Donda

Believe What I Say

Kanye West

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

12

End

104

Internal

25

Multi

82

Slant

4

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Bridge: Buju Banton]
Now here we are
You know I'm not about✦ it
Showed✦ you my all
I let you into✦ my thoughts
[Chorus: Kanye West]
Don't let, don't let the lifestyle✦ drag you down
Who knows when was the last time you felt the love
One last sparkle to follow✦ in my light
One last sparkle to follow✦ in love
One last sparkle to follow✦ in my light
One last sparkle to follow✦
[Verse 3: Buju Banton]
Okay,✦ I didn't throw a fit when you said you wanted✦ to leave
I told you I loved✦ you, but you didn't believe✦
You were too easily✦ fooled,✦ so easily✦ deceived
By some dude who's more rather into✦ greed
Plagued by your emotions, you were swamped by your needs
Told me I didn't believe,✦ you said I was out to deceive, ahaha✦
You said that I lie, how did I? I told you everything, didn't I?
But you just could not believe,✦ man, I'm so peeved✦
Your friends all up in your head even✦ when we're in bed
Your mind's elsewhere, and you say you care? Haha✦
I'm laughin' at you all, you think you got me? No, no
My back ain't against the wall (The wall, the wall, the wall, the wall, the wall)
[Chorus: Kanye West]
Don't let, don't let the lifestyle✦ drag you down
Who knows when was the last time you felt the love
One last sparkle to follow✦ in my light (Right on)
One last sparkle to follow✦

Technical Breakdown

6.8
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres4.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity5.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control6.5

Performance and control

Computed Score6.83

Production

— AntMan Wonder, BoogzDaBeast, Dem Jointz, FNZ, Kanye West, Ojivolta

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Buju Banton brings a dancehall-inflected rhythmic cadence that prioritizes emotional raw intensity over complex linguistic acrobatics, relying on a repetitive 'ee' vowel rhyme scheme to anchor the listener.

B
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7
Cadence / Flow
5
Vocabulary
4.5
Wordplay
6.5
Delivery
monorhyme chainvocal inflectionsrhythmic syncopationconversational tone
Rhyme Architecture: The verse utilizes a dominant monorhyme structure focused on the /i/ sound (leave, believe, deceived, greed, needs, peeved), interspersed with internal rhyme pairings within the lines to maintain momentum.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Plagued by your emotions, you were swamped by your needs"

① The partner is overwhelmed by her own internal feelings and psychological requirements.② She is vulnerable to external manipulation due to her lack of emotional stability.

strong rhythmic placement

raw emotional authenticity

effective use of vocal dynamics to convey frustration

limited metaphorical depth

predictable end-rhyme structure

repetitive vocabulary

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