Stillmatic

Rule

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

203

Internal

Multi

256

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus: Nas and Amerie]

All this hate can't last forever^✦ (Uh, come on)

It's time that we stand together^✦ (Yeah, for the world)

Everybody^✦ wants to rule the world (What? What? What? What? What? Come on)

World (Peace)

World

[Verse 2: Nas]

Yo, there's^✦ brothers on the block, posted^✦ up like they own it

That's they corner,^✦ from New York to California

Got blocks locked^✦ down

Like, "Dog you safe whenever^✦ you with me, see, this is my town"

So the youngsters grows in ghettos, goes to prison^✦

At a early^✦ age already know what's against him

So in order^✦ for him to survive

One day he must open^✦ up his eyes to the setbacks and rise

'Cause everybody^✦ wants a shot

In this land of opportunity, look at what this country's^✦ got

There shouldn't be nobody^✦ homeless

How can the president fix other^✦ problems^✦ when he ain't fixed^✦ home yet?

The Earth wasn't made for one man to rule alone^✦

To all colors and creeds is to whom it belongs

I want land, mansions, banks, and gold

The diamonds in Africa,^✦ oil in my control

The world's natural resources, all its residuals

But then comes^✦ foes, I have to guard it with missiles

And I become^✦ the most wanted^✦

But is it worth hearing a million people problems^✦ and followed by Secret^✦ Service?

I guess, attempts at my life with loaded^✦ barrels

So move over^✦ Colin^✦ Powell^✦ or just throw in the towel,^✦ yo

[Chorus: Nas and Amerie]

All this hate can't last forever^✦ (Uh, come on)

It's time that we stand together^✦ (Yeah, for the world)

Everybody^✦ wants to rule the world (What? What? What? What? What? Come on)

World (Peace)

World

[Verse 3: Nas]

Y'all know that's my style, to hit you at the right time

No other^✦ compares to what Nas write down

Tell you my dreams, show you my pain is yours

You could get what you love, be a chain in cause

You alive^✦ right now

There's^✦ so many^✦ that's dead or locked^✦ up inside^✦ the beast, I'm a highlight now

It's whatever^✦ man think of manifest to the real

The plan is to wake up 'cause time reveals

All this hate can't forever^✦ last

All my ghetto heroes^✦ in Heaven,^✦ it's like you right here and never^✦ passed^✦

You just transcend, I know I'm gon' see you again^✦

Hoping^✦ I reach the world leaders and win

Ain't nothing^✦ without struggle, listen^✦ up, it's critical^✦

We used^✦ to fear arms, now the weapons^✦ are chemical^✦

In hip-hop,^✦ the weapons^✦ are lyrical^✦

To be the best, you challenge the best, then the blessings are spiritual

Top of the world for the kid, none less

Poppin'^✦ any^✦ rapper's head off his shoulders, no contest

I know the Most High hear me, so fly you can't near me

You scared^✦ of a mirror, my theory^✦ is that knowledge is power^✦

To every^✦ projects and every^✦ street corner,^✦ we gotta^✦ get ours now

[Outro: Nas and Amerie]

All this hate can't last forever^✦

It's time that we stand together^✦

Everybody^✦ wants to rule the world

World

[Outro: Skit]

Yo, niggas^✦ ain't forget^✦ shit, know what I'm saying?

Niggas^✦ ain't forget^✦ nothing,^✦ man

Men, women^✦ and children killed^✦ by the police^✦ and shit

Niggas^✦ ain't gon' forget^✦ that, man, you know what I mean?

Yo, what this war just show me is, like

Whatever^✦ you want out of life, whatever^✦ you feel is rightfully yours

Go out and take it, even^✦ if that means blood and death

You know, that's what I was raised^✦ up on, that's what this country's^✦ about^✦

This is— This is what my country is

And my country's^✦ a motherfucker

Technical Breakdown

8.6

Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

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 Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.63

Production

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas utilizes a conversational, socio-political delivery that prioritizes thematic clarity over complex linguistic obfuscation, effectively bridging the gap between street-level observation and global critique.

8.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

6.5

Wordplay

Delivery

Sociopolitical commentaryConversational cadenceDirect addressParallelism

Rhyme Architecture: A mix of AABB and AAAA end-rhyme structures reinforced by heavy internal rhyming and rhythmic enjambment between street-level vernacular and societal observations.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"How can the president fix other problems when he ain't fixed home yet?"

① A literal critique of domestic policy vs. foreign policy during the early 2000s.② A play on the definition of 'home' as both the individual household/community and the nation as a collective home.

"The Earth wasn't made for one man to rule alone"

① A political critique of global hegemony and dictatorial power.② A subversion of the song's own title/hook 'Rule', arguing that the desire to rule is fundamentally incompatible with the Earth's design.

Strong rhythmic consistency that serves the message of unity

High level of clarity in narrative progression

Commanding vocal presence that adds weight to the political critique

Vocabulary complexity is lower relative to Nas's peak technical periods

Lack of complex multi-layered wordplay in favor of direct messaging

Relies heavily on traditional AABB structures which limits structural innovation

Rule

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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