The Low End Theory

Show Business

A Tribe Called Quest

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

199

Internal

Multi

233

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Verse 3: Lord Jamar]

They're giving^✦ you the business,^✦ and putting on a show

You're a million^✦ dollar^✦ man that ain't got no dough

But you got a ho tickets backstage to a show

Sedated, and at that fact, they elated^✦

Time pass and your ass say, "Where's^✦ my loot?"

The reply^✦ is a kick in the ass from a leg in a boot

All you wanna^✦ do is taste the fruit

But in the back, they're making^✦ fruit juice

You ask for slack and wanna^✦ get cut loose from the label^✦

Not able 'cause you signed^✦ at the table

For a pretty^✦ cash advance, now they got a song and dance

That you didn't recoup,^✦ "More soup with your meal?"

'Cause this is the real when you get a record deal

And I say...

[Verse 4: Phife Dawg]

Awwww, shucks! Look what the cat hauled^✦ in

It's Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called^✦ Quest, let me begin^✦

Like Chuck D, I got so much trouble on my mind

'Bout these no-talent artists getting signed,^✦ they can't rhyme

And if that ain't bad, you got bootleggers

Going out like suckers,^✦ motherfuckers^✦

Feel it's time that I let loose the lion

And if not that, then I'll commence to head flying

Seems in '91, everybody^✦ want a rhyme

And then you go and sell my tape for only^✦ $5.99?

Please, nigga!^✦ I've worked^✦ too hard for this

No more will I take the booty^✦ end of the stick

Bogus brothers^✦ making^✦ albums when they know they can't hack it

'Cause they lyrics^✦ is played like 8-Ball jackets

Now tell me I can't tear it up

Go get yourself some toilet^✦ paper^✦ 'cause your lyrics^✦ is butt

[Chorus: Phife Dawg, Q-Tip, (Diamond D), (*Sadat X*) & All]

Do you wanna^✦ be in the business?^✦ (The Business!)^✦

(People can't walk a straight line in..) (The Business!!)^✦ Uh

Some of these brothers^✦ can't rhyme in.. (The Business!)^✦

(*A-yo, I'm tryna^✦ get mine*) (The Business!)^✦

[Verse 5: Sadat X]

The party^✦ scene is cool, but then again^✦ it's all the same

You see the same faces,^✦ but at different places^✦

When you're up and riding^✦ high, everything is palsy-palsy

Get a million^✦ pounds and all the skins give you hugs

Well, that's cool, I can dig it, it really^✦ ain't my bag

Prefer^✦ to max on the side, and let my pants sag

"Oh, he's a cutie" — yeah, real cute

But I wasn't that cute when I didn't have no loot

Although I hit a pound of herbs, I'm still nice with the verbs

So fuck what you heard!

The Born-Cipher-Cipher-Master^✦ makes^✦ me think much faster^✦

But critics still continue to plaster^✦

My name and discredit my fame

All that shit is game, and I don't really^✦ give a damn

Eat from the tree of life and throw away^✦ the verbal^✦ ham

[Verse 6: Diamond D & Q-Tip]

Well, excuse^✦ me, I gotta^✦ add my two cents in

Don't be alarmed, the rhyme was condensed in

A matter^✦ of minutes, so it must be told

All that glitters not gold

Everybody^✦ wants a deal, help me make a demo^✦

See my name in bright lights, ride around^✦ in a limo^✦

My moms keeps beefin'^✦ ("Boy, get a job")

But I wanna^✦ make jams, damn, I know I'll slam

Huh, well, it's not that easy^✦

You gotta^✦ get a label^✦ that's willing and able

To market^✦ and promote, and you better^✦ hope

(For what?) That the product is dope!

Take it from Diamond, it's like mountain climbing

When it comes^✦ to rhyming, you gotta^✦ put your time in

Get a good lawyer^✦ so problems won't pile

You don't wanna^✦ make a Pitch that's Wild

Technical Breakdown

8.4

Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.39

Production

— Skeff Anselm, Q-Tip

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The verse functions as a pedagogical critique of the music industry's exploitative economic models, utilizing a direct, conversational, and rhythmically grounded flow that prioritizes narrative clarity over abstract wordplay.

8.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

6.5

Wordplay

Delivery

Extended metaphorInternal rhyme clustersSocial commentaryConversational cadenceMulti-syllabic end-rhymes

Rhyme Architecture: Primarily AABB/AABCC rhyming couplets and triplets with heavy internal threading that anchors the flow to the back-beat, characteristic of mid-90s boom-bap precision.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"all you wanna do is taste the fruit / But in the back, they're making fruit juice"

① The artist desires the rewards of success (the fruit).② The label is 'extracting' the value or substance out of the artist for mass consumption, leaving them depleted.

"they got a song and dance / That you didn't recoup"

① A common idiom for deceptive or evasive behavior by management.② A literal reference to the performance-based nature of the industry and the 'recoupment' clause in standard recording contracts.

Exceptional rhythmic consistency

Clear, actionable industry critique

Effective use of the 'show business' metaphor as a framing device

Strong, authoritative vocal presence

Literal approach limits lyrical depth in some sections

Reliance on industry-standard tropes regarding record label exploitation

Lack of complex, multi-layered abstraction common in abstract hip-hop

Show Business

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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