The Seventh Seal

Working for You

Rakim

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

31

End

175

Internal

36

Multi

178

Slant

12

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
I've been working✦ for you, doing all I can (all I can)
All the time (all the time)
I've been working✦ for you, doing all I can (all I can)
All the time (all the time)
I've been working✦ for you, doing all I can (all I can)
All the time (all the time)
I've been working✦ for you, doing all I can (all I can)
All the time (all the time)
[Verse 2]
If you don't hear from me, call the priest and don't think papi cheating
If I ain't there something✦ happened to me, the block is heated
Just go in the ceilings and the boxes✦ and the closets keep it
I hid the yearly✦ profits we get in the Sealy✦ Posturepedic
I got to leave it drugs squeezing guns and the ghetto✦
Last thing I wanna✦ do is leave you a young widow✦
But the scent of papi's Issey✦ Miyake still on the pillow✦
So I'mma✦ find a way to survive and stay alive✦
Don't let the Lexus✦ scare you just let it just prepare you
I spraying nine's✦ some thorough plus I'm extra✦ careful
Got something✦ good waiting for me you know I'll be there boo
Incredible head to toe plus the sex is rare too
Got you the cranberry Benz you say yeah I'm happy✦
But you don't want nothing if you can't have me
So I'mma✦ switch the gig when I get rich from this
Then go legit and handle businesses, kiss the kids
[Chorus]
I've been working✦ for you, doing all I can (all I can)
All the time (all the time)
I've been working✦ for you, doing all I can (all I can)
All the time (all the time)
I've been working✦ for you, doing all I can (all I can)
All the time (all the time)
I've been working✦ for you, doing all I can (all I can)
All the time (all the time)
[Verse 3]
I ball for you, score for you, mall for you
I say I'm sorry,✦ but at times✦ I was wrong for you
Get into✦ your beef for you, plus, I be loyal
I go gutter free for you, even✦ flush a key for you
Right now, I'm ready✦ to change my lifestyle
Pipe down for you, lay the pipe down for you
Even✦ call free for you, all week for you
Lay off the heat for you, stay off the street for you
I'll take you out for lunch, anything✦ you want
Without the front for you, put out the blunt for you
Make sure you safe and sound, stay around✦ for you
You gonna✦ love the way your man lay it down for you
Hey, yo, hey, ma, everything✦ is—uh✦ huh, you got to know it
[Outro]

Technical Breakdown

8.3
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 Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.32

Production

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Rakim elevates standard street-narrative tropes through superior rhythmic pocketing and internal phrasal locking, creating a cohesive atmospheric tension that outpaces his contemporaries' technical benchmarks.

A
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
5
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Assonance-heavy internal rhymingMultisyllabic chain-linkingStaccato delivery variationThematic anchoring
Rhyme Architecture: Uses a sophisticated AAAA-monorhyme structure (cheating/heated/keep it/Posturepedic) extended over the opening bars, transitioning into a looser, more conversational flow for the narrative sections.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"I hid the yearly profits we get in the Sealy Posturepedic"

① Literal storage of illicit drug money inside the mattress for safekeeping.② A play on the brand name 'Posturepedic', suggesting the comfort/stability of the hidden wealth being tied to the domestic 'bed' of the relationship.

"I spraying nine's some thorough plus I'm extra careful"

① Direct reference to the 9mm firearm and the act of violence in the street.② The term 'thorough' acts as a double-entendre referring both to his competence as a street operator and his meticulous attention to detail in his 'work'.

Exceptional rhythmic placement of multis

Cohesive narrative arc within the verse

Commanding vocal presence that maintains interest despite repetitive subject matter

Vocabulary remains standard for the genre

Occasional reliance on genre-standard tropes (Lexus/Benz/guns)

Limited semantic depth outside of street survival themes

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