The Seventh Seal

Still in Love

Rakim

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

7

End

36

Internal

1

Multi

71

Slant

2

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 3]
It's the god Rakim, they know I get it in
They pull me back in, I'm going back in
Spitting fire, ghetto music
Getting higher like the drug therapeutic
Hooked like an addict, strung like sex
Look I gotta have it, it alleviates stress
Quick as marijuana, settle in the brain
Needle hit the record like heroin✦ the vein
Blood start flowing, adrenaline rush
Love start Jonesing, school yard crush
Ra still fiending, still emceeing
Raw deals and G'ing, broods still screaming
It's that dude, yeah, it's that sick
Spit that jewel, talk that shhhh
And wait '91til the lights go off the show start
That's when it's time for Ra to go off
I told you I'm still in love, always was}

Technical Breakdown

6.5
Multisyllabic Rhymes2.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm5.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity8.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.5

Performance and control

Computed Score6.45

Production

— Nick Wiz

Be the first to rate the production

Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Rakim utilizes 'Still in Love' to craft a sophisticated sonic metaphor equating the addictive nature of hip-hop performance to narcotics, bridging the gap between his persona as 'The God' and the vulnerability of human craving.

B
2.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
5.5
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
7.5
Delivery
Simile-heavy narrative framingPhonetic mirroring (assonance)Internal rhyme dense sequencingThematic extended metaphor
Rhyme Architecture: Primarily AABB/AABB flow with a consistent emphasis on high-density internal rhyme chains that pivot on shared vowel sounds (e.g., 'in', 'ex', 'ain').
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Needle hit the record like heroin the vein"

① The physical act of a turntable needle dropping onto a vinyl record to play music.② A heroin user injecting a substance into their vein for an immediate physiological 'hit'.

"Love start Jonesing"

① A feeling of deep longing or emotional obsession akin to a romantic 'crush'.② Slang for the physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms associated with drug addiction.

Exceptional rhythmic consistency characteristic of Rakim's peak

Coherent extended metaphor linking drug addiction to the art of emceeing

Strong use of internal rhyme to maintain forward momentum

Punchline impact is secondary to the rhythmic 'vibe' and flow

Some lyrical choices lean on genre clichés for the 1991 era

Limited multisyllabic density compared to the internal rhyme saturation

User Scores