Nastradamus
New World
Nas
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
51
End
235
Internal
73
Multi
177
Slant
40
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
(A new world)
Yo, welcome✦ to the new world, new beginnin'✦ (A new world)
A new way to play, a new way a livin'✦
(A new world)
Cash is the past, a new way a spendin'✦ (Uh) (A new world)
New life for man, children,✦ and women✦ (Uh)
(A new world)
Yo, welcome✦ to the new world, new beginnin'✦ (Uh) (A new world)
A new way to play, a new way a livin'✦ (Uh)
(A new world)
Cash is the past, a new way a spendin'✦ (Uh) (A new world)
New life for man, children,✦ and women✦
(A new world!)
[Verse 2]
Yo, the new Mike Tyson's Roy Jones✦
Bill Clinton's the new JFK, without the hole in his dome
The new Don Trump is Bill Gates✦
Not because his occupation, it's 'cause we respect his cake
And cake mean his stock, net gross
Young kids step it up, go for the most
New cameras in police✦ cars takin'✦ pictures✦
New hustlas gettin'✦ new street figures✦
And US embassies✦ overseas
Almost✦ every✦ foreign country's under✦ siege
Covertly startin' wars, CIA, NAVY✦ Seals
Commit larcenies✦ that be worth over✦ mil's
Oil in the earth spills
Girls blow they body✦ up, birth control pills
African's pick diamonds out a dark caves✦
Then we wear it on our necks just so we can light up the stage
[Chorus]
(A new world)
Yo, welcome✦ to the new world (Uh), new beginnin'✦ (A new world)
A new way to play, a new way a livin'✦ (Uh)
(A new world)
Cash is the past, a new way a spendin'✦ (Uh) (A new world)
New life for man, children,✦ and women✦ (Uh)
(A new world)
Yo, welcome✦ to the new world, new beginnin'✦ (Uh) (A new world)
A new way to play, a new way a livin'✦ (Uh)
(A new world)
Cash is the past, a new way a spendin'✦ (Uh) (A new world)
New life for man, children,✦ and women✦
(A new world!)
[Verse 3]
Say goodbye to the brainwashed
Say goodbye to the young kids who not smart
Say goodbye to the toasters and Pop-Tarts
Yo, it's real
Swallow a little pill, there's✦ a four-course meal
Say hello✦ to the one world
Say hello✦ to the sky, something's out there watchin' you and I
More enticin' than Star Trek, StarTAC phones✦
Your genes✦ and DNA is used to make clones✦
You got CD-Rom, everything operates by computers
Then what happens when circuit breaks?
Y2K's the big scare
Scientists say we ain't prepared
What I feel is contrare
Alexander Graham Bell made telephones, yes
But now we request for your e-mail✦ address
I might be old fashioned, stuck in my ways
But nothin'✦ make me more happier than seein' today✦
[Chorus]
(A new world)
Yo, welcome✦ to the new world, new beginnin'✦ (A new world)
A new way to play, a new way a livin'✦
(A new world)
Cash is the past, a new way a spendin'✦ (A new world)
New life for man, children,✦ and women✦
(A new world)
Welcome✦ to the new world, new beginnin'✦ (A new world)
A new way to play, a new way a livin'✦
(A new world)
Cash is the past, a new way a spendin'✦ (A new world)
New life for man, children,✦ and women✦
(A new world!)
Welcome✦ to the new world, new beginnin'✦ (A new world)
A new way to play, a new way a livin'✦
(A new world)
Cash is the past, a new way a spendin'✦ (A new world)
New life for man, children,✦ and women✦
(A new world!)
Welcome✦ to the new world, new beginnin'✦ (A new world)
A new way to play, a new way a livin'✦
(A new world)
Cash is the past, a new way a spendin'✦ (A new world)
New life for man, children,✦ and women✦
(A new world!)
[Outro]
It's a new world
It's a new world
It's a new world
Uh, it's a new world
Technical Breakdown
8.2
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm10.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity5.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control7.5
Performance and control
Computed Score8.20
Production
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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse functions as a transition-era socio-political snapshot, utilizing clever celebrity analogies to define a shift in power dynamics, though it lacks the dense lyrical complexity found in his earlier 90s output.
A
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
5
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
7.5
Delivery
Simile-heavy mappingInternal rhyme chainsSocio-political cultural commentaryEnd-rhyme consistency
Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB or AAAA couplet structures using slant and near-rhymes, focusing on heavy masculine endings to maintain a steady, declarative cadence.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"without the hole in his dome"
① A reference to the physical assassination of JFK by a gunshot wound to the head.② A metaphorical assertion that Clinton is 'smarter' or 'safer' in his political maneuvering, avoiding the fatal mistakes of his predecessor.
"respect his cake"
① In 90s slang, 'cake' refers to money or wealth.② A nod to the literal vastness of Bill Gates's assets, shifting from a hood-centric definition to a corporate, billionaire-centric definition.
Effective use of cultural signifiers to anchor temporal shifts
Commanding, observational flow
Clear articulation of societal shifts via status-based comparisons
Vocabulary remains relatively straightforward and literal
Lacks the internal density of his earlier, more introspective work
Some metaphors rely heavily on external context rather than inherent linguistic wit