Section.80

Poe Mans Dream (His Vice)

Kendrick Lamar

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

26

End

58

Internal

55

Multi

91

Slant

11

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
• "The Heart Part 3 (Will You Let It Die?)"
good kid, m.A.A.d. city✦ (2012)
1. Sherane a.k.a✦ Master✦ Splinter's Daughter
2. Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe
3. Backseat Freestyle
4. The Art of Peer Pressure
5. Money✦ Trees
6. Poetic Justice [cover✦ art annotation]✦
7. good kid
8. ​m.A.A.d city✦
9. Swimming Pools (Drank)
10. Sing About✦ Me, I'm Dying of Thirst
11. Real
12. Compton
- The Recipe✦
- Black Boy Fly
- Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe (Remix)
• "Control" (2013) (song bio)
To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)
1. Wesley's Theory✦ (song bio)
2. For Free? (Interlude)✦
3. King Kunta✦
4. Institutionalized
5. These Walls
6. U
7. Alright
8. For Sale? (Interlude)✦
9. Momma✦
10. Hood Politics
11. How Much A Dollar✦ Cost
12. Complexion✦ (A Zulu✦ Love)
13. The Blacker The Berry✦
14. You Ain't Gotta✦ Lie (Momma✦ Said)
15. I
16. Mortal✦ Man
untitled✦ unmastered. (2016)
1. ​untitled✦ 01 | 08.19.2014.
2. ​untitled✦ 02 | 06.23.2014.
3. ​untitled✦ 03 | 05.28.2013.
4. untitled✦ 04 | 08.14.2014.
5. untitled✦ 05 | 09.21.2014.
6. ​untitled✦ 06 | 06.30.2014.
7. untitled✦ 07 | 2014-2016
8. ​untitled✦ 08 | 09.06.2014.
• DAMN. (2017)
1. BLOOD.
2. DNA.
3. YAH.
4. ELEMENT.
5. FEEL.
6. LOYALTY.
7. PRIDE.
8. HUMBLE.
9. LUST.
10. LOVE.
11. XXX.
12. FEAR.
13. GOD.
14. DUCKWORTH
• Black Panther✦ Soundtrack (2018)
1. Black Panther✦
2. All The Stars (Album Version)✦
3. X
4. The Ways
5. Opps
6 I Am
7. Paramedic!
8. Bloody✦ Waters
9. King's Dead
10. Redemption✦ Interlude✦
11. Redemption✦
12. Seasons
13. Big Shot
14. Pray For Me
- All The Stars (Single)
Mr. Morale✦ & The Big Steppers✦ (2022)
1. United✦ in Grief
2. N95
3. Worldwide Steppers✦
4. Die Hard
5. Father✦ Time
6. Rich (Interlude)✦
7. Rich Spirit
8. We Cry Together
9. Purple Hearts
10. Count Me Out
11. Crown
12. Silent Hill
13. Savior✦ (Interlude)✦
14. Savior✦
15. Auntie Diaries
16. Mr. Morale✦
17. Mother✦ I Sober✦
18. Mirror✦
19. The Heart Part 5
• 2024 Singles & Diss Tracks
- Like That
- euphoria
- 6:16: in LA
- meet the grahams
- Not Like Us
- Watch The Party✦ Die
GNX (2024)
1. wacced✦ out murals
2. squabble up
3. luther✦
4. man at the garden
5. hey now
6. reincarnated
7. tv off
8. dodger✦ blue
9. peekaboo
10. heart pt. 6
11. gnx
12. gloria✦

Technical Breakdown

7.7
Multisyllabic Rhymes6.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes5.0

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm8.2

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity8.5

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score7.71

Production

— Willie B

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Kendrick utilizes a conversational, introspective cadence that shifts from narrative observation to philosophical abstraction, grounding complex themes of poverty and vice in a rhythmic pocket that mirrors the lethargy of 'drinking' and the anxiety of the environment.

B+
6.5
Multisyllabic
5
Internal Rhymes
8.15
Cadence / Flow
8.5
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
multisyllabic internal rhymingconversational syncopationnarrative thematic mappingenjambment for rhythmic tension
Rhyme Architecture: Kendrick employs a fluid AABB/ABAB hybrid structure that often ignores strict bar endings to favor a stream-of-consciousness flow, emphasizing assonance over exact consonant matching to maintain narrative momentum.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Poet's dream / Poe man's dream"

① A vision of success through artistic expression and lyrical mastery.② A play on 'poor man's dream,' signifying the limited aspirations of those trapped in systemic poverty.

High emotional resonance and immersive storytelling

Effective use of pauses to punctuate existential realization

Sophisticated balance of vernacular speech patterns with dense internal rhyme

Occasional reliance on mood-driven improvisation over rigid metrical structure

Some internal rhymes are loose, favoring flow over strict sonic precision

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