The Master

Waiting for the World to End

Rakim

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

20

End

132

Internal

95

Multi

154

Slant

7

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
"Tryna✦ paint a perfect✦ picture✦ and excel"✦
"In case you didn't know" "Never✦ movin'✦ backwards"✦
"Complicated"✦ "Know what I mean?"
"Tryna✦ paint a perfect✦ picture✦ and excel"✦
"In case you didn't know" "Never✦ movin'✦ backwards"✦
"Complicated"✦ "Know what I mean?"
[Verse 2]
I see destruction,✦ even✦ little kids trust none
They bust guns, that's what they get a rush from
When I see 'em, we build and have a real discussion✦
"Yo, Ra, what's the jewel✦ of the day?" "What up, son?"
"You got ambition?"✦ Shorty✦ said, "Man, listen✦
I got demands for livin',✦ can't stand division✦
Make grands on my mission,✦ 'til everythin' glisten
Women✦ in the Expedition,✦ no plans for prison✦
In a vision✦ the city✦ get, two milleni, G
Sittin'✦ in my embassy, sippin'✦ Hennesy
Gettin'✦ high, and watch life pass me by"
So I asked him why, with a fast reply✦
He said, "I'm livin'✦ just to die without any✦ feelings
So I wait here for my maker✦ 'til it's time to go
With this dime I know, with all of her girls and all of my men
Waitin'✦ for the world to end"
[Chorus]
"Tryna✦ paint a perfect✦ picture✦ and excel"✦
"In case you didn't know" "Never✦ movin'✦ backwards"✦
"Complicated"✦ "Know what I mean?"
"Tryna✦ paint a perfect✦ picture✦ and excel"✦
"In case you didn't know" "Never✦ movin'✦ backwards"✦
"Complicated"✦
[Verse 3]
Shorty✦ was taught to keep his head to the sky, and never✦ cry
But the streets left him to die, now it's death in his eye
Livin'✦ in sin'll give men a sinister grin
From the beginnin' to end, in it to win
Evil✦ rebels,✦ doin' what we do in the ghetto✦
Thinkin' if we was thorough we could deceive the Devil✦
You can't win, your life'll✦ end, try again✦
Shorty✦ said, "Why we born again✦ to die again?"✦
That's what I said when I realized I had a gift
To uplift✦ and be one of Allah's advocates
And teach the youth and speak the truth
Show 'em what peace can do when they'll reach for you
And my reward won't be jewels✦ or cheese, it's even✦ better✦
I can be one of the greatest MCs ever✦
If I tell 'em they intelligent women✦ and great men
And live, stop waitin'✦ for the world to end
[Chorus]
"Tryna✦ paint a perfect✦ picture✦ and excel"✦
"In case you didn't know" "Never✦ movin'✦ backwards"✦
"Complicated"✦ "Know what I mean?"
"Tryna✦ paint a perfect✦ picture✦ and excel"✦
"In case you didn't know" "Never✦ movin'✦ backwards"✦
"Complicated"✦ "Know what I mean?"
[Outro]
"I'm ragin',✦ rippin'✦ up the stage an'
Don't it sound amazin',✦ know what I mean?"
"Don't it sound amazin',✦ know what I mean?"
"Rakim"✦

Technical Breakdown

7.9
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.93

Production

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Rakim utilizes a masterful internal rhyme structure that bridges the gap between social commentary and nihilistic street philosophy, maintaining his legendary pocket while shifting between the role of the mentor and the observer.

B+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhymingDialogue-driven narrative structureEnjambment for rhythmic tensionPhonetic mirroring
Rhyme Architecture: Highly dense, focusing on internal multi-syllabic strings (e.g., 'destruction/trust none/bust guns/rush from') that transition into an AAAA-style rhyme chain in the dialogue section ('ambition/listen/livin'/division/mission/glisten/prison').
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Make grands on my mission, 'til everythin' glisten"

① Accumulating significant financial wealth through street activity.② The metaphorical transformation of a harsh reality into a polished, 'glistening' state through material gain.

"Sittin' in my embassy"

① A literal reference to a high-status location or base of operations.② A symbolic assertion of sovereignty, positioning himself as a leader or diplomat within his own subcultural sphere.

Sophisticated internal rhythm that maintains a conversational tone without sacrificing technical complexity.

Effective use of the 'mentor' persona to ground the narrative.

Seamless integration of multisyllabic rhymes into naturalistic dialogue.

The concluding imagery of the 'world ending' is more atmospheric than structurally revelatory.

Some of the street-level nihilism leans into tropes common for the era, limiting the depth of the social critique.

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