King's Disease II

Composure

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

9

End

111

Internal

39

Multi

176

Slant

2

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2: Nas]
Had yellow jaundice when I was born
Kept me in an incubator, ten days long
I made up songs, I was like humming tunes✦ ten years later✦
Writin'✦ in my room ten years after✦ that on stage like it's too soon, but
For me see, my parents met inside✦ a nightclub
Olu✦ started✦ to fight and then my moms broke it up
She said "This boy, he's in the Navy,✦ settle down before✦ y'all need savin'"✦
Pop went to war around the world, came home, we celebrated
AWOL
Fast forward✦ to when I started✦ to play ball
From a place where we hate law
See the Jakes✦ and we take off (Whoop whoop)
Hit the gate, I get home and take my chain off
Thankful I got through the day and all the evil I prayed off
Everything✦ is cause and effect
Make the wrong moves✦ in this business, you lose all your respect
My block is dark as it gets
We all make mistakes, only✦ a few will recover from 'em
Don't spend your whole life runnin'✦ from 'em, run up the numbers
[Chorus: Nas]
Should've told 'em I'm raising up on the totem
Yeah, boilin'✦ over,✦ pot full of yola✦
Mix it up with the cola,✦ son of a queen and a soldier
Can't let 'em fuck me over,✦ gotta✦ keep my composure,✦ look
[Outro: Shaka Senghor]
Keep your composure,✦ on city✦ blocks, and cell blocks
Keep your composure✦
Hold it down, hold it tight
Hold it close, hold space for yourself✦
It's the way of the ancestors
Our elders, our artists, our OGs, our dreamers, our builders
With each breath internalize their successes
Their struggles, their sense of self, their sense of overcoming
And take that power✦ forward✦ through your life
Remind yourself✦ of the magnitude of your good fortune
And the mere chance, one in billions, that you survived
That you will thrive
And even✦ the strongest kings and queens bend, yet remain✦ unbroken
Keep your composure✦
And believe✦ in the magic of who we are
Because what you believe✦ is everything✦
And what someone believes about you is nothing
Keep your composure,✦ I am Shaka✦ Senghor

Technical Breakdown

7.0
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm5.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.5

Performance and control

Computed Score7.02

Production

— Dr. Jesse Blum

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas utilizes a narrative-heavy, linear autobiography that bridges his origin (medical trauma) to his systemic survival (street wisdom), prioritizing vivid storytelling over complex lyrical acrobatics, yet maintaining high internal rhyming cohesion.

B
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
5.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7
Wordplay
7.5
Delivery
Chronological storytellingMultisyllabic internal rhyme clustersEnjambment for narrative flowConversational cadence
Rhyme Architecture: A mix of AABB and AAAA end-rhyme structures complemented by dense, multi-syllabic internal rhymes that anchor the rhythm across narrative transitions.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"run up the numbers"

① Accumulating wealth or success in the music industry② Increasing the count of 'mistakes' or experiences as one moves through life

"raising up on the totem"

① Ascending in social or status hierarchy (totem pole)② Literally elevating physical standing in a volatile street environment

Masterful transition from personal history to external street environment

Exceptional rhythmic placement of multisyllabic rhymes

Authentic, grounded perspective that feels conversational yet highly structured

Lacks high-frequency, complex double entendres compared to his peak lyrical output

Storytelling focus limits the frequency of explosive, multi-layered punchlines

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