People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

After Hours

A Tribe Called Quest

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

29

End

52

Internal

31

Multi

144

Slant

18

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Richard Pryor]
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
[Verse 2: Q-Tip]
Me oh my, hey-hey,✦ hey-hey✦
The human✦ hours are here to stay
This is how it seems as Phife's✦ my witness
Bug out all night, ask Phife, he's with this
Girls be screaming on this conversation✦
I have my two cents for a revelation✦
And my watch continually tick-tocks
Shaheed will bring up the beat that rocks
I hear the frogs and the smashing of bottles
A car revs up and I hear it throttle
It probably moves✦ with the morning wind
Oh my God, here's✦ Phife again✦
Hear him talking 'bout last night's game
Trying to remember someone's name
So hear the frogs dancing in the street
Once again✦ Ali will bring up the beat
Like this
[Interlude]
*sounds of frogs*
[Verse 3: Q-Tip]
The beat is over✦ and so is the night
The sun is risen and the shine is bright
We all say peace and go our separate ways
Youth is fading✦ as we gain our days
Explanation✦ for the song is simp'
The hours creep, excuse✦ me, I mean limp
As we go you hear a gasp of laugh
As we start up our rhythmic path
Like this
[Chorus: Richard Pryor]
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
After✦ hours, that was cool
[Segue: Jarobi]
Oh word
Walkin'✦ in some fresh mud
And I left back my footprints
Word

Technical Breakdown

7.7
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes7.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres5.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity5.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.71

Production

— Q-Tip, A Tribe Called Quest, Ali Shaheed Muhammad

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Q-Tip utilizes the verse as a rhythmic bridge, prioritizing sonic texture and the establishment of a nocturnal atmosphere over complex linguistic puzzles.

B+
7.5
Multisyllabic
7.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
5
Vocabulary
5
Wordplay
7
Delivery
Onomatopoeic imageryConversational cadenceCall-and-response rhythmInternal rhyme stacking
Rhyme Architecture: A mix of AABB and AAAA couplet-based structures, heavily reliant on terminal rhymes that emphasize the cyclical, ticking nature of the track's theme.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"I have my two cents for a revelation"

① Sharing an opinion or modest contribution to the conversation② A play on 'two cents' as a trivial observation contrasted with the gravity of a 'revelation'

"My watch continually tick-tocks"

① Literal measurement of time passing② A rhythmic representation of the beat's metronome-like quality

Excellent rhythmic placement of internal rhymes

Strong evocation of urban nocturnal atmosphere

Naturalistic, conversational flow characteristic of 90s alternative hip-hop

Low lexical complexity

Lack of intricate double entendres

Relies heavily on filler phrasing to maintain cadence

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