Damn

DUCKWORTH.

Kendrick Lamar

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

252

Internal

Multi

244

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus]

They not like us, they not like us, they not like us

[Verse 2]

You think the Bay gon' let you disrespect Pac, nigga?^✦

I think that Oakland show gon' be your last stop, nigga^✦

Did Cole foul, I don't know why you still pretendin'

What is the owl? Bird niggas^✦ and burnt bitches, go

The audience not dumb

Shape the stories how you want, hey, Drake, they're not slow

Rabbit^✦ hole is still deep, I can go further, I promise

Ain't that somethin'?^✦ B-Rad stands for bitch and you Malibu^✦ most wanted^✦

Ain't no law, boy, you ball boy, fetch Gatorade or somethin'^✦

Since 2009, I had this bitch jumpin'^✦

You niggas'll get a wedgie, be flipped over^✦ your boxers

What OVO^✦ for? The "Other^✦ Vaginal Option"?^✦ Pussy^✦

Nigga^✦ better^✦ straighten they posture, got famous^✦ all up in Compton

Might write this for the doctorate, tell the pop star quit hidin'^✦

Fuck a caption, want action,^✦ no accident

And I'm hands-on, he fuck around, get polished

Fucked^✦ on Wayne girl while he was in jail, that's connivin'

Then get his face tatted^✦ like a bitch apologizin'

I'm glad DeRoz' came home, y'all didn't deserve him neither

From Alondra down to Central, nigga^✦ better^✦ not speak on Serena^✦

And your homeboy need subpoena, that predator move in flocks

That name gotta^✦ be registered and placed^✦ on neighborhood watch

I lean on you niggas^✦ like another line of Wock'

Yeah, it's all eyes on me, and I'ma^✦ send it up to Pac, ayy

Put the wrong label^✦ on me, I'ma^✦ get 'em dropped, ayy

Sweet Chin Music and I won't pass the aux, ayy

How many^✦ stocks do I really^✦ have in stock? Ayy

One, two, three, four, five, plus five, ayy

Devil^✦ is a lie, he a 69 God, ayy

Freaky-ass^✦ niggas^✦ need to stay they ass inside,^✦ ayy

Roll they ass up like a fresh pack of 'za, ayy

City^✦ is back up, it's a must, we outside,^✦ ayy

[Chorus]

They not like us, they not like us, they not like us

[Verse 3]

Once upon^✦ a time, all of us was in chains

Homie still doubled down callin'^✦ us some slaves^✦

Atlanta^✦ was the Mecca,^✦ buildin' railroads and trains

Bear with me for a second, let me put y'all on game

The settlers was usin'^✦ townfolk to make 'em richer^✦

Fast-forward, 2024, you got the same agenda^✦

You run to Atlanta^✦ when you need a check balance

Let me break it down for you, this the real nigga^✦ challenge

You called^✦ Future^✦ when you didn't see the club (Ayy, what?)

Lil Baby^✦ helped^✦ you get your lingo^✦ up (What?)

21 gave you false street cred

Thug made you feel like you a slime in your head (Ayy, what?)

Quavo^✦ said you can be from Northside^✦ (What?)

2 Chainz say you good, but he lied

You run to Atlanta^✦ when you need a few dollars

No, you not a colleague, you a fuckin'^✦ colonizer

The family^✦ matter^✦ and the truth of the matter^✦

It was God's plan to show y'all the liar

[Bridge]

Mm-mm

He a fan, he a fan, he a fan (Mm)

He a fan, he a fan, he a

Freaky-ass^✦ nigga,^✦ he a 69 God

Hey, hey, hey, hey, run for your life

Freaky-ass^✦ nigga,^✦ he a 69 God

Hey, hey, hey, hey, run for your life

Let me hear you say, "OV-ho"^✦ (OV-ho)^✦

Say, "OV-ho"^✦ (OV-ho)^✦

Then step this way, step that way

[Outro]

Are you my friend?

Are we locked^✦ in?

Then step this way, step that way

Technical Breakdown

9.0

Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres8.5

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 Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.98

Production

— 9th Wonder, Bēkon

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Kendrick utilizes high-velocity, aggressive delivery to deconstruct the persona of his opponent through historical allusions and sharp, multi-layered insults that transition from cultural gatekeeping to personal character assassination.

A+

8.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

8.5

Wordplay

Delivery

Aggressive prosodyCultural gatekeepingHistorical allusionInternal rhyme chainsCharacter deconstruction

Rhyme Architecture: Kendrick employs a dense AABB/AAB format with heavy internal assonance, utilizing multi-syllabic rhyming strings (e.g., 'pretendin', 'burnt bitches', 'the audience', 'not slow') to maintain rhythmic tension throughout the verse.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"B-Rad stands for bitch and you Malibu most wanted"

① A reference to the character B-Rad Gluckman from the film 'Malibu's Most Wanted'.② An insult implying the target is a poser or a 'fake' persona, effectively calling them a bitch using the film's title.

"What OVO for? The 'Other Vaginal Option'?"

① The literal acronym for Drake's label, October's Very Own.② A derogatory reinterpretation suggesting the artist uses women as disposable commodities.

"Ain't no law, boy, you ball boy, fetch Gatorade or somethin'"

① Reference to the legal or industry 'laws' he supposedly breaks.② Diminishing the target to a 'ball boy', a peripheral figure in a sport (the rap game) who is only useful for menial tasks.

High-impact delivery that matches the confrontational tone

Effective use of historical gatekeeping to establish moral high ground

Visceral, demeaning imagery used for character assassination

Tight rhythmic control that keeps the listener engaged despite the speed

Relies heavily on external cultural context for full impact

Some insults are purely ad hominem rather than structural wordplay

DUCKWORTH.

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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