The Great Depression
Shorty Was da Bomb
DMX
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
36
End
128
Internal
60
Multi
207
Slant
12
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Hook: DMX]
Shorty,✦ UH!
We only✦ did it for that night
But man, the pussy✦ was good
But shorty's✦ fucking✦ up my life, fucking✦ up my life
Shorty,✦ UH!
We only✦ did it for that night
But man, the pussy✦ was good
But shorty's✦ fucking✦ up my life
C'mon, ma, give me a break!
[Verse 2: DMX]
A few days later,✦ I hit her up just to keep it real
Was like, "Whassup, boo? How you been? How you feel?"
She said, "Aight, but my friend's kinda late
Today's✦ the 13th, and it should've been here on the 8th"
I'm like, "For real?! Don't stress it, it'll come
It better✦ cause I can't afford another✦ little one"
She said, "Neither can I", I said, "Cool
Cause I got mad shit to do and you still going to school"
So at least we had the same thing in mind
Not to have this kid and everything would be fine
But I was blind to the fact that she was setting✦ me up
For the kill, damn, why wasn't she on the pill?
And I still would check on her like once a week
Sometimes✦ I hit it, sometimes✦ I didn't, but shorty✦ was a freak
And whenever I would speak on the baby✦
Shorty✦ would be like, "I ain't having✦ this kid, is you crazy?"✦
[Hook]
Shorty,✦ UH!
We only✦ did it for that night
But man, the pussy✦ was good
But shorty's✦ fucking✦ up my life, fucking✦ up my life
Shorty,✦ UH!
We only✦ did it for that night
But man, the pussy✦ was good
But shorty's✦ fucking✦ up my life
C'mon, ma, give me a break!
[Verse 3: DMX]
By now, wasn't looking too good
Cause she wasn't doing things that she told me she would
Like getting✦ the price checked out for what we had to do
And it goes up another✦ yard for every✦ month after✦ two
And a half, I had to laugh out of frustration✦
Now she's four months, I'm ready✦ to hit the bus station✦
If I was still on that shit it would've made me rob her
Told her friends, "DMX? Yeah, that's my baby's✦ father"✦
Her lil' stomach is shown, so now the heat is on
Maybe she'll see the light if I start to treat her wrong
Like if she thought that if she kept the baby✦ she would keep me, So I played the game on her level,✦ got sneaky✦
Let her have the kid, she said it was premature✦
Found out she was six months when she said she was four
So I left her with the pressure✦ on the next man's arm
But she'll be aight, cause shorty✦ was the bomb
[Hook]
Shorty,✦ UH!
We only✦ did it for that night
But man, the pussy✦ was good
But shorty's✦ fucking✦ up my life, fucking✦ up my life
Shorty,✦ UH!
We only✦ did it for that night
But man, the pussy✦ was good
But shorty's✦ fucking✦ up my life
C'mon, ma, give me a break!
Technical Breakdown
8.5
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5
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 Complexity6.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control8.5
Performance and control
Computed Score8.49
Production
— Damon BlackmanBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse functions as a high-stakes narrative vignette that prioritizes conversational transparency and rhythmic cadence over dense lyrical acrobatics, characteristic of DMX's storytelling style.
A
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
5
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Conversational flowInternal rhyme couplingDirect narrative progressionEmotive vocal inflections
Rhyme Architecture: The verse primarily utilizes AABB end-rhyme couplets with heavy internal rhyme placement to maintain a frantic, anxious momentum, reflecting the urgency of the subject matter.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"my friend's kinda late"
① The literal friend is tardy to an appointment.② A euphemism for a missed menstrual cycle, signaling a potential pregnancy.
"setting me up for the kill"
① To cause someone's downfall through deception.② A specific reference to trapping him in a relationship or a life-altering responsibility he was not prepared for.
Exceptional rhythmic drive that mimics natural speech
Immediate narrative clarity and emotional stakes
Strong use of internal rhyme to push the pacing forward
Relies on straightforward, literal storytelling rather than abstract metaphor
Lack of complex linguistic layered meaning
Vocabulary is intentionally utilitarian