Graduation

The Glory

Kanye West

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

123

Internal

Multi

126

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus: Kanye West & Choir]

Yeah, my

I can't study,^✦ no, yeah, my

The glory^✦

I can't study,^✦ no, yeah, my

I did it for the glory^✦

I can't study,^✦ no, yeah, my

The glory^✦

I can't study,^✦ no, yeah, my

[Verse 2: Kanye West]

What I'm supposed to do now? Man, the game all messed^✦ up

How I'm suppose to stand out when everybody get dressed up?

So, yeah, at the Grammys, I went ultra^✦ Travolta

Yeah, that tuxedo^✦ might have been a little guido^✦

But with my ego,^✦ I can stand there in a Speedo^✦

And be looked^✦ at like a fucking hero^✦

The glory,^✦ the story,^✦ the chain, the polo,^✦ the night

The grind, the empty^✦ bottles of No-Doz

Tank on empty,^✦ whipping my momma^✦ Volvo^✦

I spent that gas money^✦ on clothes with logos^✦

The fur is Hermes,^✦ shit that you don't floss

The Goyard so hard, man, I'm Hugo's^✦ boss

Why I gotta^✦ ask what that TUDOR cost?

House on the hill, two doors from Tracee Ross

And I'm asking^✦ 'bout her girlfriends, yeah, the dark skin'ed^✦ ones^✦

She asking^✦ 'bout the speed boats, yeah, I admit^✦ we rented^✦ 'em

When you meet me in person,^✦ what do you feel like?

I know, I know, I look better^✦ in real life

I hear people compare themselves^✦ to big a lot

You know, B.I.G. and Pac, you know to get it hot

I guess after^✦ I live, I wanna^✦ be compared to B.I.G

Any^✦ one: Big Pun, Big L or Notorious^✦

'Till then, get money^✦ and stunt and stay glorious^✦

And I'ma^✦ stop killing^✦ these niggas^✦ soon as the chorus^✦ hit

Yeah, I'ma^✦ stop killing^✦ these niggas^✦ soon as the chorus^✦ hit, uh

These haters be killing^✦ themselves,^✦ they wanna^✦ come and get the glory^✦

[Chorus: Kanye West & Choir]

Yeah my

I can't study,^✦ no, yeah, my

The glory^✦

I can't study,^✦ no, yeah, my

Now where the South Side?

I can't study,^✦ no, yeah, my

Now where the West Side?

I can't study,^✦ no, yeah, my

[Outro: Laura Nyro]

I can't study^✦ war, yeah, my

Technical Breakdown

7.1

Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm6.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity5.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.09

Production

— Kanye West, Gee Robinson, Patrick "Plain Pat" Reynolds

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Kanye utilizes self-deprecating humor and high-contrast imagery to bridge the gap between his newly acquired fame and his relatable, middle-class origins.

9.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

6.5

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

6.5

Wordplay

Delivery

AABB rhyme scheme with internal assonanceSelf-referential ironyPop culture juxtapositionMulti-syllabic chaining

Rhyme Architecture: The verse builds on a tight 'o' vowel sound sequence (Travolta, guido, ego, Speedo, hero, polo, No-Doz, Volvo, logos), utilizing dense internal end-rhymes that create a relentless percussive drive.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"I went ultra Travolta"

① A literal reference to wearing a tuxedo style reminiscent of John Travolta's iconic disco-era look.② A hyperbolic indicator of West trying to 'fit in' with the high-fashion aesthetic of the Grammy awards.

"tank on empty, whipping my momma Volvo"

① Literally having no gas left in his mother's car.② A symbolic representation of the grind, emphasizing that his external appearance (logos) was being bought at the expense of basic survival necessities.

Exceptional sonic consistency through long-form rhyme chains

Relatable narrative transition from domestic struggles to fashion-forward success

Strong command of tone, balancing ego with self-awareness

Vocabulary breadth is limited by the strict adherence to the dominant vowel sound

The narrative structure is somewhat linear and lacks complex metaphoric layers

The Glory

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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