Beats, Rhymes and Life
Jam
A Tribe Called Quest
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
46
End
257
Internal
124
Multi
256
Slant
20
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 3: Q-Tip]
He said we got all day, so we gonna✦ do it right
Hit your man's joint first and Jamrock in one night
Then I said "Aight", then I hopped✦ inside✦ the Jetty✦
Let me take a shower,✦ I'm sweaty,✦ and then I'll be ready✦
Tonight is the night I get my groove on steady✦
And get my drink on with that Ford named✦ Betty✦
I went upstairs to get fly, smoke my Thai
Drunk some liquor,✦ to meet my high quicker
Now, I'm type stimo,✦ the party✦ is the M.O.
Me and my crew, we get it started✦ like a demo✦
Eleven✦ in the evenin',✦ I'm feelin'✦ like a heathen
This thing is goin' down, and I highly✦ doubt I'm leavin'✦
Booty✦ cheeks are in motion,✦ and the kids was drinkin'✦ potion✦
Word is bond, that Black Moon joint got me open✦
(Don't front)
[Verse 4: Consequence]
Yo, the DJ flipped the script
Threw on the good shit that made the kid lose his grip
Blendin' Risin'✦ to the Top and got these shorties hoppin'✦
Number✦ coppin',✦ ain't no stoppin' me now
Yo, I'm bound to win 'til that thing kicked✦ in
The Alizé had me stuck, I don't know where to begin✦
[Verse 5: Q-Tip, Phife Dawg & Consequence]
Now I'm feelin'✦ kinda✦ jaded,✦ wild, incoherent✦
Me and the fellas✦ started✦ actin'✦ irreverent✦
Butt grabbin', mad laughin', just assin'✦
Then that chick caught up, the shorty✦ lookin'✦ fed up
They said you jonesin' with this one, you gibbin'✦ with that one
A-yo, I'm just doin' my thing, yo, I'm just havin'✦ fun
You don't see me in here wildin',✦ pullin'✦ out no gun
Yo, I see some of that thing, girl, and I want some
So let's step inside✦ the sauna✦ so that we can rap on
Over✦ this bumpin'✦ ass song, plus some Dom Perignon
I hit ya with the good lovin',✦ plus filet✦ mignon✦
Yeah, yeah, scrammy scrams, that's that same old song
A-yo, tell me why the hell your breath smells so strong?
Yo, put some brakes✦ on your yappin'✦ or you won't live long
Please, nigga,✦ push on
Alright,✦ scrams, see you later✦ (Scrams?)
Can't mess with these street sharks or these alligators
I can't take it no more, yo, it's damn near four
I've been partyin' and drinkin'✦ since I came out my door
Look at these kids about✦ to mix it, damn, where's✦ the exit?✦
Son jetted✦ to the ride and got the burner✦ out the Lexus✦
Yo, he cocked✦ his joint back like he's about✦ to let 'em have it
Kid, I kept it movin'✦ like the Energizer rabbit✦
Yo-yo! A-yo, yo-yo! It's time to skate, ain't no time to contemplate
(Whoops! Looka✦ there, there's✦ Jake)
[Outro: Skit]
[Cop]
Alright,✦ you guys wanna✦ move the cars? C'mon, let's go
[Ali Shaheed Muhammad]
[Q-Tip]
Yo, c'mon, Al, that shit was fucked✦ up, man
Yo, that nigga✦ fuckin'✦ pulled✦ outta✦ the burner✦ like that?
Yo, let's get the fuck up outta✦ here
[Ali Shaheed Muhammad]
A-yo, why them niggas✦ always✦ assin'✦ out, man?
Yo, them niggas✦ always✦ assin'✦ out, man
They can't even✦ have a good one on a hot summer✦ night, man
I'm tired,✦ man! Word up
This hot shit be makin'✦ niggas✦ act stupid!✦
Niggas✦ be actin'✦ stupid✦ in this hot weather, baby✦
[Phife Dawg]
Yo, it's 3 o'clock in the morning
[Ali Shaheed Muhammad]
Hey, 'Mal, man, I'm tired✦ of these funny✦ style niggas,✦ man
[Phife Dawg]
It's hotter✦ than a witch's crotch, son
[Phife Dawg]
What's up, son?
[Q-Tip]
Get in the car, kid!
What the fuck is you doin', man?
[Ali Shaheed Muhammad]
C'mon, man, get in, man! It's hot as hell, I need some A.C., man!
[Phife Dawg]
Muhammad,✦ I can't close the door, you fat boy!
[Q-Tip]
'Cause of yo' fat ass
[Phife Dawg]
Yo, it's Muhammad✦
[Ali Shaheed Muhammad]
It ain't no Muhammad,✦ man
[Q-Tip]
Yo, will y'all shut the fuck up, man?
Y'all in my motherfuckin' car, man
[Ali Shaheed Muhammad]
C'mon man... Yo, why you kid- why you talkin'✦ to me like that, man?
Whoo-hoo-hoo! Baby✦
[Q-Tip]
I'm sayin', man...
Hol' up! Can I say somethin'✦ please, man?
[Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Phife Dawg]
What's up, man? What up?
What? What you gotta✦ say?
[Q-Tip]
Yo... every✦ fuckin'✦ time, man, we go out, man
We always✦ gettin'✦ fuckin'✦ tore the fuck down
These broads be fuckin'✦ shammin' like it's fuckin'...✦
[Ali Shaheed Muhammad]
Yo, 'Mal, you hot, man?
[Phife Dawg]
Fakin'✦ ass...
[Q-Tip]
... and I'm tired✦ of it, man
I'm 22 years old!
And I get crazy✦ high every✦ time I go to a party,✦ man
And the stupid✦ shit be jumpin'✦ off man
[Ali Shaheed Muhammad]
I ain't gonna✦ front, I agree, man, word up
[Q-Tip]
I can't have this no more, I've gotta✦ find somethin'✦ new, man
Technical Breakdown
8.2
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres5.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm10.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity6.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control7.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.23
Production
— J Dilla, Q-Tip, The UmmahBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse prioritizes fluid, conversational rhythmic pocket over dense lyrical complexity, serving as a masterclass in '90s laid-back aesthetic cohesion.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
5
Wordplay
7
Delivery
Conversational flowMultisyllabic rhyme chainsInternal rhyme densityDynamic group interplay
Rhyme Architecture: Highly rhythmic, predominantly AABB or AAAA couplets, utilizing long-vowel heavy internal rhymes to lock into the beat's groove.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"the party is the M.O."
① The Modus Operandi or standard procedure for the night.② A play on 'emcee' (M.C.) as an identity marker within the party setting.
"get it started like a demo"
① Beginning the party momentum.② A meta-reference to the literal process of launching a hip-hop recording career.
Exceptional rhythmic placement that complements the jazz-rap production
Strong cohesion across ensemble members
Coherent narrative arc regarding party atmosphere
Limited metaphorical depth
Vocabulary is intentionally utilitarian rather than expansive
Relies heavily on genre tropes of the era