The 18th Letter

New York (Ya Out There)

Rakim

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

26

End

88

Internal

34

Multi

158

Slant

8

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2: Rakim]
A-yo, we got blocks and blocks
Of big shots with big knots and big props
Yo, this is where the bullshit stops
Where herbs get got
If you snitch, you get shot
We get down, and leave the town in a state of shock
(WE GOT) dangerous hang-out spots and slick cops
Place called✦ Rikers Island✦ where kids get locked✦
A lotta✦ gear to rock with blocks of clothes shops
Styles✦ are top notch, this is the place to watch
So blast the box, the radio✦ station✦ is hot
Ease your mind starin'✦ at skylines from rooftops
Flip scripts for chips, and new whips off the lot
Quick to call a shot, politic' with thick plots
And the Garden✦ of Eden✦ against the sea that we got
To make sure the core of the Big Apple don't rot
Where seeing's believin',✦ we be achievin'✦ a lot
Where disc-jocks created hip-hop,✦ check it out!
(Queens - ya out there? no doubt
Manhattan - no doubt
New York city,✦ Staten✦ Island✦
New York, New York, Long Island✦
New York - ya out there?)
[Verse 3: Rakim]
A-yo, we got five boroughs of ghettos with many✦ places✦ to meet
You get lost in busy✦ streets, the city✦ that never✦ sleeps
Mecca,✦ Pelan, Medina,✦ the population✦ increase✦
The desert and the oasis, New York, the far east
With Gods and sheiks, pretty✦ Amazons for weeks
Player dons that fleece, the family's black sheep
Icons✦ that teach but we all act unique✦
We got stats to reach, so we all have to eat
A mass of peeps, with they own masterpiece
The crafts' elite,✦ we be goin' past the peak
The latest technique no other✦ place get as deep
Who parks release✦ some of the world's greatest athletes
DJ's and MC's and graffiti artistes
Who use walls and subway✦ trains for marquees
We go back to b-boys, breakdancin', breakbeats
And it'll never✦ cease!
And on that note, we say peace

Technical Breakdown

8.6
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm9.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity8.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.59

Production

— DJ Premier

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Rakim elevates regional boosterism into a masterclass of rhythmic precision, utilizing a relentless internal rhyme scheme that emphasizes New York's cultural dominance through percussive cadence rather than complex metaphorical abstraction.

A
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
9
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
7
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Heavy use of internal assonanceStaccato flow deliveryGeographic cataloging as rhythmic deviceMulti-syllabic end-rhyme chains
Rhyme Architecture: Rakim employs an aggressive AAAA-style rhyme scheme throughout the verse, anchoring almost every end-line on a /-ot/ or /-ock/ phonetic cluster, creating a driving, percussive pulse that acts as a metronome for the listener.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Flip scripts for chips"

① To rewrite or change the narrative/plan② A slang reference to earning money (chips) through hustle

"Garden of Eden against the sea"

① A biblical allusion to a paradise or precious location② A geographical metaphor for New York City being an island/coastal hub

Exceptional rhythmic consistency and pocket placement

Commanding vocal presence that asserts regional authority

Innovative use of internal rhymes to break up the dense end-rhyme structure

Effective integration of city-specific references as a structural foundation

Limited metaphorical variety due to the focus on regional pride

Repetitive phonetic endings may become monotonous for listeners seeking narrative progression

Lack of complex narrative depth compared to his more abstract lyrical work

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