Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers

N95

Kendrick Lamar

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

14

End

134

Internal

67

Multi

170

Slant

5

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2]
The world in a panic,✦ the women✦ is stranded, the men on a run
The prophets abandoned, the law take advantage,✦ the market✦ is crashin', the industry wants
Niggas✦ and bitches to sleep in a box while they makin'✦ a mockery followin' us
This ain't Monopoly, watchin' for love, this ain't monogamy, y'all gettin'✦ fucked✦
Jumpin'✦ on what the hell is that? I gotta✦ relax when I feel (Huh, facts)
All my descendants, they come in my sleep and say I am too real (Huh, facts)
I'm done with the sensitive, takin'✦ it personal, done with the black and the white, the wrong and the right
You hopin'✦ for change and clericals, I know the feelings that came with burial's cries
[Chorus]
Bitch, huh, huh, ugh, you ugly✦ as fuck (You outta✦ pocket)✦
Huh, two ATMs (Hah, hah, hah, hah, hah), you steppin' or what? (You outta✦ pocket)✦
Huh, who you think they talk about?✦ Talk about✦ us (You outta✦ pocket;✦ shoot, shoot, shoot)
Who you think they copy✦ off? (Brrt, brrt, brrt, brrt) Copy✦ off us
[Bridge]
Servin'✦ up a look, dancin'✦ in a drought
Hello✦ to the big stepper, never✦ losin'✦ count
Ventin'✦ in the safe house
Ventin'✦ in the sa—
[Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar & Baby Keem]
Can I vent all my truth? I got nothin'✦ to lose, I got problems and pools, I can swim on my faith
Cameras movin'✦ whenever✦ I'm movin',✦ the family✦ suin' whatever✦ I make
Murder✦ is stackin',✦ the president actin',✦ the government taxin'✦ my funds in the bank
Homies✦ attractin' the feds when I'm brackin',✦ look at my reaction, my pupils on skates✦ (Hold up, hold up)
Let's think about✦ this for a second (Let's go)
Tell me what you would do for aesthetic (Let's go)
Would you sell your soul on credit?✦ (Let's go)
Would you sell your bro for leverage?✦ (Let's go)
Where the hypocrites✦ at?
What community✦ feel they the only✦ ones✦ relevant?✦ (Let's go)
Where the hypocrites✦ at?
What community✦ feel they the only✦ ones✦ relevant?✦ (Let's go)
[Outro]
Huh, huh, huh, you outta✦ pocket,✦ yeah, you outta✦ pocket✦ (This shit hard)
You entertain the mediocre, need to stop it (This shit hard)
You entertainin' old friends when they toxic✦ (This shit hard)
What your life like? Bullshit and gossip (This shit hard)
What the fuck is cancel✦ culture, dog?
Say what I want about✦ you niggas,✦ I'm like Oprah,✦ dog
I treat you crackers like I'm Jigga,✦ watch, I own it all
Oh, you worried 'bout a critic?✦ That ain't protocol (Bitch)

Technical Breakdown

8.0
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres8.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm6.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.2

Performance and control

Computed Score8.04

Production

— Boi-1da, Sounwave, Jahaan Sweet, Baby Keem

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Kendrick utilizes high-density, syncopated internal rhyme structures to mirror the paranoia and systemic instability of the lyrical content.

A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
6.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
8.5
Wordplay
9.2
Delivery
Multi-syllabic chainingStaccato syncopationInternal slant rhymingVocal layering and dynamic tonal shifts
Rhyme Architecture: Kendrick employs a rapid-fire AABB/CCDD variant with heavy internal multi-syllabic clusters, anchored by aggressive, percussive end-rhymes that drive the beat forward.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"This ain't Monopoly, watchin' for love, this ain't monogamy, y'all gettin' fucked"

① Literal reference to the board game 'Monopoly' where players acquire property/wealth, used to criticize superficial industry transactions.② A play on 'monogamy'—suggesting that the industry's 'marriage' to the artists is a transactional sham, resulting in exploitation ('y'all gettin' fucked').

"my pupils on skates"

① A physical description of dilated eyes or erratic movement due to high-stress, paranoid adrenaline.② A metaphor for the inability to focus or stay grounded; the pupils 'skating' across visual input like someone unable to find firm footing under surveillance.

Rhythmic precision within a frenetic, anxiety-inducing cadence

Exceptional use of phonetic repetition to build tension

Strong structural coherence between the socioeconomic themes and the erratic flow

The density of the rhyme scheme occasionally risks burying the nuance of the social commentary for casual listeners

Some punchlines lean on shock value which may slightly overshadow the lyrical complexity

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