We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service

We the People....

A Tribe Called Quest

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

5

End

67

Internal

22

Multi

97

Slant

2

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Bridge: Phife Dawg & Q-Tip]
The fog and the smog of news media✦ that logs
False narratives of Gods that came up against the odds
We're not just nigga✦ rappers with the bars
It's kismet✦ that we're cosmic with the stars
[Verse 2: Phife Dawg]
You bastards overlooking street art
Better✦ yet, street smarts but you keep us off the charts
So motherfuck your numbers and your statisticians
Fuck y'all know about✦ true competition?✦
That's like a AL pitcher on deck talking about✦ he hittin'
The only✦ one who's hitting✦ are the ones that's currently spittin'
We got your missy✦ smitten rubbing on her little kitten✦
Dreaming of a world that's equal for women✦ with no division✦
Boy, I tell you that's vision✦
Like Tony✦ Romo✦ when he hitting✦ Witten✦
The Tribe be the best in they division✦
Shaheed Muhammad cut it with precision✦
Who can come back years later,✦ still hit the shot?
Still them tryna✦ move we off the fucking block
Babylon, bloodclaat
Two pon yuh headtop
[Hook: Q-Tip]
All you Black folks, you must go
All you Mexicans, you must go
And all you poor folks, you must go
Muslims and gays, boy, we hate your ways
So all you bad folks, you must go

Technical Breakdown

7.2
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0

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 Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score7.16

Production

— Q-Tip, Blair Wells

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Phife Dawg utilizes a high-density, multi-layered rhyming structure that synthesizes sociopolitical critique with aggressive sports-based analogies, effectively bridging mid-90s boom-bap sensibilities with a refined, late-career technical maturity.

B
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
5.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhyme clustersSports-metaphor extended sequencesDynamic cadence shiftsPolyrhythmic flow patterns
Rhyme Architecture: Phife employs a complex AAAA/BBBB scheme structure, heavily reliant on internal multi-syllabic clusters (smog/logs/Gods/odds/bars/stars) followed by a tightly locked set of -ition/-ittin rhymes that anchors the mid-section of the verse.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"That's like a AL pitcher on deck talking about he hittin'"

① A literal reference to the American League rule where pitchers do not bat, making their claim to be a hitter absurd.② A meta-commentary on mainstream industry labels ('statisticians') attempting to critique hip-hop craft without participating in the actual work.

"Like Tony Romo when he hitting Witten"

① A specific reference to the high-efficiency passing connection between quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten.② An assertion of Tribe's creative synchronicity and the 'vision' required to execute precise, high-level artistic plays.

Exceptional rhythmic precision in delivery

Strong integration of cultural commentary and pop-culture reference

Effective use of internal rhyme to drive propulsion

The sports metaphors, while precise, occasionally edge toward datedness

The hook transition is somewhat abrupt compared to the verse's internal velocity

User Scores