ATLiens
13th Floor/Growing Old
Outkast
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
58
End
276
Internal
178
Multi
351
Slant
10
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Pre-Chorus: Debra Killings]
Like memories✦ of yesterday...✦
[Scratch break: Big Boi sample, (André 3000)]
"'96 gonna✦ be that year..." "Yeah..."
"'96 gonna✦ be that year..." "Yeah..."
"'96 gonna✦ be that year..." "Yeah..." (Like that)
"'96 gonna✦ be that year..." "Yeah..."
[Verse 1: André 3000]
I bet you never✦ heard of a playa with no game
Told the truth to get what I want, but shot it with no shame
Take this music dead serious,✦ while others✦ entertain✦
I see they're making✦ their paper,✦ so I guess I can't complain✦
Or can I? I feel they disrespecting the whole thang
Them hoax, like selling dope to Black folks
And I choke when the food they serving ain't tasting right
My stomach can't digest✦ it, even✦ when I bless it
I'm confessing, one more lesson,✦ from the South, we in the house tonight
Now "hootie-who" wants to oppose?✦ Suppose
We roll through Headland and Delowe✦
Where me and my niggas✦ would pass the flow
And got down for ours, like hind-catchers
My mind catches flashbacks to the black past
While mind-closed niggas✦ laugh at
The Southern slang, finger✦ waves,✦ and Mojo✦ chicken wangs
I grew up on Booty✦ Shake, we did not know no better✦ thang
So go 'head and diss it, while real hop-hippers listen✦
Started by Afrika✦ Bambaataa, so you and your partner
Gather✦ your thoughts ("'96 gonna✦ be that year...")
[Chorus: Debra Killings, (Big Boi sample)]
Something's✦ gotta✦ change
Sounds of laughter✦ and happiness✦ turns my teardrops✦ to rain
Been bearing✦ this burden✦ for too many✦ of my days
("'96 gonna✦ be that year...")
Looks like breezes✦ of Autumn✦ have finally✦ blew my way
Like memories✦ of yesterday✦
[Verse 2: Big Boi]
Uhh, born Antwan✦ Patton,✦ but my partners, they call me Big Boi
It's the nigga,✦ the B-I-G, be speaking the truth, not talking that shit, boi
I'm thinking of checking my traps and busting my raps
And throwing✦ them craps
7-Eleven✦ is no "convenience"–
You pumping your gas, they watching✦ your back
For the robbing✦ crew, thinking'a robbing✦ you – you must be cautious✦
See, staying up on your game, and pimping✦ these crows
You must be 'flawless' – like Mortal✦ Kombat✦
But fuckin'✦ these wombats got you dizzy✦
My nigga,✦ you moreover wanna✦ be playin'
But runnin'✦ up on me like you miss me
You catching✦ the wrong vibe, packin'✦ your shit, and rolling your eyes back
Flexin'✦ up on the corner,✦ tossin'✦ your dice, and rollin'✦ your Cadillac
But, man, it seems I'm reaching out and touching the wrong nigga✦
Don't expect it to be pimping,✦ and get your index off the trigger
As we bust – us, we leavin✦ 'em in the dust
So keep that 'caine up out of your nose, I said my peace and then I hush
As the calendar keeps flippin', niggas✦ dippin'...✦
("'96 gonna✦ be that year..." "Yeah...")
[Chorus: Debra Killings, (Big Boi sample)]
Something's✦ gotta✦ change
Sounds of laughter✦ and happiness✦ turns my teardrops✦ to rain
Been bearing✦ this burden✦ for too many✦ of my days
Looks like breezes✦ of Autumn✦ have finally✦ blew my way
("'96 gonna✦ be that year...")
