Tha Carter V

Dope New Gospel

Lil Wayne

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

31

End

114

Internal

39

Multi

130

Slant

16

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Nivea]
Well, it's been way too long
And I wonder✦ what it's been like
Tryna✦ get back right with ya
'Cause I've been on my own
Or at least that's what it feels like
Wanna✦ get back right with ya
It's been way too long
And I wonder✦ what it's been like
[Post-Chorus: Lil Wayne]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Man in the mirror,✦ my hero✦
He helped✦ me center✦ my evil✦
I see the fire in his eyes
But he keep my blood temperature zero✦
Man in the mirror,✦ my 'migo✦
Crème de la crème de la Créole
Couple a cracks in the mirror✦
Even✦ through the cracks, I see no cracks in me though
[Verse 2: Lil Wayne]
Daytime start to turn black
Everything stop like start to twirl
Thank God Weezy✦ back
Order✦ is restored, all is right with the world
Last time become✦ lost time
No free time, 'til I bought time
No tea time, no off time
No me time, on y'all time
Blessings shower✦ from the north side
From the brightest flower✦ out the darkest skies
Love is blind but we caught eyes
It's a bumpy✦ road but a joyride
Still can't ignore✦ my rappetite
Like a hungry✦ shark in a koi pond
Still the motherfuckin' best rapper,✦ a-live✦
Nigga,✦ y'all died
[Chorus: Nivea]
Well it's been way too long
And I wonder✦ what it's been like
Tryna✦ get back right with ya
'Cause I've been on my own
Or at least that's what it feels like
Wanna✦ get back right with ya
It's been way too long
And I wonder✦ what it's been like
'Cause I've been on my own
Or at least that's what it feels like
Wanna✦ get back right with ya
Yeah It's been way too long
And I wonder✦ what it's been like
[Outro: Lil Wayne]
Man in the mirror,✦ my hero✦
He got me center✦ my ego✦
When I think I'm bad like Michael
He bring me back down to Tito✦
It's written all over✦ my face
Tattoos that can't be erased✦
One of a kind, I can't be replaced
In case that mirror✦ breaks

Technical Breakdown

8.7
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres8.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.70

Production

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Wayne utilizes self-reflective, mirror-based imagery to reconcile his internal duality and public persona, demonstrating high-level rhythmic density and clever phonetic wordplay.

A
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
8
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Homophonic wordplayInternal rhyme chainingMetaphorical juxtapositionLexical repetition for emphasis
Rhyme Architecture: Wayne employs a tight AABB-adjacent structure with heavy internal rhyme usage, specifically focusing on feminine rhymes and vowel-sound repetition (mirror/hero/zero/migo/créole).
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Crème de la crème de la Créole"

① The best of the best, referencing the French idiom for the elite.② A nod to his New Orleans roots/heritage as a Creole man.

"see no cracks in me though"

① He sees no physical fractures in his reflection despite the glass being broken.② He remains mentally and emotionally unshaken or infallible despite external evidence of struggle.

"blood temperature zero"

① Maintaining a cold, calculated, or unbothered demeanor despite internal 'fire'.② A physiological state of detachment required to manage his destructive impulses.

Masterful use of internal rhyme to maintain cadence

Strong conceptual consistency regarding self-reflection

High level of phonetic play with 'cracks' and 'creole'

Limited thematic range due to the brevity of the verse

Vocabulary constraints keep the intellectual depth strictly focused on internal persona rather than external observation

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