✦
Some place to be
Some place you wouldn't know probably✦
Some place to be nobody✦ (Life)
[Verse 3: Lauryn Hill]
All my time has been focused on my freedom✦ now
Why would I join 'em when I know that I can beat 'em now?
They put their words on me, and they can eat 'em now
That's probably✦ why they keep on tellin'✦ me I'm needed✦ now
They tried to box me out while takin'✦ what they want from me
I spent too many✦ years livin'✦ too uncomfortably✦
Making room for people who didn't like the labor
But wanted✦ the spoils, greedy,✦ selfish behavior
Now let me give it to you balanced and with clarity✦
I don't need to turn myself into✦ a parody✦
I don't, I don't do the shit you do for popularity✦
They clearly didn't understand when I said, "I Get Out" apparently
My awareness✦ like Keanu✦ in The Matrix
I'm savin'✦ souls and y'all complainin' 'bout my lateness✦
Now it's illegal for someone✦ to walk in greatness
They want the same shh, but they don't take risks
Now the world will get to see its own reflection✦
And the anointed can pursue their own direction✦
And if you're wrong and you're too proud to hear correction✦
Walk into✦ the hole you dug yourself,✦ fuck a projection✦
See me in my freedom✦ takin'✦ all my land back
They said a lot against me thinkin' I'd just stand back
I got my legs beneath me, I got my hands back
A lot of people sabotaged, they couldn't stand that
I turned✦ the other✦ cheek, I took blow after✦ blow
There's✦ so much crisis✦ in the world 'cause you reap what you sow
When you keep what you know is meant for someone✦ else
The ditch you dig for them, you might just end up in yourself✦
I'm in the secret✦ place, I keep a sacred✦ space
They keep showin'✦ their hands, but keep hidin'✦ their face
If I'm a messenger, you block me then you block the message
So aggressive, the world you made is what you're left with
Pride and ego✦ over✦ love and truth is fuckin'✦ reckless
Y'all niggas got a death wish, the stupid✦ leaves✦ me breathless
[Outro: Nas]
Some place to be, yeah
Ain't duckin'✦ nothin'✦
Just might have to build my own city✦
Where y'all need a real nigga✦ passport to enter✦
Ms. Hill, we ain't goin' nowhere
They gon' have to deal with us
Make 'em uncomfortable, hahaha,✦ yeah

Technical Breakdown

8.5
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

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 Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.50

Production

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas exhibits elite-tier mastery by grounding complex existential reflection within conversational, plain-spoken cadences, successfully bridging the gap between high-concept intellectualism and the intimate, relatable flow of a veteran storyteller.

A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
8
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Multi-syllabic rhyme chainsConversational cadence shiftingThematic progressionInternalized narrative tensionSocial commentary via personal reflection
Rhyme Architecture: Nas employs a sophisticated multi-syllabic structure centered on the 'a-ee' and 'air-iss' phonetic clusters (Paris, baguettes, carats, esoteric, married, Mary), seamlessly transitioning into a more rhythmic, punch-oriented rhyme scheme as he moves from introspection to social observation.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"That's where baguettes are from, French bread that's long and narrow / I like the other definition, rectangular carats"

① The literal loaf of French bread, long and thin in shape.② A specific, elongated cut of a diamond (baguette-cut) which is rectangular and highly valued as jewelry.

"Broke the meanin' down of the Virgin Mary"

① A religious reference to the theological concept of the Virgin Mary.② A play on the 'purity' or the historical/mythological breakdown of the icon in a travel/romantic context.

High-level linguistic agility in the opening multi-syllabic sequences

Natural conversational flow that masks the high density of rhymes

Nuanced cultural critique regarding the impact of digital culture on privacy

Effective emotional grounding in the final bars

The transition from the 'baguette' wordplay to the 'social decline' critique is abrupt

Some internal imagery leans towards well-trodden 'fame vs. privacy' tropes

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