The Great Depression
School Street
DMX
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
38
End
186
Internal
85
Multi
177
Slant
15
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
Grrrrrrr.. uh, uh, uh, YEAH!
UHH! Fourth motherfuckin time baby✦ (WHAT?)
Out the gate! (uh-huh)✦
You motherfuckers✦ can't be serious✦ (you can't be serious)✦
You thought I'd let you have this shit (WHAT?)
YOU THOUGHT THIS RAP SHIT WAS YOURS? (UH-UH!✦ Uh-uh!)✦
You motherfuckers✦ done lost your mind (uh-huh)✦
For real – get the fuck outta✦ here with that bullshit
I'm about✦ to let y'all niggas✦ know, how it's goin dizzy✦ baby✦
Uhh, uhh, UHH, UHH, UH!
School Street, School Street, home of the brave
Suckers✦ actin✦ like they want it, ends up in the grave (c'mon!)
I'm DMX but my, name ain't Dave (uh)
Step to my title and I'll crash yo' wave
Building #80 (uh-huh)✦ used✦ to L-I-V-E (uh-huh)✦
Come through on the, late night tip and you could see me (uhh!)
Coolin✦ with D-Nice and Box, my man (WHAT?!)
M.R., my number one fan (WHAT?!)
Small Paul, Mike Lou, native✦ New Yorkers
Chase a.k.a.✦ Kenny,✦ and Chuckie Walters (UH!)
Black Shawn, Black Tim and Black Darren✦ (woo!)
Black Tyrone,✦ Black Al and Black Baron✦ (woo!)
Rob and Carlos, Jersey✦ and Dink (UH!)
James✦ Weldon✦ with the, cuban✦ link (c'mon!)
Little Nick, Tony✦ Koch, and Ollie (uh-huh)✦
Remember✦ Dre, the one that used✦ to fuck wit Holly✦ (yeah!)
Abby✦ and Blue, B-Boyin Shawn
Bill Smith, Nick Bird, Scoop and Shawan✦ (UH!)
Can't forget✦ Long, Paris,✦ Tone and Donny✦ (WHAT?!)
Adman✦ to Steve, Fat Reggie, and Ronnie
Black Lonnie, D-Mack, and Michael
[*BLAM*] Ha ha! A.K.A.✦ Psycho✦ (WHAT?!)
Me and Nick Styles✦ used✦ to get piles✦ of cash (c'mon!)
My man Reg kept a jammy✦ in the stash (c'mon!)
Aiyyo Flocko,✦ Doug and Jerome✦ (uh-huh!)✦
It won't be long before✦ Ice comes✦ home
Nate Karasha, Bin, Buck
G's, Bashir,✦ don't give a fuck! (WHAT?!)
Little Joe, kickin✦ like Chuck Norris✦ (WHAT?!)
Most of all I can't forget✦ my man Forrest (WHAT?!)
Fourteen K Alfie, Bubbles Bo (UH!)
Ralph (?), Smooth and Derenzo (WHAT?!)
The old school with Money✦ Mark and Red Mack (yeah!)
Kool Breeze, Dry Kool, and Kangol✦ Jack (uh-huh!)✦
David Earl, Jeff Kato,✦ and Dylan✦
Peace to Mike Coleman (WHAT?!) heard the brother's chillin (woo!)
Little niggas,✦ like Big Joe and Nutty✦
Eighty-eight Dave Dan, the Peanut✦ gettin✦ money✦
Tweety✦ Bird, Big Monty✦ and Docky✦ (UH!)
His brother✦ Chico✦ Red Mask Brother✦ Hockey✦ (UH!)
Gots to give a shoutout, to the deceased (aight?)
Little Monty✦ and Paso,✦ rest in peace
Yo I remember✦ all that, cause I was there
School Street got shit sewn up all the way to the square (WHAT?!)
No one would dare even,✦ stop to stare (UH!)
Cause they know we don't care and we don't play fair (UH-HUH!)✦
Yeah, School Street is schoolin (WHAT?!)
Fuck what you heard, nigga,✦ School Street duelin✦ (WHAT?!)
Who you think you foolin✦ you'll end up in yo' grave (c'mon!)
Fuckin✦ with School Street, home of the brave (woo!)
Motherfucker,✦ now you know
Where I'm from... where it's at
WHAT?! Motherfucker✦ get the gat!
[*rapid gun blasts*]
Bitch-ass nigga.✦ Home of the brave! [*BLAM*]
Technical Breakdown
8.8
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres5.0
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 Control9.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.82
Production
— Dame GreaseBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse functions as a visceral, rhythmic declaration of dominance that prioritizes street-level storytelling and localized, percussive cadence over complex metaphorical density.
A+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
5
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Cataloging (name-dropping for street authenticity)Ad-lib syncopationInternal rhyme clustersVocal layering
Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB couplets with dense internal multi-rhyme chains (e.g., 'brave/grave/Dave/wave') providing a steady rhythmic floor.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"I'm DMX but my, name ain't Dave"
① A direct rejection of the 'Dave' persona common in early 90s rap.② A play on the 'Dave' trope that DMX is a singular, aggressive character, not a standard or generic artist.
"Step to my title and I'll crash yo' wave"
① A literal warning to stop encroaching on his reputation/standing.② A metaphor for disrupting an opponent's momentum or 'flow' within the rap landscape.
Commanding, aggressive delivery that defines the persona
Exceptional rhythmic integration of ad-libs as part of the snare-like cadence
Authentic world-building through specific neighborhood references
Low metaphorical density compared to elite lyricists of the era
The list-heavy structure toward the end sacrifices narrative momentum for name-checking
Limited use of complex wordplay or multi-layered entendre