Graduation

Good Life

Kanye West

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

32

End

137

Internal

42

Multi

164

Slant

13

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Kanye West & T-Pain]
Now I, I go for mine, I got to shine
(Now throw yo' hands up in the sky)
Now I, I go for mine, I got to shine
(Now throw yo' hands up in the sky) Ayy
I'ma✦ get on this TV, mama,✦ I'ma✦
I'ma✦ put shit down
Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy
Ayy, ayy, ayy, I'm good
[Verse 2: Kanye West & T-Pain]
Welcome✦ to the good life
Where we like the girls who ain't on TV
'Cause they got mo' ass than the models
The good life, so keep it comin'✦ with the bottles
'Cause she feel booze like she bombed✦ at Apollo✦
The good life, it feel like Houston
It feel like Philly,✦ it feel like D.C.​
It feel like VA or the Bay or Yay
Ayy, this is the good life
(Welcome✦ to the good life)
Homie, tell me what's good
Why I only✦ got a problem when you in the hood
(Welcome✦ to the good life)
Like I'm new in the hood
The only✦ thing I wish, I wish a nigga✦ would
(Welcome✦ to the good life)
He probably think he could
But, but, I don't think he should
(Oh, welcome✦ to the good li-li-li-life, oh)
50 told me, "Go 'head, switch the style up
And if they hate then let 'em hate and watch the money✦ pile up"
The good life
[Chorus: Kanye West & T-Pain]
Now I, I go for mine (Yeah), I got to shine
(Now throw yo' hands up in the sky)
Now I, I go for mine, I got to shine
(Now throw yo' hands up in the sky) Ayy
I'ma✦ get on the TV, mama,✦ I'ma✦
I'ma✦ put shit down
Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy
Ayy, ayy, ayy, I'm good
[Verse 3: Kanye West & T-Pain]
Yeah, yeah
Have you ever✦ popped✦ champagne on a plane, while gettin'✦ some brain?
Whipped it out, she said, "I never✦ seen Snakes✦ on a Plane"
Whether you broke or rich, you gotta✦ get this
Havin'✦ money's✦ not everythin', not havin'✦ it is
I was splurgin' on trips
But when I get my card back activated, I'm back to Vegas
(Welcome✦ to the good life)
'Cause I always✦ had a passion for flashin'
Before✦ I had it, I closed✦ my eyes and imagined the good life
[Outro: T-Pain]
Ayy, it's the good life, better✦ than the life I lived✦
When I thought that I was gonna✦ go crazy✦
And now my grandmama
Ain't the only✦ girl callin'✦ me baby✦
If you feelin'✦ me now, then put yo' hands up in the sky
And let me hear you say, "Hey, hey" (Hey, hey, hey)
(Ooh) I'm good!

Technical Breakdown

8.1
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres5.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity5.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.09

Production

— Kanye West, DJ Toomp, Mike Dean

Be the first to rate the production

Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Kanye utilizes rhythmic minimalism and geographical signifiers to cultivate a 'stadium-rap' aesthetic that prioritizes pocket-groove and accessible imagery over dense linguistic complexity.

A
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
5
Vocabulary
5.5
Wordplay
7.5
Delivery
Geographic catalogingInternal assonanceSyncopated call-and-responseColloquial repetition
Rhyme Architecture: A-A-B-B-C-D-D-E-F-F structure using heavy vowel-matching (the 'o' and 'ee' sounds) to ground the flow in a sing-along, melodic cadence typical of late 2000s radio-conscious hip-hop.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"she feel booze like she bombed at Apollo"

① The woman is consuming significant amounts of alcohol.② A reference to the 'Apollo Theater' amateur night, where failing acts were 'booed' off stage, creating a clever phonetic parallel between 'booze' and 'booed'.

"I'm new in the hood"

① Literal statement regarding being unfamiliar with a neighborhood.② A ironic play on Kanye's reputation and status, suggesting he is no longer 'of' the hood in the traditional sense, despite his lyrical assertions.

High-energy vocal placement that creates an immediate, aspirational atmosphere

Effective use of geography to establish nationwide appeal

Strong rhythmic synchronization with the production

Low lexical density compared to the technical standards of the era

Reliance on pop-rap tropes rather than complex narrative subtext

Under-developed punchlines

User Scores