Like memories✦ of yesterday✦
[Verse 3: André 3000]
Our dearly✦ beloved, we are gathered✦
Like soap is to lather,✦ we come clean
Some issues✦ need to be addressed,✦ like envelopes, I mean
Oh, like Liberty Bells, yes, them bullets keep on ringing✦
On fire, like the Georgia Mass Choir, we keep on sanging
Bringing✦ our folks closer✦ together
'Cause they severed✦ us from the "get-green–
Light," and we ain't gon' stop until we hit the big screen
Sike, because no one is free when others✦ are oppressed✦
So, we hit the stage, and then we fly back to our nest
Growing✦ old
[Verse 4: Big Boi]
Like some eagles,✦ people don't understand
Just like their parents don't be caring✦
I'm speakin' about✦ you, player, with that phony✦ stuff you sharing✦
In your raps – Mercedes Benz and all your riches✦
Figure✦ you got it, but "get it, get it"?
But you ain't pimping✦ no bitches
'Cause you flaw–ing; fall in like leaves✦ into✦ driveways✦
Isn't it lovely,✦ smoking good and sloppy✦ head on highways?✦
Fridays✦ are tight, but Saturday✦ just makes✦ it old
Winter✦ nights are hot, warm enough✦ to feed your soul
Growing✦ old... yeah...
[Chorus: Debra Killings, (Big Boi sample)]
Something's✦ gotta✦ change
Sounds of laughter✦ and happiness✦ turns my teardrops✦ to rain
Been bearing✦ this burden✦ for too many✦ of my days
Looks like breezes✦ of Autumn✦ have finally✦ blew my way
Like memories✦ of yesterday✦
("'96 gonna✦ be that year...")
Something's✦ gotta✦ change
Sounds of laughter✦ and happiness✦ turns my teardrops✦ to rain
("'96 gonna✦ be that year...")
Been bearing✦ this burden✦ for too many✦ of my days
("'96 gonna✦ be that year...")
Looks like breezes✦ of Autumn✦ have finally✦ blew my way
Like memories✦ of yesterday...✦ yesterday...✦ yesterday...✦
[Outro: André 3000]
...See, all them leaves✦ must fall down – growin'✦ old
Fat titties✦ turn to teardrops,✦ as fat ass turns to flab
Sores✦ that was open✦ wounds, eventually✦ turn to scab
Trees bright and green turn yellow-brown✦ – Autumn✦ caught 'em
See, all them leaves✦ must fall down – growin'✦ old
Fat titties✦ turn to teardrops,✦ as fat ass turns to flab
Sores✦ that was open✦ wounds, eventually✦ turn to scab
Trees bright and green turn yellow-brown✦ – Autumn✦ caught 'em
See, all them leaves✦ must fall down – growin'✦ old
Fat titties✦ turn to teardrops,✦ as fat ass turns to flab
Sores✦ that was open✦ wounds, eventually✦ turn to scab
Trees bright and green turn yellow-brown✦ – Autumn✦ caught 'em
See, all them leaves✦ must fall down – growin'✦ old
Technical Breakdown
8.9
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres8.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm9.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity8.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.90
Production
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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
André 3000 exhibits a transition from traditional boast-rap toward the introspective, genre-defying social commentary that would define the Dungeon Family's later output, utilizing high-density internal rhyme structures to anchor dense sociopolitical critique.
A+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
9
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
8
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Internal rhyme chainingMultisyllabic enjambmentDialectal groundingSyncopated cadences
Rhyme Architecture: The verse utilizes an intricate AABB/CCDD structure heavily saturated with internal rhyme clusters (e.g., 'game/shame/entertain/complain' and 'oppose/suppose/Headland/Delowe/flow') that break up the terminal cadence, creating a 'rolling' feel.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Like selling dope to Black folks"
① A literal reference to the historical context of the crack epidemic in marginalized communities.② A metaphorical critique of mainstream rap artists pandering to superficial trends and negative stereotypes to exploit their own demographic.
"Hind-catchers"
① A sports-context reference to a catcher in baseball, someone behind the plate.② A double entendre on being 'behind' in terms of status or catching up to their own survival, grounded in the slang of 'getting down for ours' (survival/hustle).
Exceptional rhythmic integration of dense multi-syllabics
Authentic use of regional dialect as a narrative tool
Seamless transition between meta-commentary on the industry and personal social reflection
The density of the rhyme scheme occasionally sacrifices semantic clarity in the middle section
The switch from industry critique to localized nostalgia feels slightly abrupt