I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II
Pure
Killer Mike
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
36
End
187
Internal
99
Multi
254
Slant
8
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Hook:]
We can say what we like
Put the pressure✦ on 'em
Ice Cube and Killer✦ Mike
Put the pressure✦ on 'em
I can do what I want
Put the pressure✦ on 'em
But god dammit✦ I'm gonna✦
Put the pressure✦ on 'em
Put the pressure✦ on 'em
Homie put the pressure✦ on 'em
Put the pressure✦ on 'em
Homie put the pressure✦ on 'em
Put the pressure✦ on 'em
Homie put the pressure✦ on 'em
Cause pressure✦ bust pipes✦
Pressure✦ bust pipes✦
[Ice Cube:]
I'm here to deprogram you
Don't forget✦ what they made your great grandmama do
What they made your great granddaddy do
Without a dollar✦ or a penny✦ or a thank you
The same motherfuckers✦ wanna✦ gank you
Cause they hate you and the pussy✦ that you came through
Can anybody tell me that it ain't true?
That these motherfuckers✦ ain't out to hurt you
They'll lock you up, beat you up and work you
Put your life on a thirty✦ year curfew✦
Little cell little window✦ for you to look through
Even✦ gotta✦ a little chair where he can cook you
Nigga✦ please I'mma✦ be in the breeze
Beat 'em up with my plan like the Japanese
Now I'm overseas
And I'm trapping these
Thank God I didn't have to cock and squeeze
[Hook]
[Killer Mike]
Black politicians✦ stop bullshitting
And you funky✦ black preachers with your pulpit✦
Our kings had dreams and a big vision✦
All you give us is government and religion✦
Is you a freedom✦ fighter or a stool pigeon✦
Is you down for your people in the big mission✦
Or you a dirty✦ nigga✦ working✦ for a fucking✦ Clinton
Or you dirty✦ nigga✦ working✦ for a fucking✦ Bush
Another✦ message for the politicians:✦
Better✦ get the police✦ off our ass quickly
If another✦ old lady✦ die in this city✦
Swear to god we will burn down the fucking✦ city✦
Big schemes
Big dreams
Yeah I'm with it folk
But twenty✦ years of selling dope just a fucking✦ joke
And so what, you the man with that white man?
Probation✦ got your answering to a white man
[Hook]
[Killer Mike]
God dammit✦ the Red Dogs and Ramparts running rampant
These pigs going ham sammich
In New York killed✦ a young brother✦
In Atlanta killed✦ a grandmother✦
And politicians✦ say 'save the planet'✦
Fuck that, save us dammit!✦
From the black pigs helped✦ 'em kill Sean Bell
I hope it's five degrees hotter✦ for your ass in hell
Race traitin' bastard, you less than trash
I hope when Jesus come back he murder✦ your ass
So you burn in hell 'til you turn white ash
To the one that say 'sorry'✦ tell' em 'kiss our ass'
We don't need em motherfucker you can keep it for yourself✦
I wish you nothing but pain and bad health
I hope luck run away✦ from you and wealth
No honor✦ in life no honor✦ in death
You a Judas to us, nigga✦ kill yourself✦
[Hook]
[Malcolm X]
No Negro✦ leaders have fought for civil✦ rights
They have begged✦ for civil✦ rights
They have begged✦ the white man for civil✦ rights
They have begged✦ the white man for freedom✦
And anytime you beg another✦ man to set you free
You will never✦ be free
Freedom✦ is something you have to do for yourselves
And until✦ the American Negro✦ lets the white man know
That we are really✦ really✦ ready✦ and willing to pay the price that is necessary for freedom✦
Our people will always be walking✦ around and second class citizens or what you call twentieth century slaves✦
(What price are you talking✦ about✦ sir?)
The price of freedom✦ is death
Technical Breakdown
8.5
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 / Rhythm9.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity7.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control8.5
Performance and control
Computed Score8.52
Production
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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse relies on stark historical confrontation and rhythmic repetition, prioritizing thematic weight and aggressive delivery over intricate wordplay metaphors.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
9
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
AnaphoraHistorical allusionInternal rhythmic mirroringHard consonant plosives
Rhyme Architecture: Ice Cube utilizes a consistent A-A-A-A-A-A terminal rhyme scheme based on the '-oo' vowel sound, supported by dense internal rhyme sequences in the setup lines.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Pressure bust pipes"
① The literal physical phenomenon where excessive pressure causes conduits to rupture.② A metaphorical assertion that systemic societal pressure will inevitably cause the existing power structures to collapse or fail.
"Gank you"
① Slang for to steal from or rob someone.② In the context of the verse, it refers to the systemic exploitation and theft of labor/dignity from the speaker's ancestors and current lineage.
Commanding, authoritative vocal presence
Effective use of historical trauma as a lyrical anchor
Strong rhythmic cadence that reinforces the 'pressure' motif
Wordplay is literal rather than metaphorical
Repetitive structural reliance on the hook
Predictable rhyme scheme choices