The Love Below
Roses
Andre 3000
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
40
End
251
Internal
114
Multi
102
Slant
18
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: André 3000]
I know you'd like to think your shit don't stank, but
Lean a little bit closer,✦ see
Roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
Yeah, roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
I know you'd like to think your shit don't stank, but
Lean a little bit closer,✦ see
Roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
Yeah, roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
[Verse 3: Big Boi]
Well, she's got a hottie's body✦ but her attitude is potty✦
When I met her at a party,✦ she was hardly✦ acting naughty
I said, "Shorty,✦ would you call me?"
She said, "Pardon me, are you balling?"
I said "Darling, you sound like a prostitute pausing"
Oh, so you're one them freaks
Get geeked✦ at the sight of an ATM receipt
But game been peeped,✦ droppin' names,✦ she's weak
Trickin' off this bitch is lost, must take me for a geek
A quick way to eat, a neat place to sleep
A rent-a-car for a week, a trick for a treat
No go on the raw sex, my AIDS test is flawless
Regardless, we don't wanna✦ get involved with all them lawyers
And judges✦ just to hold grudges in a courtroom
I wanna✦ see your support✦ bra, not support✦ you
(Not support✦ you, not support✦ you)
[Chorus: André 3000]
I know you'd like to think your shit don't stank, but
Lean a little bit closer,✦ see
Roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
Yeah, roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
I know you'd like to think your shit don't stank, but
Lean a little bit closer,✦ see
Roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
Yeah, roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
Yeah, I
I know you'd like to think your shit don't stank, but
Lean a little bit closer,✦ see
Roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
Yeah, roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
I know you'd like to think your shit don't stank, but
Lean a little bit closer,✦ see
Roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
Yeah, roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
I know you'd like to think your shit don't stank, but
Lean a little bit closer,✦ see
Roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
Yeah, roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
I know you'd like to think your shit don't stank, but
Lean a little bit closer,✦ see
Roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
Yeah, roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
I know you'd like to think your shit don't stank, but
Lean a little bit closer,✦ see
Roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
Yeah, roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
I know you'd like to think your shit don't stank, but
Lean a little bit closer,✦ see
Roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
Yeah, roses✦ really✦ smell like boo-boo-ooh✦
[Bridge: André 3000]
Better✦ come back down to Mars
Girl, quit chasing✦ cars
What happens✦ when the dough gets low
Bitch, you ain't that fine, no way, no way, no way
Better✦ come back down to Mars
Girl, quit chasing✦ cars
What happens✦ when the dough gets low
Bitch, you ain't that fine, no way, no way, no way
[Outro: Big Boi]
Crazy✦ bitch
Crazy✦ bitch
Crazy✦ bitch
Crazy✦ bitch
Crazy✦ bitch
Crazy✦ bitch
Crazy✦ bitch
(Bitch) Crazy✦ bitch
(Stupid-ass✦ bitch) Crazy✦ bitch
(Old punk-ass✦ bitch) Crazy✦ bitch
(Old dumb-ass✦ bitch) Crazy✦ bitch
(A bitch's bitch) Crazy✦ bitch
(Just a bitch) Crazy✦ bitch
(Stupid-ass✦ bitch) Crazy✦ bitch
(Old punk-ass✦ bitch) Crazy✦ bitch
(Old dumb-ass✦ bitch) Crazy✦ bitch
(A bitch's bitch) Crazy✦ bitch
(Just a bitch)
Technical Breakdown
8.4
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 / Rhythm10.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity4.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control8.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.42
Production
— André 3000, Dojo5, Matt BoykinBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Big Boi provides a masterful demonstration of rhythmic precision and cadence-locking, utilizing internal rhyme density to contrast the 'hottie's body' façade with the 'potty' attitude of the subject.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
4
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Internal rhyming clustersEnjambment-based cadenceAssonant playRhythmic switch-up
Rhyme Architecture: Extremely high density of internal multi-syllabic rhyming, relying on 'a-a-a' end-rhyme strings punctuated by rapid-fire internal triplets (e.g., 'hottie's body', 'attitude is potty', 'met her at a party').
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"attitude is potty"
① The subject has a vulgar or childish temperament.② A play on the 'Roses' theme established in the chorus regarding feces/scent.
"prostitute pausing"
① The subject is hesitating in her speech while fishing for a wealthy partner.② A clever alliterative insult mapping her status to the transactional nature of sex work.
"trick for a treat"
① A colloquial reference to a man spending money on a woman in hopes of sexual favors.② A subversion of the Halloween 'trick-or-treat' idiom, highlighting the transactional and performative aspect of their interaction.
Rhythmic control is elite
Phonetic consistency makes the verse highly melodic
Transitions between narrative setup and judgmental payoff are seamless
Excellent use of internal vocal tension to mirror the chaotic subject matter
Vocabulary is standard/functional rather than inventive
Some double entendres border on surface-level tropes of the era