People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
Ham
A Tribe Called Quest
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
15
End
141
Internal
46
Multi
153
Slant
6
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
I don't eat no ham n' eggs, cuz they're high in cholesterol✦
Ay yo, Phife do you eat em? (No, Tip do you eat em?)
Uh uh, not at all (Again)✦
I don't eat no ham n' eggs, cuz they're high in cholesterol✦
Jarobi,✦ do you eat em? (Nope, Shah, do you eat em?) Nope
Not at all
[Break: Q-Tip]
Bridge!
[Verse 2: Phife Dawg]
Now drop the beat, so I can talk about my favorite tastings
The food that is the everlasting✦
See I'm not fasting✦
I'm gobbling, like a dog on turkey✦
Beef jerky,✦ Slim Jims, I eat sometimes
I like lemon and limes✦
"And if not that, I get the Roti✦ and the Soursop"
Sit back, relax, listen✦ to some hip-hop✦
[Verse 3: Q-Tip]
Gum drops and gummy✦ bears tease my eyes
A sight for sore ones✦ and some bore pies
And other✦ goodies that are filled✦ with goop
With fried apple roots
Delectable delights, control my appetites
Mines✦ is for me, right, but I know what I like
Chicken✦ for lunch, chicken✦ for my dinner✦
Chicken,✦ chicken,✦ chicken,✦ I'm a finger✦ lickin'✦ winner✦
When breakfast time comes,✦ I don't recognize
Pig in the pan or a pair of bogey✦ chides✦
Mixed✦ with stewed✦ tomatoes,✦ home fried potatoes✦
Or anything with flair, cook it, I'm in there
Pay attention to the Tribe as we impose✦
This is how it goes
[Chorus]
I don't eat no ham n' eggs, cuz they're high in cholesterol✦
A yo, Phife do you eat em? (Nah, Tip do you eat em?)
Uh uh, not at all (Come again,✦ y'all)
I don't eat no ham n' eggs, cuz they're high in cholesterol✦
Jarobi,✦ do you eat em? (Nope, Shah, do you eat em?)
Nope, not at all
I don't eat no ham n' eggs, cuz they're high in cholesterol✦
Afrika✦ do you eat em? (No, Pos, do you eat em?)
Hell yeah, all the time
I don't eat no ham n' eggs, cuz they're high in cholesterol✦
Phife, do you eat em? (Nah, Tip, do you eat em?)
Uh uh, not at all
I don't eat no ham n' eggs, cuz they're high in cholesterol✦
Jarobi,✦ do you eat em? (Nope, Shah, do you eat em?)
Nope, not at all
I don't eat no ham n' eggs, cuz they're high in cholesterol✦
Afrika,✦ do you eat em? (No, Gary,✦ do you eat em?)
Yeah, all the time
(laughing)
Technical Breakdown
7.0
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres4.5
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm7.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity5.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control6.5
Performance and control
Computed Score7.00
Production
— Q-Tip, A Tribe Called Quest, Garry Shider, Ali Shaheed MuhammadBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse relies heavily on rhythmic simplicity and internal cadence over complex lyrical density, reflecting the playful, conversational aesthetic of the early Native Tongues era.
B
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
5
Vocabulary
4.5
Wordplay
6.5
Delivery
Internal rhyme chainsList-based flowConversational cadenceSyncopated call-and-response structures
Rhyme Architecture: The scheme utilizes a AABB/AABB structure in the chorus with a transition into looser, playful couplets and list-based internal rhyming sequences in the verses.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"A sight for sore ones and some bore pies"
① A literal play on the idiom 'a sight for sore eyes'.② A humorous, non-sequitur description of the treats being 'bore pies' (boring pies) that contrast with the 'goodies'.
Excellent rhythmic pocket
Strong vocal personality and chemistry
Consistent thematic cohesion
Playful, accessible delivery
Low lexical variety
Lack of complex metaphors
Limited depth beyond the literal topic of food