The Love Movement

Busta's Lament

A Tribe Called Quest

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

8

End

45

Internal

29

Multi

124

Slant

3

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
* a lot of "yo" from Busta✦ Rhymes✦ *
[Verse 2: Q-Tip]
Didn't you read the news, did you heed the alarm
It was good overall,✦ it said that we was the bomb
I'mma✦ make the call, and I hope you respond
We the stars y'all, and everyone beckons far
You a star and you shining,✦ I'm one and I'm rhyming
Let's get together, start intertwining✦
Yo you coming with me, somewhere where you can't see
With his bonafide joints, underneath the sea
Of confusion✦ and glitter,✦ nobody's a quitter✦
Try to front and get ripped,✦ from your ear to your shitter✦
Gon' put it on harder than anyone✦ did
It would benefit you to keep a wide open✦ lid
Makin✦ sho' shot shit, makin✦ sure you shine
Takin✦ shows for sure, takin✦ hearts in time
Do it all for the rhyme, and the rhythm and things
When we do it we bangin,✦ like we inside✦ the bank
Ain't doubtin nobody,✦ when we inside✦ the jam
But I'm proud overall,✦ and I know who I am
As the constellation✦ gets brighter this writer's goin
(yo yo) do it (yo, yo yo) do it
(yo yo) do it (yo, yo) do it
(yo yo) do it (yo, yo yo) do it
(yo yo) do it (yo, yo) do it
* continues with variations *
[Outro: Bay-Lloyd]
Aiyyo, yo, this is BayBay✦ LloydLloyd✦
Bigga✦ BayBayBayBay LloydLloyd,✦ from the Know Naim
Aiyyo we doin this, LP, to the world...
* a lot of "yo" from Busta✦ Rhymes✦ *

Technical Breakdown

6.6
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes8.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres5.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm5.5

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 Score6.59

Production

— Bay-Lloyd, J Dilla, Q-Tip

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Q-Tip utilizes a high-frequency internal rhyme scheme to maintain rhythmic momentum, prioritizing flow and cadence over complex lyrical abstraction, consistent with 1993 Native Tongues standards.

B
8.5
Multisyllabic
8.5
Internal Rhymes
5.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
5
Wordplay
7
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhymingStaccato rhythmic cadenceCall-and-response integration
Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB coupled with heavy internal assonance and repetitive multi-syllabic end-rhymes (rhyming 'shining/rhyming/intertwining').
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"we was the bomb"

① A slang term from the era meaning high quality or excellent.② A literal reference to an explosive device, playing on the theme of danger and impact.

"underneath the sea / Of confusion and glitter"

① A literal aquatic setting for a rhyme about escaping reality.② A metaphor for the overwhelming distractions and 'glitter' of the entertainment industry that cloud judgment.

Exceptional rhythmic consistency

Strong use of internal rhyme to build urgency

Effective integration of Busta Rhymes' ad-libs as rhythmic percussion

Lacks deep metaphorical layering

Punchlines are relatively surface-level for the era

Narrative arc is secondary to the sonic texture of the delivery

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