MICHAEL
Nrich
Killer Mike
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
15
End
174
Internal
88
Multi
185
Slant
5
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Eryn Allen Kane]
Oh, run up them millions✦
Oh, then build a village✦
Oh, then make your own rules✦
Fuck what they told you
Don't let 'em own you
Black and bright, black as night, black and brilliant✦
Walk by faith, not by sight, stand resilient✦
Truth always✦ comes✦ to life, time reveals✦ it
Time reveals✦ it
[Verse 2: 6LACK]
Black like my name, nigga,✦ shit what I know
I don't make friends, hop out and then I go
I don't pick sides,✦ only✦ my niggas✦ and they niggas✦
We gon' turn the streets from projects into pillars
Pray all of my niggas✦ organize✦ and strategize✦
Enemies are lurkin'✦ 'round the way like camouflage✦
I'ma✦ be a nigga,✦ get the picture 'fore I die
This is not a film, this is real, realize✦
Forty-three for combat,✦ hit 'em right in they contact
All my niggas✦ abstract and we tight like we compact
Niggas✦ carjack 'cause they jampacked✦ and sidetracked✦
Came through our hoods, they ransacked,✦ we pushed✦ back
[Refrain: 6LACK]
Black like my skin, woah, black like a Benz, woah
Black like my friends, you see black in the end, woah
Don't parlay✦ with opps, but I can if you kinfolk✦
Got it like a syndrome,✦ nothin'✦ rich as my skin tone
[Break: 6LACK]
Yeah
Know we really✦ should be celebrated✦
But like everything else, we gotta✦ fight for it, so
I'ma✦ put on the gloves✦
[Verse 3: Killer Mike]
Let me state it, I real-estated✦ when others✦ hated✦
Born at Grady,✦ a bastard baby,✦ the single lady✦
I beat the odds, without God, I probably wouldn't have made it
It's underwhelmin' to be so overly✦ underrated✦
But still they witnessin' all the riches✦ of nigga✦ richness
Singin'✦ and dancing's essentially just a nigga✦ business✦
But nigga✦ business✦ can turn niggas✦ on to bigger✦ business✦
They used✦ to own us, but now we owners,✦ that's independence
My phone is figures,✦ I talked✦ to Randell 'bout bigger✦ figures✦
I told him, "I want a hundred mill'," he said, "Think bigger"✦
Fuck livin'✦ average,✦ I had to go savage✦ to get lavish✦
I went from wearin'✦ them leanin'✦ that matches eyes embarrassed
And now I move through the Louvre smooth when I'm in Paris
My jewelry flashy,✦ my shirts is garish,✦ I'm drippin' ashes✦
On finest fabrics while in the back of a German✦ carriage✦
Same birth date as Hitler,✦ but fuck him, I'm a nigga✦
[Refrain: 6LACK]
Black like my skin, woah, black like a Benz, woah
Black like my friends, you see black in the end, woah
Don't parlay✦ with opps, but I can if you kinfolk✦
Got it like a syndrome,✦ nothing rich as my skin tone
[Chorus: Eryn Allen Kane]
Oh, run up them millions✦
Oh, then build a village✦
Oh, then make your own rules✦
Fuck what they told you
Don't let 'em own you
Black and bright, black as night, black and brilliant✦
Walk by faith, not by sight, stand resilient✦
Truth always✦ comes✦ to life, time reveals✦ it
Time reveals✦ it
[Outro: Eryn Allen Kane]
Ooh
Love, said, love
Said, me
Technical Breakdown
7.0
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres5.5
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm6.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity8.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control6.0
Performance and control
Computed Score7.05
Production
— Cool & Dre, 808-RayBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
6LACK provides a rhythmically dense, thematic continuation of the track's central focus on self-reliance and community building, prioritizing steady, percussive rhyme chains over complex metaphors.
B
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
6.5
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
5.5
Wordplay
6
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhyme chainsAssonant repetitionRhythmic percussive deliveryRepetitive phonetic mirroring
Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on a high-density, multi-syllabic AAAA rhyme structure in the final quadrant (combat/contact/abstract/compact/carjack/jampacked/sidetracked/ransacked/back), creating a locked-in, percussive flow that serves as the verse's anchor.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"This is not a film, this is real, realize"
① A commentary on the harsh reality of street life compared to the fictional depictions in movies.② A play on 'realize' and 'real eyes', suggesting that one must possess 'real eyes' (authentic perspective) to perceive the truth of their situation.
"All my niggas abstract and we tight like we compact"
① Abstract describes the unconventional or complex nature of his social circle.② Compact refers to the physical density and strength of their unit, acting as a metaphor for unity and close-knit bonds.
Exceptional density of internal and end rhymes
Strong rhythmic consistency that adheres strictly to the beat
Thematic coherence with the chorus's message of empowerment and defense
Metaphorical content is largely literal or common in the genre
Lacks deep lyrical subtext or complex entendres
Delivery, while technically proficient and on-pocket, remains relatively monochromatic in inflection