The Fix

Keep Me Down

Scarface

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

135

Internal

Multi

200

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus]

Watching^✦ us unfold^✦ with the times^✦

He don't really^✦ want a nigga^✦ to climb

You'd rather^✦ separate^✦ me from my family^✦ forever^✦

Instead^✦ of trying to keep us together^✦

You motherfuckers^✦ would rather^✦ keep me down

[Verse 2]

So what I rap about^✦ these streets

That don't make me be no less of a man

Than a person that do work with his hands

It's bad enough I gots to deal with all these pressures that stand

You tryin' to make me stray away^✦ from my plan

Know what I'm sayin'?

I'm from the gutter,^✦ where all we had was one another^✦

No wheat bread to butter,^✦ from one bed to the other^✦

All uncles^✦ and no brother^✦

My mother's at work

My grandfather was my dad

And when he died it hurt

And as I hold back the tears my eye-wells swell

I been praying for heaven,^✦ I been living^✦ in hell

And these niggas in my age group is dead or either^✦ locked^✦ up

The bitches no better,^✦ they smoked^✦ out or knocked up

But I still love my hood, that's where it started

Ain't no hard feelings, we partners nigga,^✦ regardless

That's why you always see me coming^✦ around^✦

Cause I could never^✦ turn my back on my town

But still I'm

[Chorus]

Watching^✦ us unfold^✦ with the times^✦

He don't really^✦ want a nigga^✦ to climb

You'd rather^✦ separate^✦ me from my family^✦ forever^✦

Instead^✦ of trying to keep us together^✦

You motherfuckers^✦ would rather^✦ keep me down

Watching^✦ us unfold^✦ with the times^✦

He don't really^✦ want a nigga^✦ to climb

You'd rather^✦ separate^✦ me from my family^✦ forever^✦

Instead^✦ of trying to keep us together^✦

You motherfuckers^✦ would rather^✦ keep me down

[Verse 3]

Money^✦ never^✦ changed^✦ me

Money^✦ changed^✦ the people around^✦

Now they plot to try to keep me down

But still I rise like yeast

Your whole conversation bout B

Fuck a nigga^✦ talking bout me, I'm a G

The realest motherfucker^✦ ever^✦ done it

You can't continue to pimp me and y'all eat from it

So fuck every^✦ soul who ever^✦ felt like I owed^✦

Them a god damn dime, or a god damn rhyme or a god damn chance

Motherfucker^✦ you sad

You a grown ass man, holding a nigga^✦ hand

Now get out on your own, stop depending on your homes^✦

To chuck you a bone, and stop throwing stones^✦

And that goes for everybody thinking it's them

Fuck you, you and you

Her, him and him

Tom, Dick and Kim

All of y'all stand accused

Saying fuck to me

And I done bought your children's shoes

I'm...

[Chorus]

Watching^✦ us unfold^✦ with the times^✦

He don't really^✦ want a nigga^✦ to climb

You'd rather^✦ separate^✦ me from my family^✦ forever^✦

Instead^✦ of trying to keep us together^✦

You motherfuckers^✦ would rather^✦ keep me down

Watching^✦ us unfold^✦ with the times^✦

He don't really^✦ want a nigga^✦ to climb

You'd rather^✦ separate^✦ me from my family^✦ forever^✦

Instead^✦ of trying to keep us together^✦

You motherfuckers^✦ would rather^✦ keep me down

Technical Breakdown

8.1

Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes8.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm8.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.07

Production

— Nashiem Myrick, Lee Stone

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Scarface utilizes a raw, biographical narrative style, prioritizing emotional authenticity and rhythmic consistency over complex lyrical gymnastics, which was the hallmark of Southern storytelling in the early 90s.

9.5

Multisyllabic

8.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

6.5

Wordplay

8.5

Delivery

Internal rhyme clustersMultisyllabic narrative chainsDynamic cadence variationAnaphoric repetition

Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB/CC coupled with heavy internal multisyllabic clusters (e.g., 'dead or either locked up' / 'smoked out or knocked up'). Scarface favors masculine end-rhymes that lock into a consistent 4/4 time signature, allowing for conversational flows within a tight meter.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"No wheat bread to butter, from one bed to the other"

① A literal description of childhood poverty and transient living situations.② A sonic play on the absence of basic sustenance contrasted with the lack of stable housing.

"The bitches no better, they smoked out or knocked up"

① A direct observation of the cycle of drug addiction and unwanted pregnancy in the community.② A rhythmic contrast pairing substance abuse with the consequences of unprotected sexual activity.

Exceptional emotional resonance and narrative clarity

Highly effective cadence control that mimics natural speech patterns

Strong structural coherence in autobiography

Impeccable use of internal rhyme to sustain momentum

Limited usage of complex figurative language or abstract metaphors

Relies on established tropes of the era (hood struggles)

Lacks multi-layered entendres compared to contemporaries

Keep Me Down

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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