Stankonia

Red Velvet

Outkast

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

27

End

190

Internal

49

Multi

147

Slant

15

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Big Boi & André 3000]
'Cause they know where you live
And they've seen what ya drive
And they say they gonna✦ put one in your helmet✦
'Cause you brag 'bout that watch
And all them things that you got (Good God!)
Them dirty✦ boys turn your pound cake to red velvet✦ (Good God!)
[Break]
Yeah, this nigga✦ wanna✦ floss?
Yeah, we got this nigga✦ now
Yo T, I got a nigga✦ right for us
I'ma✦ take him to the hotel✦
You know how it's gon' go...
Nigga,✦ keep braggin' (Mhm)
(Yeah)
Yeah, we got him now...
[Verse 2: André 3000]
How can you measure a nigga✦ by multiple figures he may got, got, got?
Had he not purchased the newest Mercedes, that lose it's value soon as you drive that bitch off the lot, lot, lot –
Would he still be the ladies'✦ most wanted,✦ "doggonit you want it, he got it" type nigga✦ 'round the town, town, town?
Had he not played it so flashy,✦ ashy✦ when half of these niggas hurtin'✦ and workin',✦ would be he be found, found, found –
In a ho (Ho) tel (Tel) room (Room) shot up (Shot up) –
With his dick shoved✦ in something he got a lot of?
Bill Gates✦ don't dangle diamonds in the face
Of peasants when he Microsoft'ing the place
You gettin'✦ on my nerves,✦ well, I'm gettin'✦ on your case
Consider your surroundings or you leave without a trace
[Chorus: Big Boi & André 3000]
'Cause they know where you live
And they've seen what ya drive
And they say they gonna✦ put one in your helmet✦
'Cause you brag 'bout that watch
And all them things that you got
Them dirty✦ boys turn your pound cake to red velvet✦
[Verse 3: Big Boi]
I know you got the biggest bankroll and you ballin'✦
Follow✦ the heater✦ because the leader✦ he is haulin'✦
Ass like Juan Valdez, I think he scared✦
'Cause my nigga✦ Khujo✦ Goodie got that tooly✦ to his head
[Bridge: André 3000]
Little did he know that –
Waitin'✦ in the closet✦
No matter✦ what you call that –
Playboy✦ sure got done
[Verse 4: André 3000]
Gone was the one who came in contact
With those with slow goals who prompt to sell crack
On his megaphone, "Hey look, world – I'm on, you off"
He floss hard 'cause he celebrate the fact
[Bridge: André 3000]
Little did he know that –
Waitin'✦ in the closet✦
No matter✦ what you call that –
Playboy✦ sure got done
[Interlude: Big Boi]
Uh, yeah, what
[Chorus: Big Boi & André 3000]
'Cause they know where you live
And they've seen what ya drive
And they say they gonna✦ put one in your helmet✦
'Cause you brag 'bout that watch
And all them things that you got
Them dirty✦ boys turn your pound cake to red velvet✦

Technical Breakdown

9.2
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres9.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.5

Performance and control

Computed Score9.15

Production

— Earthtone III

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

André 3000 uses a deconstructive, repetitive flow to dismantle the vanity of material wealth, grounding a philosophical critique within a visceral, high-stakes narrative.

A+
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
9
Wordplay
9.5
Delivery
Stutter-staircase flowTriadic repetitionInternal slant-rhyme saturationSyntactic deconstruction
Rhyme Architecture: Highly innovative use of triadic repetition (stuttering the final word of the line three times), creating a rhythmic 'staircase' effect that forces the listener to linger on specific syllables, complemented by aggressive internal multi-syllabic rhyming.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"turn your pound cake to red velvet"

① A reference to a sexual partner (pound cake as a slang term for a woman).② The act of turning a person (or their life) into a violent, blood-stained reality (red velvet) through murder.

"Bill Gates don't dangle diamonds in the face"

① A literal observation regarding the lack of gaudy ostentation by one of the world's wealthiest men.② A rhetorical critique of hip-hop's obsession with superficial displays of wealth, contrasting 'new money' vanity with true, established power.

Extraordinary cadence control through rhythmic repetition

Subversive dismantling of commercial hip-hop tropes

Visceral imagery that elevates the stakes of the lyrical narrative

Exceptional vocal intensity that mirrors the paranoia of the track's theme

Vocabulary choices are intentionally grounded in colloquialisms which may mask the underlying structural complexity for casual listeners

The density of the stuttered rhymes can occasionally distract from the primary syllabic flow

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