The Love Movement

Give Me

A Tribe Called Quest

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

17

End

84

Internal

38

Multi

145

Slant

5

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2: Q-Tip]
Niggas✦ get faded,✦ never✦ outdated
Give it to the world cause for long they waited✦
Shorties✦ online✦ to cop the new CD
So Hip Hop I bust nut in graffiti
We could two-piece it or we could just cease it
Shorty✦ on my shit cause my style wild decent✦
What's it gonna✦ be, the party✦ or the precinct?
Queens cats rock, keep it rugged✦ and recent✦
My nigga✦ Nore thug it out (Thug it out, no doubt)
Phife Dawg bugging✦ out (Bugging✦ out, no doubt)
The Love Movement✦ no doubt (Love Movement,✦ no doubt)
Ali Shaheed get a shout (Shout it out, no doubt)
[Verse 3: Noreaga]
Yo, esperate, hold on, take a time out
Huddle up, yo, Queens niggas✦ won't fuck it up
Keep my Southside niggas✦ just playing the cut
While my Queensbridge people stay roughing you up
East Elmhurst, Corona,✦ Ayatollah
Keep the caller✦ ID on the Motorola
Gotta✦ keep the po-po on the payola✦
Queens niggas✦ shut it down, now it's all over✦
[Verse 4: Phife Dawg]
1-9-2, the Bouley✦ Fran Lew
Merrick, Van Wyck, Hollis Ave, Guy Brew
Hit up Jamaica Ave., cop a tape by DJ Clue
Move to the Acres,✦ sipping on a Guinney brew
Scooping ladies✦ up in Beebe's✦ makes✦ my day complete
Freestyling over✦ beats for my peoples in the street
This is a place where stars are born
Linden✦ to Laurelton, we keep it hot like porn
[Chorus: Q-Tip]
Doing our thing in Queens
We had dreams about✦ being emcees✦
And there was no concern about✦ so and so
And these record companies✦
But now we all are grown
And the spots is getting blown
Boyz II Men, ABC, BBD
Nah, we ain't none of them, B
Give me, so give me (Ha, ha)
Nore, Phife Dawg and Abstract✦
Give me, to everyone in the world
Nore, Phife Dawg and Abstract✦

Technical Breakdown

7.3
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres5.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.0

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 Score7.31

Production

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The verse relies on internal cadence and rhythmic consistency rather than dense lyrical abstraction, characteristic of the Tribe's 1998 stylistic pivot toward accessible, punchy delivery.

B+
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
5
Wordplay
7
Delivery
AABB rhyme coupletscall-and-response backing vocalsinternal rhyme clustersgeographical signifiers
Rhyme Architecture: The verse employs a consistent AABB or AAAA structure within each section, favoring end-rhyme stability and internal multi-syllabic anchors (e.g., outdated/waited/CD/graffiti).
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"What's it gonna be, the party or the precinct?"

① A choice between social festivities/celebration.② A choice between being arrested or dealing with law enforcement (precinct).

High rhythmic cohesion

Excellent use of call-and-response to anchor the flow

Clear, authoritative delivery from Q-Tip and Noreaga

Effective use of proper nouns and regional markers to build a sense of place

Lyrical content leans on genre tropes rather than complex wordplay

Lack of sustained metaphorical depth

Some rhymes feel purely phonic rather than semantic

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