Section.80

Chapter Ten

Kendrick Lamar

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

5

End

33

Internal

20

Multi

48

Slant

3

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[JaVonté:]
In time, you'll learn this is about✦ you
In time, you'll learn this is about✦ you
In time, you'll learn this is about✦ you
[Kendrick Lamar:]
Babies✦ from '80s don't know, know no better✦
Don't nothing go better✦ with ignorance but the belligerent kids that we living✦ with
Some of them masculine,✦ some of them feminine✦
'Member✦ the universe used to be innocent?
Now they just look at us crazy✦ like immigrants
Every✦ day that I wake up, I'ma✦ sin again✦
I'm not a citizen, I'm just a nigga✦ from Section.80✦
Show of hands, how many✦ been taking✦ notes?✦
Good
Leave everything on the table now
Vulnerability
This is your generation✦
Show, show your pain

Technical Breakdown

7.3
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm5.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.25

Production

— Iman Omari, THC

Be the first to rate the production

Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Kendrick utilizes rhythmic density and internal rhyme chains to anchor a shift from observational social commentary to direct, authoritative address.

B+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
5.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhyme chainsStaccato deliveryShift from observational to instructional tonePhonetic play
Rhyme Architecture: Kendrick employs a dense multisyllabic structure (better/go-better/ignorance/belligerent/living with/feminine/innocent/immigrants/sin again/citizen) that creates a rhythmic propulsion before breaking the flow into a spoken-word instructional cadence.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"I'm not a citizen, I'm just a nigga from Section.80"

① Denial of belonging to the state/national legal system.② A literal reference to the Section 8 housing program, establishing his socioeconomic origins as his only true identity.

"Don't nothing go better with ignorance but the belligerent kids"

① The literal lack of knowledge paired with aggressive behavior.② A cynical observation of how social environments cultivate a symbiotic relationship between lack of opportunity and destructive output.

Exceptional rhythmic density during the opening sequence

Effective transition from musical performance to didactic instructional flow

Strong command of internal stress patterns

Some metaphors rely on surface-level social tropes

The instructional break, while rhythmically distinct, relies more on persona than complex lyricism

User Scores