Nastradamus
Some of Us Have Angels
Nas
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
18
End
146
Internal
112
Multi
293
Slant
6
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
Some of us have angels✦ (The kingdom,✦ the power)✦
Some of us have angels✦ (The power,✦ the glory)✦
Some of us have demons✦ (Greed and lust)
Some of us have demons✦ (Lust, temptation)✦
Some of us have angels✦ (The kingdom,✦ the power)✦
Some of us have angels✦ (The power,✦ the glory)✦
Some of us have demons✦ (Greed and lust) (Uh)
Some of us have demons✦ (Lust, temptation)✦ (Uh)
[Verse 2]
Now, this is your mom; your good luck charm
Pushin'✦ you to do no wrong. Praying for you that you live long
"Nobody✦ kill my baby,"✦ but she know her baby✦ crazy✦
In and out of jail, mom's screamin', "God take me!"
This is your pop'; chip off the old block that made him
The man of the house, mom and pops separatin'
Spittin' image✦ of a gangsta,✦ the way pop' walked✦
The way pop' talked.✦ Got older✦ and you thanked him now
This is your hood; poor folks drugs and robberies
Turnin'✦ into✦ the things moms wanted✦ you not to be
Crime followin' the wrong dudes✦ who have no value
Life's✦ cheap as the dime in the minds of those around✦ you
This is the test, the stress, the conflict, the ups and downs of
Niggas✦ around✦ you make threats
They tell you keep it gangsta,✦ no matter✦ the predicament
Even✦ though your decision✦ won't help you benefit
[Chorus]
Some of us have angels✦ (The kingdom,✦ the power)✦
Some of us have angels✦ (The power,✦ the glory)✦
Some of us have demons✦ (Greed and lust)
Some of us have demons✦ (Lust, temptation)✦
Some of us have angels✦ (The kingdom,✦ the power)✦
Some of us have angels✦ (The power,✦ the glory)✦
Some of us have demons✦ (Greed and lust)
Some of us have demons✦ (Lust, temptation)✦
[Verse 3]
Now, once again,✦ this is you entertainin' your desires
Bitches, money✦ and guns. Aimin'✦ and you fire
Everyday is grief. If it ain't beef, it's feedin'✦ your seed
Tryna eat? You form material needs
The weed make your brain sizzle. A pistol✦ make it cool off
By stickin' up niggas.✦ Make them take they jewels✦ off
His reputation✦ is bigger✦ than his whole lifespan
He never✦ planned to fail; he just failed✦ to plan
What does it take to realize Satan's alive,✦ he whispers?
And any✦ chance he get, he can take niggas✦
He comes✦ in all shapes✦ and sizes,✦ His best disguise is
When he stand beside✦ us, but God is inside✦ us, within✦ me
You are your worst enemy,✦ my mom's words echo✦ in my head
And if I let go, I'm dead
He stepped at my door, the takes✦ motivate my spirit✦
An out of body✦ experience, so, now, I feel it
Lookin'✦ at my blessings; the bullets that missed✦ me could have hit me
Them court cases✦ could have put me in the penitentiary
I never✦ hate; that's just wasted✦ energy✦
The past is gone, the present's a gift. So what's the mystery?
The future.✦ And time only✦ reveals what fear is
False expectations appearin' real
We only✦ human.✦ Love thy neighbor, so I was told
And I will 'til permanently, my eyes are closed✦
[Chorus]
Some of us have angels✦ (The kingdom,✦ the power)✦
Some of us have angels✦ (The power,✦ the glory)✦
Some of us have demons✦ (Greed and lust)
Some of us have demons✦ (Lust, temptation)✦
Some of us have angels✦ (The kingdom,✦ the power)✦
Some of us have angels✦ (The power,✦ the glory)✦
Some of us have demons✦ (Greed and lust)
Some of us have demons✦ (Lust, temptation)✦
Technical Breakdown
7.6
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm7.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity7.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control7.0
Performance and control
Computed Score7.64
Production
— Dame GreaseBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Nas utilizes a narrative framing device—'This is your...'—to create a visceral, biographical landscape that serves as a mirror for the listener, blending generational trauma with systemic critique.
B+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
7
Delivery
Anaphoric structureInternal rhyme clustersMultisyllabic enjambmentGenerational character archetype building
Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on a dense, multi-layered internal rhyme scheme paired with consistent end-rhymes (e.g., 'charm/wrong/long', 'crazy/me'), utilizing a steady AABB/CCDD variant structure common in mid-2000s storytelling.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"chip off the old block that made him / The man of the house"
① The literal inherited traits and behavior patterns from the father.② The son becoming the new provider/man of the house due to the father's absence or failings.
"Life's cheap as the dime in the minds of those around you"
① A dime refers to ten cents, denoting low monetary value placed on life.② A reference to drug culture (a dime bag), suggesting that in the street economy, human life is traded at the price of a drug unit.
Exceptional emotional resonance and narrative clarity
Effective use of anaphora to ground the listener in the subject matter
Strong character development within a limited line count
Relies more on narrative exposition than linguistic complexity
The 'test/stress/conflict' sequence is slightly generic compared to the specificity of the 'mom' and 'pop' sections