It Was Written

Suspect

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

137

Internal

Multi

177

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus: Nas & a bunch of random guys]

To the suspect^✦ witness,^✦ don't come outside^✦

You might get your shit pushed^✦ back tonight^✦

Suspect^✦ witness,^✦ don't come outside^✦

You might get your shit pushed^✦ back tonight^✦

[Chorus: Nas, random guy, a bunch of random guys]

Suspect^✦ witness,^✦ don't come outside^✦ (What?)

You might get your shit pushed^✦ back tonight^✦ (Yeah)

Suspect^✦ witness,^✦ don't come outside^✦

You might get your shit pushed^✦ back tonight^✦

[Verse 2: Nas & random guy]

Dear God, I want the riches^✦ (What?). Money-hungry bitches infested

Givin'^✦ the jealous^✦ niggas^✦ sickness to witness^✦

My crew dresses in vests-es, feel the essence

Try to test this scientist, able and reckless

Slaughter, Nautica'd down, frames^✦ look petite^✦

Ten millies,^✦ minks designed just for my physique

I keep a low pro' as if I owe, bless the flow lovely^✦

My pants hang while I'm dancin',^✦ sippin'^✦ the bubbly^✦

Hey! Me no worry,^✦ hashish keep my eyes Chinese^✦ (Me no worry)^✦

Rollin'^✦ two Phillies^✦ together make blunts Siamese^✦

I meant it, I represent it, descendant made of early^✦ natives

That were captured and taught to think backwards

Trapped^✦ us in a cracker's psychiatric, it's massive

A Million^✦ Man March, alert the masses^✦

Tan Clarks, Armani^✦ in small print upon^✦ my glasses

Don assassins, armageddon

The wedding of a freak and a beast, seven^✦ heads

Got the righteous^✦ threatened

Life was written, the plot curves^✦ behind the settin'^✦

Comprehend the grammar, math we own

Are you the type of nigga^✦ to shoot a leg to get your name known?

I flip the brain tone, niggas^✦ get hit and wrapped^✦ in plastic

The mic I strike in vain givin'^✦ the pain of what a MAC is

What you wit'? Lucci^✦ or drama?^✦ No sleep means insomnia

No need to check the clock, the streets'll time ya (Time ya)

[Chorus: Nas & a bunch of random guys]

Suspect^✦ witness,^✦ don't come outside^✦ ([?], boy, shit is real)

You might get your shit pushed^✦ back tonight^✦

Suspect^✦ witness,^✦ don't come outside^✦

You might get your shit pushed^✦ back tonight^✦ (Yeah. Ye-eh-eh-ah)

[Verse 3: Nas & random guy]

It justifies^✦ Nas Escobar's leavin'^✦ shit mesmerized

Mega^✦ live like the third world

Decipher my deceiver,^✦ make him a believer

Spittin' Gem Stars, words in my mic type receiver^✦

Bond is my life, so I live by my word

Never^✦ fraudulent, Queensbridge^✦ don't make no herbs

Spread my name to deacons, politicians while they speakin'

Rebel^✦ to America's civilization,^✦ caught you sleepin' (Blaow!)

[Outro: Jungle & Nas]

Queensbridge,^✦ boy! Once again,^✦ boy! (Recognize,^✦ boy! Recognize!)^✦

Stupid motherfuckers!

Yeah, yeah

Street educated^✦

Created^✦ (Created)^✦

Fly gangsta^✦ (Fly gangsta)^✦

Firm style (Firm style)

AZ (AZ)

What up, what up? (What up?)

Jungle (Jungle)

Benny^✦ Blanco^✦ from the 'Bridge ('Bridge)

'Mega^✦ ('Mega)^✦

Big Hi (Big Hi)

Clap 'em down (Down)

L.E.S. on a murder^✦ quest (Murder^✦ quest)

Yeah, yeah, y'all (Yeah, y'all)

Technical Breakdown

7.3

Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm5.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.5

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.35

Production

— L.E.S.

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas exhibits a high-level command of internal rhyme structures and multisyllabic density that was ahead of its 1994 contemporaries, balancing grit with a sociopolitical critique of systemic entrapment.

B+

9.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

5.5

Cadence / Flow

7.5

Vocabulary

7.5

Wordplay

Delivery

Multisyllabic internal rhymingAssonance-heavy phrasingSociopolitical historical anchoringPhonetic manipulation for rhyme density

Rhyme Architecture: The verse utilizes complex internal rhyming patterns, specifically linking 'riches', 'bitches', 'sickness', 'witness', 'vests-es', and 'reckless' to drive momentum, transitioning into a rhythmic triplet-influenced flow in the middle section.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"My crew dresses in vests-es"

① Physical armor: The crew wears bulletproof vests for protection.② Linguistic play: The phonetic stretching of 'vests' to 'vests-es' forces a rhythmic convergence with the preceding rhyme chain.

"Rollin' two Phillies together make blunts Siamese"

① Literal construction: Combining two cigar shells into one oversized blunt.② Anatomical/Historical reference: Utilizing the 'Siamese twins' metaphor to describe a connected or fused entity.

"Think backwards / Trapped us in a cracker's psychiatric"

① Psychological control: Referring to the systemic indoctrination of the populace.② Historical critique: Mapping the 'backwards' thinking to the institutionalized disenfranchisement described in the preceding lines.

Exceptional density of internal rhymes within the opening bars

Strong command of cadence that flows effortlessly over the beat

Successful blend of street-level narrative and abstract social commentary

Vivid, era-specific stylistic imagery (Nautica, minks)

Some punchlines lack the sharp resolution of his peak lyrical periods

The concluding social commentary, while profound, creates a slight tonal shift from the earlier braggadocio

Dependency on slang that occasionally sacrifices narrative clarity for rhyme constraints

Suspect

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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