Watch the Throne

New Day

Kanye West

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

22

End

97

Internal

37

Multi

121

Slant

6

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Interlude: Nina Simone & JAY-Z]
Sun in the sky, you know how I feel
Breeze driftin'✦ on by
Breeze driftin'✦ on by
It's a new life for me, yeah
Me and the RZA connect✦
It's a new life for me, ooh
Me and the RZA connect✦
And I'm feeling✦ good
Yeah
[Verse 2: JAY-Z]
Sorry,✦ junior, I already ruined ya
'Cause you ain't even✦ alive,✦ paparazzi pursuin' ya
Sins of a father✦ make your life ten times✦ harder✦
I just wanna✦ take ya to a barber✦
Bondin'✦ on charters, all the shit that I never✦ did
Teach you good values✦ so you cherish it
Took me twenty-six years to find my path
My only✦ job is cut the time in half
So at thirteen, we'll have our first drink together
Black bar mitzvahs, mazel✦ tov, mogul talk
Look a man dead in his eyes
So he know you talk truth when you speak it
Give your word, keep it
And if the day comes✦ I only✦ see him on the weekend
I just pray we was in love on the night that we conceived him
Promise✦ to never✦ leave him even✦ if his mama✦ tweakin'
'Cause my dad left me and I promise✦ never✦ repeat✦ him
Never✦ repeat✦ him, never✦ repeat✦ him
[Outro: Nina Simone]
Sun in the sky, you know how I feel
Breeze driftin'✦ on by
Breeze driftin'✦ on by
It's a new life for me, yeah
It's a new dawn, it's a new day
It's a new life for me, ooh
And I'm feeling✦ good
Sun in the sky, you know how I feel
Breeze driftin'✦ on by, you know how I feel
Breeze driftin'✦ on by, you know how I feel
It's a new life for me, yeah
It's a new dawn, it's a new day
It's a new life for me, ooh
And I'm feeling✦
Birds flyin' high, you know how I feel

Technical Breakdown

7.5
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm8.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.50

Production

— Kanye West, Mike Dean, RZA, Ken Lewis

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

JAY-Z demonstrates mature, thematic lyricism, prioritizing generational wisdom and legacy-building over his usual bravado, using a grounded, conversational flow that emphasizes emotional clarity.

B+
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
7
Delivery
generational thematic anchoringinternal rhyme clustersconversational cadenceAABB-derivative rhyme structures
Rhyme Architecture: Primarily composed of AABB-style couplets utilizing multi-syllabic end-rhymes (ruined ya/pursuin' ya, harder/barber/charters) with high-density internal assonance throughout.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"cut the time in half"

① The literal intention to accelerate the child's development or success compared to the artist's own trajectory.② A reference to the artist's past 26-year struggle, implying he is gifting his child 13 years of 'head start' time.

"Black bar mitzvahs"

① A literal ceremony signifying coming of age or transition into adulthood.② A symbolic shorthand for the financial and social 'rite of passage' into mogul status within the Black elite.

Consistent thematic focus on fatherhood and legacy

Strong command of cadence that mirrors the 'advice-giving' tone

Effective use of internal rhyme to maintain forward momentum

Lacks the complex linguistic layering seen in earlier, more technical eras of his career

Some metaphors (e.g., 'bar mitzvahs') function more as stylistic markers than deep wordplay

User Scores