Aquemini
Aquemini
Outkast
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
28
End
191
Internal
99
Multi
196
Slant
9
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Break: Big Boi & André 3000]
Yeah
Yuh, yuh (Yeah)
[Chorus: André 3000]
Even✦ the sun goes down, heroes✦ eventually✦ die
Horoscopes✦ often✦ lie
And sometimes,✦ "Y"
Nothing✦ is for sure, nothing✦ is for certain✦
And nothing✦ lasts forever,✦ but until✦ they close the curtain✦
It's him and I – Aquemini✦
[Verse 2: André 3000]
Twice upon✦ a time, there was a boy who died
Lived✦ happily ever✦ after,✦ but that's another✦ chapter
Live from "Home of the Brave," with dirty✦ dollars
Beauty✦ parlors, baby✦ ballers, bowling-ball Impalas
Street scholars, majoring in culinary arts—
You know, how to work bread, cheese, and dough, from scratch
But, see, the catch is you can get caught
Know what you selling, what you bought – so, cut that big talk
Let's walk to the bridge—meet me halfway✦
Now you may see some children dead off in the pathway✦
It's them poor babies,✦ walking✦ slowly✦ to the candy✦ lady✦
It's looking bad—
Need some hope, like the words "maybe," "if," or "probably"
More than a hobby,✦
When my turntables get wobbly,✦ they don't fall
I'm sorry,✦ y'all, I often✦ drift—I'm talking✦ gift
So when it comes,✦ you never✦ look the horse inside✦ its grill
Of course, you know I feel like the bearer✦ of bad news
Don't want to be it, but it's needed,✦ so what have you?
Now, question: Is every✦ nigga✦ with dreads for the cause?
Is every✦ nigga✦ with golds for the fall?
Naw
So don't get caught up in appearance
It's OutKast, 'Aquemini'✦ – another✦ Black experience
[Break: André 3000]
Okay✦
[Chorus: André 3000]
Even✦ the sun goes down, heroes✦ eventually✦ die
Horoscopes✦ often✦ lie
And sometimes,✦ "Y"
Nothing✦ is for sure, nothing✦ is for certain✦
Nothing✦ lasts forever,✦ but until✦ they close the curtain✦
It's him and I – Aquemini✦
[Verse 3: Big Boi]
The name is Big Boi, Daddy✦ Fat Sax, the nigga✦ that like them Cadillacs
I stay down with these streets, 'cause these streets is where my folks at
Better✦ know that – some say we pro-Black, but we professional✦
We missed✦ a lot of church, so the music is our confessional✦
Get off the testicles and the nutsacks – you bust 'round, we bust back
G—Get back, for real niggas that's out here tryna✦ spit facts
You 'ear that? You can't come near that, maybe you need to quit (Quit)
Because 'Aquemini'✦ is Aquarius and the Gemini✦ running shit
Like this – yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
[Verse 4: André 3000]
My mind warps and bends, floats the wind, count to ten
Meet the twin, André Ben', welcome to the lion's den
Original skin, many✦ men comprehend
I extend✦ myself, so you go out and tell a friend
Sin all depends on what you believing in
Faith is what you make it—that's the hardest shit since MC Ren
Alien✦ can blend right on in with your kin
Look again,✦ 'cause I swear, I spot one every✦ now and then
It's happening again,✦ wish I could tell you when
"André, this is André, y'all are just gon' have to make amends"✦
[Chorus: André 3000]
Even✦ the sun goes down, heroes✦ eventually✦ die
Horoscopes✦ often✦ lie
And sometimes,✦ "Y"
Nothing✦ is for sure, nothing✦ is for certain✦
And nothing✦ lasts forever,✦ but until✦ they close the curtain✦
It's him and I – Aquemini✦
[Skit: André 3000]
Master:✦ Finally,✦ Igor!✦ We've done it, we've done it!
Igor:✦ Yes, master!✦ Yes, master!✦
Master:✦ Igor,✦ we've done it!
Both: Uh-oh...
{*woman✦ screaming*}
Technical Breakdown
9.1
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres9.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm9.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity8.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.5
Performance and control
Computed Score9.12
Production
— OutKast, Organized Noize, Mr. DJ, Donny MathisBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
André 3000 synthesizes complex existential philosophy with dense internal multis, using a 'fairy tale' inversion framework to ground street observations.
A+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
9
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
9
Wordplay
9.5
Delivery
Inverted fairy tale tropesSyllabic density in street-slang clustersExistential paradoxDynamic cadence shifts
Rhyme Architecture: Highly advanced internal multisyllabic clusters (e.g., 'dirty dollars/beauty parlors/baby ballers/bowling-ball Impalas') anchored by flexible AABB and AAAA segments that transition into more prose-like, conversational rhythmic pockets.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"majoring in culinary arts— / You know, how to work bread, cheese, and dough"
① The literal act of cooking and preparing food.② Street slang for trafficking narcotics (bread, cheese, and dough all being synonyms for money/profit).
"Twice upon a time, there was a boy who died"
① A subversion of the standard 'Once upon a time' fairy tale opening, suggesting a cycle of reincarnation or repeat tragedy.② A dark, existential reflection on the death of one's former self or innocence.
Subversive narrative structure
Masterful use of internal rhyme to dictate tempo
Linguistic innovation in recontextualizing common idioms
High level of thematic cohesion
Extremely dense abstract imagery may obscure surface-level clarity for casual listeners
The sudden shift in cadence near the final lines creates a stark contrast that may feel disjointed to some