The Cookbook
9th Inning
Missy Elliott
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
27
End
162
Internal
91
Multi
170
Slant
11
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Timbaland]
We hit makin',✦ hit breakin'✦
Party✦ shakin',✦ innovative✦
Groundbreakin',✦ so creative✦
We be the most anticipated✦
Hit makin',✦ hit-breakin'✦
Party-shakin',✦ innovative✦
Groundbreakin',✦ so creative✦
We be the most anticipated✦
[During Chorus: Missy Elliot]
Ayo Timbaland✦
They thought it was over✦
We on that next shit
They're back! What?!
[Verse 2: Timbaland]
Now I'm in the 9th inning✦
Niggas✦ think I fell when I'm still winnin'✦
So I been gone for a hot minute✦
I love this shit, that's why I got a gift in it (Yeah)
Fuck nigga,✦ get fly
Nigga✦ can't talk wit' a gun in the mouth
Niggas✦ bitch up, bet they run in the house
I can smell bullshit when it walk by (Yeah)
Heard that old saying, yo
Never✦ ever✦ cross the one that give ya most
Never✦ ever✦ act funny✦ for the white folks
I'm a big fish, remember you a tadpole (Yeah)
I like Lady✦ Gaga✦
Why you let a nigga✦ do your whole album?✦
Where you think that fake producer got their style from?
Come fuck with a nigga,✦ watch the outcome (Yeah)
Ain't no real artists
Wack talent get in real starvin'
All you hear in music is the chorus
Well that's okay,✦ Timmy✦ back in the story✦
[Chorus: Timbaland]
We hit makin',✦ hit breakin'✦
Party✦ shakin',✦ innovative✦
Groundbreakin',✦ so creative✦
We be the most anticipated✦
Hit makin',✦ hit-breakin'✦
Party-shakin',✦ innovative✦
Groundbreakin',✦ so creative✦
We be the most anticipated✦
[During Chorus: Missy Elliot]
Y'all can't be serious
We break records, I done told y'all
How many✦ of y'all got a catalogue this long?
Don't worry,✦ I'll wait!
[Verse 3: Missy Elliott & Timbaland]
Down to the 9th inning✦
I'm the real deal, y'all pretending
Years later,✦ my songs still spinning
I do record deals no less than ten milli (Yeah!)
My hits be yay long
My songs go on like a marathon
Get ghost, get gone, you a dum-dum✦
Better✦ 'round here, come on bite this like a python (Yeah!)
Wanna✦ act fly?
Wanna✦ act like you better✦ than the M-I
Shakin✦ 'em, bakin✦ 'em all like a bean pie
Takin'✦ 'em, burnin✦ 'em down like I'm Left Eye (Yeah!)
Futuristic
Y'all can pack it up, I done ripped it
When you say my name, call me Miss Bitch
I make the next chick run to the exit✦ (Yeah!)
Yeah I got a sick sense
I'm making✦ this a movie like a Netflix
I'm on the guest list, on the checklist
I'm the flyest chick, now tell me who the best is! (Yeah!)
Elliott✦ be the name
Elliott✦ back in the game
Elliott✦ hit it with a bang
Bring the hook back in, Timbaland✦
[Chorus: Timbaland]
We hit makin',✦ hit breakin'✦
Party✦ shakin',✦ innovative✦
Groundbreakin',✦ so creative✦
We be the most anticipated✦
Hit makin',✦ hit-breakin'✦
Party-shakin',✦ innovative✦
Groundbreakin',✦ so creative✦
We be the most anticipated✦
[During Chorus: Missy Elliot]
Did y'all forget?!✦ I think they forgot!✦
They think we done
All we do is make hits?!
[Outro: Missy Elliott]
Man, if you wanna✦ hit?
Maybe we'll return your call
Don't call collect✦
You have a collect✦ call from... (Beep)
Technical Breakdown
7.7
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes8.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres5.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm8.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity7.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control7.5
Performance and control
Computed Score7.74
Production
— Timbaland, J-RocBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Timbaland utilizes a rhythm-focused, high-cadence delivery that prioritizes syncopation and internal vowel-matching over complex lyrical layering, fitting the era's production-led aesthetic.
B+
8.5
Multisyllabic
8.5
Internal Rhymes
8.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
5
Wordplay
7.5
Delivery
Vowel-heavy internal rhymeStaccato deliveryRhythmic syncopationDirect confrontational cadence
Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB or AAAA monorhyme structures based on terminal suffix matching (inning, winnin, minute, in it) combined with aggressive internal slant rhymes.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"got a gift in it"
① The literal possession of musical talent ('a gift') applied to his career.② A play on 'getting in it,' referencing his active return to the industry.
"9th inning"
① A baseball metaphor for the final stages of a game.② A metaphorical claim that even in his late career stage, he remains competitive.
Exceptional rhythmic pocket and flow control
Strong vocal presence and intensity
Consistent structural density that matches the production tempo
Low metaphorical density
Reliance on colloquial bravado tropes
Limited intellectual subtext