R.A.P. Music

Untitled

Killer Mike

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

18

End

82

Internal

36

Multi

132

Slant

8

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2: Killer Mike]
I ain't never✦ gave a fuck
I never✦ did and never✦ will
Live my life on principle
Keep it true, keep it real
Better✦ said, I keep it trill
And no matter✦ who don't like it, homie
That's just how it is
Naked✦ truth like the stripper that's in front of me
And I keep a blunt and a Bible and a gun on me
Why? 'Cause I'm country-bred
Actually, I'm south-er-ern
Something like my brethren
The legendary Andre 3K, Cee Lo, Goodie, and some other✦ men
You should pay some homage,✦ it's an honor this
This is not a fiction✦ that is sold by conglomerates
This is Soul of Black Folks mixed✦ with Donald Goines✦ shit
Better✦ said, Robert Beck, esoteric I could get
This is John Gotti✦ painting pictures like Dali✦
This is Basquiat with a passion✦ like Pac
In a body✦ like Biggie, telling stories like Ricky✦
If a rapper✦ was to spar, please tell him better✦ kick it
You with me?
[Hook: Scar]
Dear Lord, have mercy✦
On the ones✦ that go through life like it's a game
Dear Lord
I won't be forced✦ to shut up when I don't feel the same
'Cause people gonna✦ lie
Some people gonna✦ steal
You gotta✦ be careful not to shit where you live
Them people might try to have you killed✦
Lord have mercy,✦ life is such a battlefield
For real
[Outro: Killer Mike]
I don't trust the church or the government: Democrat, Republican
Pope or a bishop or them other✦ men
And I believe God has sustained me with rap
So I pick a burning bush, put it in a Swisher wrap
And they can't kill a G, I seen how I die
I'm only✦ going once, a coward dies a thousand times✦
Until that chariot come and take a nigga✦ home
I'mma✦ spit this ghetto✦ gospel✦ over✦ all these gutter✦ songs
I'm gone

Technical Breakdown

8.5
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm9.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity8.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.52

Production

— El-P, Wilder Zoby

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Killer Mike utilizes a high-density, high-velocity delivery style to bridge the gap between street-level grittiness and intellectual/literary cultural signifiers, creating a cohesive Southern identity through lineage-based name-dropping.

A
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
9
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Assonant chain linkingCultural parallelismHistorical allusionInternal rhyme density
Rhyme Architecture: Begins with a simple AAAA rhyme scheme transitioning into a complex, multi-syllabic mosaic that utilizes near-rhymes and slant rhymes to maintain a high-tempo percussive flow.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Naked truth like the stripper that's in front of me"

① The blunt, unvarnished reality of his situation.② A literal visual comparison to the undressed state of a stripper, bridging the physical and the metaphorical.

"Soul of Black Folks mixed with Donald Goines shit / Better said, Robert Beck"

① References W.E.B. Du Bois's sociological text alongside gritty street fiction.② Identifies Donald Goines by his birth name (Robert Beck), grounding the street-level 'fiction' in the actual history and struggle of the author.

"In a body like Biggie, telling stories like Ricky"

① A physical comparison to the stature of The Notorious B.I.G.② A narrative comparison to the storytelling prowess of John 'Ricky' Singleton or the character-driven narratives of his films.

Exceptional command of flow and cadence variation

Strong cultural synthesis of literature, art, and hip-hop history

Commanding vocal presence that feels urgent and lived-in

Occasional reliance on lists to establish credibility

Some metaphors rely more on name-dropping than deep subtextual expansion

User Scores