This Is Not a Test!

Wake Up

Missy Elliott

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

11

End

173

Internal

65

Multi

140

Slant

5

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2: Missy Elliott]
Hip-Hop✦ better✦ wake up, the bed to makeups
Some of y'all be faker✦ than a drag on make up
Got issues to take up, before✦ we break up
Like Elektra let go Miss Anita✦ Baker✦
I love Jacob, but jewelry won't fix my place up
Gotta✦ stay up, studio nights to cake up
Now check my flavor, rich folks is now my neighbors
I got cable, now check out how I made my paper✦
Hip-Hop✦ don't stop, be my Lifesaver
Like Kobe and Shaq if they left Lakers
I'm like an elevator DJ on the crossfader
Black people wake up and see your ass later✦
[Chorus: Missy Elliott]
If you don't got a gun (It's alright)✦
If ya makin'✦ legal✦ money✦ (It's alright)✦
If you gotta✦ keep ya clothes✦ on (It's alright)✦
You ain't got a cellular✦ phone (It's alright)✦
And ya wheels don't spin (It's alright)✦
And you gotta✦ wear them jeans again✦ (It's alright)✦
Yeah if you tried oh well (It's alright)✦
MC's stop the beef, let's sell (It's alright)✦
[Verse 3: JAY-Z & Missy Elliott]
I need rims that don't glisten and a booming system✦
First piece of change I see, I'm gon' get one
745 no license✦ to drive
I ain't even✦ got a home, I guess I'll live in my ride
Fuck it (Rewind)
(I can hear myself,✦ but I can't feel myself)✦
(I wanna✦ feel myself✦ like Tweet)
745 no license✦ to drive
I ain't even✦ got a home, I guess I'll live in my ride
Fuck it, couple karats in the ear won't hurt
Need a nice chain, laying on this thousand dollar✦ shirt
Evisu✦ Jeans cover✦ the rectum, my kick game just like David Beckham
Anybody in my way, I wet them
I'ma✦ be this way till the cops come catch 'em
Til' detectives sketch 'em
On the sidewalk wit' chalk, New York's infections✦
Til' I got taught a lesson✦
Couple niggas gone, couple went corrections✦
Emory✦ Got 10
Ty got fifteen,✦ nigga✦ even✦ my kin
Got five years bringin' nineteen✦ in
But just think I used✦ to think like them
Now they gotta✦ live through the pictures that I send them in the pen
Hope you don't start ya life where I end
(Wake up)
[Refrain]
(Wake up)
(Wake up)
(Wake up)
(Wake up)
(Wake up)
(Wake up)
(Wake up)
[Chorus: Missy Elliott]
If you don't got a gun (It's alright)✦
If ya makin'✦ legal✦ money✦ (It's alright)✦
If you gotta✦ keep ya clothes✦ on (It's alright)✦
You ain't got a cellular✦ phone (It's alright)✦
And ya wheels don't spin (It's alright)✦
And you gotta✦ wear them jeans again✦ (It's alright)✦
Yeah if you tried oh well (It's alright)✦
MC's stop the beef, let's sell (It's alright)✦

Technical Breakdown

7.3
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.0

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 Control7.5

Performance and control

Computed Score7.26

Production

— Missy Elliott, Timbaland

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Missy Elliott utilizes a highly repetitive rhyme scheme centered on the '-ayup' and '-ayper' vowel sounds to create a relentless, percussive momentum that emphasizes her status as an industry veteran and conscious observer.

B+
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
6.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
6
Wordplay
7.5
Delivery
multisyllabic end-rhyme chainsinternal rhyme densityphonetic repetitioncultural allusion
Rhyme Architecture: The verse employs an AAAA-BBBB chain-rhyme structure, heavily relying on multi-syllabic feminine rhymes ending in the same open vowel sound, creating a cyclical, driving cadence.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"faker than a drag on make up"

① The literal act of applying cosmetics poorly.② A play on the phonetics of 'makeup' (cosmetics) vs. 'make up' (an action), suggesting the person is performing an identity rather than being authentic.

"Like Elektra let go Miss Anita Baker"

① A reference to the business fallout between the record label Elektra and the artist Anita Baker.② A metaphorical instruction to 'let go' of bad industry contracts or relationships, using the specific industry incident as a shorthand for separation.

"studio nights to cake up"

① Slang for making money ('getting that cake').② The literal necessity of working late nights in the studio to build wealth or success in the music business.

exceptional rhythmic consistency

high internal rhyme density which aids flow

memorable, tongue-in-cheek delivery style

clear thematic cohesion regarding industry criticism

some wordplay feels forced by the tight rhyme constraints

reliance on repetitive phonetic sounds can feel limited upon repeated listens

lack of deeper, multi-layered subtext compared to later career work

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