Beats, Rhymes and Life
Mind Power
A Tribe Called Quest
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
19
End
166
Internal
53
Multi
231
Slant
6
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2: Consequence]
A yo, I bring it to you live kid, Queens niggas✦ love static
Your rap's had it, braggin' more numbers than mathematics✦
I get brains on Craftmatics✦ and leave your wet dreams shattered
That's the same guy be skeetin' in your mugshot
I stays hot like summertime on LBQ and boo-boos
The love shack is 1-9-2, my joint's smooth
To watch y'all niggas✦ fall like Lin Que
I keep it brand new like school shoppin', it's on and poppin'✦
The club peep this nigga's✦ steez like radars✦
You get laid off while I'll be gaming✦ ghetto✦ girl like 8-Off
The verdict's in, I be the Luke of Linden✦
Give up your goods cuz it's the start of your endin'✦
[Chorus: Q-Tip]
(Where ya at?) We seein' life for what it is
(Where ya at?) We get this money✦ for these kids
(Where ya at?) We bout to build the foundation✦
(Where ya at?)
[Verse 3: Phife Dawg]
Now, all that Glock totin'✦ trash you talk, it won't prevail
It's stale, you'll either✦ be dead or in jail
I keeps it realer✦ than the logo✦ on milk
Denouncing tough guy wannabes that look smoother than silk
That's the sound of the man getting yanked off the stage
Trying to front like he mad paid
Sucking so bad, we threw his mama✦ off the train (insane)✦
MCs are just givin'✦ it all away✦ (OK)
Who said him know about✦ the Quest-like sound?
Mess around✦ and get your ass knocked down (clown)
I dedicate this to the posers✦ that play hard
You wanna✦ hear some rhymes, well then bring your bodyguard
So he can peep the worldwide Willie that we display✦
Leaving all MCs in complete disarray✦
I beez a veteran MC, crushing crews for years
You frontin' hard when you softer✦ than the Berenstain Bears
Yeah, chumps be like "Phife, that ain't fair"
'Fuck outta✦ here, do I look like I care?
Come off my stage before✦ I grab ya neck and handle ya
Wet ya like punani,✦ then dry you like Canada✦
Shaheed Muhammad's on the Gemini✦ mixer✦
Peace to Derrick Coleman, Mad Max and the Sixers✦
I'm cappin'✦ hard cuz I got this rap shit sold
From Linden✦ Boulevard down to Cascade Road
You know my steez, I treat hip-hop like a sport
Holdin'✦ down fort up on Martinique Court like...
[Chorus: Q-Tip]
(Where ya at?) We seein' life for what it is
(Where ya at?) We get this money✦ for these kids
(Where ya at?) We bout to build the foundation✦
(Where ya at?) We gonna✦ start the Zulu✦ Nation
(Where ya at?) Come on, come on
(Where ya at?) We gonna✦ put it all together
(Where ya at?) No matter✦ what the hell the weather
(Where ya at?)
[Outro: Q-Tip]
Uh, uh, mind power✦
Uh, uh, mind power✦
Uh, uh, mind power✦
Uh, uh, mind power✦
Uh, uh, mind power✦
Uh, uh, kickin'✦ willie is good, all throughout your whole hood
But we gotta✦ start with the spirit✦ first y'all
Mind power✦
Technical Breakdown
7.6
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 / Rhythm7.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity8.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control7.0
Performance and control
Computed Score7.64
Production
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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse relies on mid-90s boom-bap cadences characterized by punch-in delivery and internal rhyme density, though the lyrical content favors bravado over deep conceptual complexity.
B+
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
7
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhymingStaccato deliveryPop-culture references (Craftmatics, Lin Que, Luke of Linden)Assonance-driven flow
Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB or AAAA couplets, utilizing multi-syllabic end-rhymes (e.g., mathematics/shattered/mugshot - note the slanted nature) with high internal rhyme density throughout the lines.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"braggin' more numbers than mathematics"
① Boasting about statistics or wealth.② A direct reference to the discipline of mathematics, where numbers are the core subject matter.
"realler than the logo on milk"
① Authenticity in a hip-hop context.② A reference to the 'Real' seal on dairy products, serving as a humorous simile for authenticity.
High density of internal rhyming fits the 90s Queensbridge/NYC aesthetic
Confident, aggressive delivery style
Strong rhythmic consistency that stays strictly in the pocket
Reliance on dated slang that limits long-term lyrical impact
Some rhyme schemes rely on near-rhymes that lack tonal perfection
Lacks the narrative depth found in other Tribe verses