The Great Depression

When I'm Nothing (featuring Stephanie Mills)

DMX

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

28

End

168

Internal

57

Multi

140

Slant

5

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Stephanie Mills]
What you gonna✦ do when I'm nothing?✦
You're crazy✦ about✦ my styyyyyyyyyle
What you gonna✦ do when I'm nothing?✦
Tell me nowwwwwwwwwww.. ohhhhh-ohhhhhh
[Verse 2: DMX]
Uhh, uhh, uhh, uhh
Every✦ cat I meet like, "Show me love!"
Every✦ girl I meet like, "I want a hug!"
Shit I might be just tryin' to pick somethin'✦ up
Can I get an autograph -- man, what the fuck?!
Is the love gon' be the same when
We start to realize that the game ends (Uh-huh)✦
Even✦ me, will I have the same friends? (Uhh)
Even✦ when I ain't got the same Benz (Uhh)
What about✦ when the dough get low (Woo!)
Shoulda peeped money✦ from the get-go✦
Disappeared, ain't that a bitch yo?
Now you know, that's that bullshit yo
Can't forget✦ all them fake "love you" bitches✦ (Uh-HUH!)✦
Take 'em to the room, wanna✦ fuck you bitches✦ (Uh-HUH!)✦
Walk through the mall wanna✦ touch you bitches✦ (Uh-HUH!)✦
Listen!✦ I got a wife, I don't trust you bitches✦ (C'mon!)
[Chorus: Stephanie Mills]
What you gonna✦ do when I'm nothing?✦
You're crazy✦ about✦ my styyyyyyyyyle
What you gonna✦ do when I'm nothing?✦
Please don't have me acting wild
What you gonna✦ do when I'm nothing?✦
Tell me nowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Tell me now, tell me now (WHAT?!)
Tell me (WHAT?!) what you gonna✦ tell me? (WHAT?!)
Tell me (Uh) tell me (Uh)
What you gonna✦ tell me?
[Verse 3: DMX]
Holla✦ at the boy if you know the truth
See what I'm doin', I'm tryin' to show the youth
Trust me I been through it so I got the proof
Give 'em somethin'✦ to eat that ain't gon' break a tooth
And everybody knows how I get down (C'mon)
Show the dog love when he hit town (C'mon)
They don't give a fuck who I'm with now (C'mon)
V.I.P. don't give a fuck where I sit now (Aight?!)
All this shit changed but it's still the same
But you gotta✦ do it in order to play the game
Keep shit brief when you say my name (F'real)
Give me the love, nigga✦ fuck the fame (F'real)
When the shit is gone, where you gon' be? (Hmmmmm)
When I look no more, what you gon' see? (Hmmmmm)
Shit, a muh'fucker lookin'✦ hungry✦ (Aight?!)
And even✦ then, is you gon' love me?
[Chorus: Stephanie Mills]
What you gonna✦ do when I'm nothing?✦
You're crazy✦ about✦ my styyyyyyyyyle
What you gonna✦ do when I'm nothing?✦
Tell me nowwwwwwwwwww.. ohhhhh-ohhhh✦
What you gonna✦ do when I'm nothing?✦
You're crazy✦ about✦ my styyyyyyyyyle
What you gonna✦ do when I'm nothing?✦
Tell me nowwwwwwwwwww.. ohhhhh-ohhhh✦
[Stephanie and DMX ad lib to fade]

Technical Breakdown

7.2
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres4.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity5.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.19

Production

— Dame Grease, DMX, Black Key

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

DMX prioritizes raw emotional projection and rhythmic intensity over complex lyrical architecture, utilizing a cyclical flow to emphasize his paranoia and skepticism regarding fame-seeking associates.

B
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7
Cadence / Flow
5
Vocabulary
4.5
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Aggressive ad-lib placementStaccato deliveryRepetitive phrasing for thematic reinforcementInternal rhyme clustersAABB rhyme scheme progression
Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies heavily on AAAA, BBBB, and CCCC terminal rhyme structures with high-frequency end-rhymes (love/hug/up/fuck; same/ends/friends/Benz; low/go/yo/yo; bitches/bitches/bitches/bitches).
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Shit I might be just tryin' to pick somethin' up"

① The physical act of engaging in a sexual encounter.② The mundane act of collecting material goods or items while distracted by fame.

"Is the love gon' be the same when / We start to realize that the game ends"

① The literal conclusion of a career or public relevance.② The exposure of the 'game' as a manipulative or hollow construct.

High-octane delivery that conveys authentic frustration

Effective use of vocal ad-libs to punctuate the beat

Relatable thematic exploration of fair-weather fame

Tight rhythmic pocket maintenance

Limited lexical variation

Lack of intricate multi-layered double entendres

Heavy reliance on repetitive end-words to finish bars

Minimal metaphorical complexity

User Scores