The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Everything Is Everything

Lauryn Hill

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

15

End

91

Internal

92

Multi

136

Slant

6

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2]
Our philosophy possibly speak tongues
Beat drum, Abyssinian, street Baptist (Word)
Rap this in fine linen✦ (Word), from the beginning
My practice extending across the atlas, I begat✦ this
Flipping in the ghetto✦ on a dirty✦ mattress
You can't match this rapper✦ slash actress
More powerful than two Cleopatras
Bomb graffiti✦ on the tomb of Nefertiti✦ (Ooh, uh)
MCs ain't ready✦ to take it to the Serengeti
My rhymes✦ is heavy✦ like the mind of sister✦ Betty✦ (El Shabazz!)
L-Boogie spars with stars and constellations (What?)
Then came down for a little conversation✦ (Huh)
Adjacent to the king, fear no human✦ being
Roll with cherubims to Nassau✦ Coliseum (What?)
Now hear this mixture✦ (Uh), where Hip-Hop✦ meets scripture✦
Develop a negative✦ into✦ a positive✦ picture✦
[Chorus]
Now everything✦ (Everything,✦ y'all) is everything✦ (Everything,✦ y'all)
What is meant to be will be (What is meant to be will be, yeah)
After✦ winter✦ (After✦ winter)✦ must come spring (Must come spring)
Change, it comes✦ eventually✦ (Change, it comes✦ eventually)✦
[Verse 3]
Sometimes✦ it seems (Sometimes✦ it seems) we'll touch that dream (We'll touch that dream)
But things come slow or not at all (They come slow, know what I mean?)
And the ones✦ on top (And the ones✦ on top) won't make it stop (They won't make it stop)
So convinced that they might fall
Let's love ourselves and we can't fail
To make a better✦ situation✦ (Better✦ situation,✦ uh-uh)✦
Tomorrow✦ (Tomorrow),✦ our seeds will grow (Our seeds will grow)
All we need is dedication✦
Let me tell ya that
[Chorus]
Everything✦ is everything✦ (Everything✦ is everything)✦
Everything✦ is everything✦
Everything✦ is everything✦ (Everything✦ is everything)✦
After✦ winter✦ (After✦ winter)✦ must come spring (Must come spring)
Everything✦ is everything✦ (Everything✦ is everything)✦
Everything✦ (Everything)✦ is everything✦ (Is everything)✦
What is meant to be will be (What is meant to be will be)
After✦ winter✦ (After✦ winter)✦ must come spring (Must come spring)
Change, it comes✦ eventually✦ (Change, it comes✦ eventually)✦
[Outro]
La-la-la-la-la✦ (Everything)✦
La-la-la-la-la✦ (Everything✦ is everything)✦
La-la-la-la-la✦ (La-la-la,✦ la-la-la-la-la)✦
La-la-la-la-la✦
La-la-la-la-la✦
La-la-la-la-la✦ (La-la-la,✦ la-la-la-la-la)✦
La-la-la-la-la✦
La-la-la-la-la✦ (Tell your children)
La-la-la-la-la✦ (Oh-oh-oh-oh)

Technical Breakdown

8.2
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes8.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres8.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.5

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.18

Production

— Lauryn Hill

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Lauryn Hill demonstrates exceptional command of dense internal rhyme structures and cultural synthesis, effectively bridging Afrocentric historical allusions with the gritty realities of the hip-hop aesthetic of the late 90s.

A
9.5
Multisyllabic
8.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
6.5
Vocabulary
8.5
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhymingHistorical/Mythological allusion mappingDynamic cadence shiftingEnjambment for rhythmic tension
Rhyme Architecture: Hill employs an intricate AABB/CC structure interlaced with heavy polysyllabic internal rhyme chains ('Abyssinian/Baptist', 'practice/atlas/begat this'), utilizing assonance to bridge line breaks.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Bomb graffiti on the tomb of Nefertiti"

① The literal act of marking historical sacred sites with spray paint/art.② A metaphor for imprinting the modern 'ghetto' experience and hip-hop culture onto the legacy of ancient African royalty.

"Develop a negative into a positive picture"

① The technical darkroom process of turning photographic negatives into positive prints.② A philosophical metaphor for transforming the hardships of the 'ghetto' (the negative) into growth and spiritual enlightenment (the positive).

Masterful integration of sociopolitical themes with technical rap prowess

Exceptional rhythmic elasticity that avoids stale cadences

High-level cultural literacy that enriches the listener experience

Vocabulary density is occasionally subordinated to flow, leading to slight abstraction

The density of references may limit immediate accessibility for the casual listener

User Scores