The Great Depression
You Could Be Blind (featuring Mashonda)
DMX
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
55
End
304
Internal
36
Multi
259
Slant
20
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Mashonda & DMX]
You could be blind
But you gon' see it when you need to see it
You gon' be fine
'Cause you gon' be here when you need to be here
One of a kind
First free your mind, and then you'll free your spirit✦
Go where I go, dog in my life (Oh, ohh)
You could be blind
But you gon' see it when you need to see it
You gon' be fine
'Cause you gon' be here when you need to be here
One of a kind
First free your mind and then you'll free your spirit✦
Go where I go, dog in my life (Oh, ohh)
[Verse 2: DMX & [?]]
Uh
Now see, what I do is peep shit, keep shit low key
(Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, what?)
Keep paying attention to what you trying to show me
Listen,✦ but you never✦ know me, listen✦ (What?)
Don't give me and don't owe me
Don't tell me that you love me (Uh)
Don't talk shit, don't kill me slowly✦
Cause a dog like me, is an only✦
Meaning, hit another like me, the truth hurts, but I can't be phony✦
You always looking for bad (Uh!)
Look at you mad
But you won't be satisfied 'til it took what you had
(Aight) See, I'm a thorough✦ nigga,✦ I keep my word
And anybody that's ever✦ met me, got love for me
So I keep a heard
And that shit y'all niggas✦ told me got me fucked✦ up in the head
Went from, "Yo, that's my dog"
To, "Get that nigga✦ dead"
What the fuck is all this? (What?)
News to me
Dog it's like that?
Ain't what it used✦ to be
See some niggas✦ choose to be on the other✦ side of the fence (Uh)
Keep riding✦ with this (Uh)
Get fried in the mist (Come on!)
[Chorus: Mashonda & DMX]
You could be blind
But you gon' see it when you need to see it
You gon' be fine
'Cause you gon' be here when you need to be here
One of a kind
First free your mind, and then you'll free your spirit✦
Go where I go, dog in my life (Oh, ohh)
You could be blind
But you gon' see it when you need to see it
You gon' be fine
"Cause you gon' be here when you need to be here
One of a kind
First free your mind, and then you'll free your spirit✦
Go where I go, dog in my life (Oh, ohh)
[Verse 3: DMX]
Now if it ain't that, then don't say that
Cause I don't play that, y'all play that
But the okay✦ black, damn, why you say that?
I thought that (What?)
Nevermind, I just thought it
We supposed to keep it real
I'm just doing what I was taught (Aight?)
Misery,✦ loves✦ company (Uh)
Now you niggas✦ talkin'✦ 'bout
Jumpin'✦ me (Uh), pumpin'✦ me
Full of slugs, blood, what's up, with the love
Damn, understand, what a real, nigga✦ does
Don't listen✦ to the buzz, don't get caught up in the hype
You'll lose everything that you worked✦ for
Tryin' to take a nigga's✦ stripes (Aight?)
Live life through life (Uh-huh), and so on and so on (Uh!)
That's one to grow on, man, get your flow on
You niggas✦ gettin'✦ too old for this kid shit
On the real, we all done did shit to get shit (Hmmm)
Snake shit, right is right, wrong is wrong
Muh'fucker, listen✦ to this song
You see what shit I'm on (Come on!)
[Chorus: Mashonda & DMX]
You could be blind
But you gon' see it when you need to see it
You gon' be fine
'Cause you gon' be here when you need to be here
One of a kind
First free your mind, and then you'll free your spirit✦
Go where I go, dog in my life (Oh, ohh)
You could be blind
But you gon' see it when you need to see it
You gon' be fine
'cause you gon' be here when you need to be here
One of a kind
First free your mind and then you'll free your spirit✦
Go where I go, dog in my life (Oh, ohh)
Technical Breakdown
8.0
Multisyllabic Rhymes6.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres4.5
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm10.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity6.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control7.5
Performance and control
Computed Score7.99
Production
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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse relies on DMX's iconic vocal presence and rhythmic delivery to compensate for a simplistic lyrical approach that prioritizes cadence over complex metaphor.
B+
6.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
4.5
Wordplay
7.5
Delivery
Staccato phrasingInternal rhyme clustersCall-and-response vocal layeringRhythmic emphasis on end-rhymes
Rhyme Architecture: A dense AAAA rhyme structure utilizing 'ee' vowel sounds (peep, keep, key, me, see) to anchor the flow, punctuated by short, bark-like cadence breaks.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Don't give me and don't owe me"
① A literal request to maintain a clean-slate social interaction without transactional burdens.② A psychological boundary setting used to distance himself from the manipulative behaviors of others.
"Don't talk shit, don't kill me slowly"
① A direct demand for honest, non-aggressive communication.② A metaphor for emotional exhaustion where the accumulation of deceit and negative talk acts as a lethal, drawn-out process.
High-impact vocal delivery that defines the track's mood
Consistent rhythmic pocket maintained despite minimalist lyrical content
Strong use of internal rhyme to maintain forward momentum
Lack of complex wordplay or multi-layered entendre
Lyrical content leans on genre clichés regarding trust and street wisdom
Short verse structure leaves little room for thematic development