Radio

Rock the Bells

LL Cool J

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

23

End

135

Internal

41

Multi

157

Slant

7

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Refrain]
Rock the bells!
[Verse 3]
Some girls will like this jam and some girls won't
'Cause I make a lot of money✦ and your boyfriend don't
LL went to Hell, gonna✦ rock the bells
All you washed✦ up rappers wanna✦ do this well
[Refrain]
Rock the bells!
[Verse 4]
Now I'm world-wide known, whether you like it or not
My one man band is Cut Creator,✦ a.k.a.✦ Philpot
He'll never✦ skip it, only✦ rip it when he's on the fader✦
What's my DJ's name? (Cut Creator!)✦
Now you know, at my show, who’s on the wheels
He'll drive the cross fader✦ like a cut mobile✦
So precise with a slice that you know he's greater
What's my DJ's name? (Cut Creator!)✦
Now you know, what do you know, Earl rolls the weed
I go to the store and get Old Gold
So all you crabby✦ lookin'✦ nappy✦ headed✦ girls get back
'Cause there's✦ a ten-to-one chance that you might get smacked
[Refrain]
Rock the bells!
[Verse 5]
The bells are circulatin' like the blood in your veins
Why are girlies on the tip? (LL's your name!)
Cut Creator's good, Cool J is good-good
You bring the wood pecker,✦ I'll bring the wood
The bells are whippin' and rippin'✦ at your body✦ and soul
Why do you like Cool J? (It ain't rock 'n' roll!)
'Cause it ain't the glory✦ days with Bruce Springsteen
I'm not a virgin✦ so I know I'll make Madonna scream
You hated✦ Michael✦ and Prince all the way, ever✦ since
If their beats were made of meat, then they would have to be mince
[Refrain]
Rock the bells!
[Verse 6]
So listen✦ to the rhymes✦ align the rhyme on time
He'll cut the record in a second, make your DJ look blind
So all you Jheri Curl suckers✦ wearin'✦ high-heel boots
Like ballerinas, what I mean is you're a fruit-loop troop
All you gonna-be,✦ wanna-be,✦ when will you learn?
Wanna✦ be like Cool J, you gotta✦ wait your turn
Some suckers✦ don't like me, but I'm not concerned
Six G's for twenty✦ minutes is the pay I earn
I'm growin'✦ and glowin'✦ like a forest blaze
Do you like Michael✦ Jackson? (We like Cool J!)
That's right, I'm on the mic with the help of the bells
There's✦ no delayin' what I'm sayin' as I'm rockin'✦ you well
[Refrain]
Rock the bells!

Technical Breakdown

8.0
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 / Rhythm8.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score7.97

Production

— Rick Rubin, LL Cool J

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

LL Cool J utilizes aggressive, high-energy cadence and rhythmic simplicity to establish a dominant persona, prioritizing the 'rock' atmosphere over dense lyrical layering.

B+
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Call and responseInternal rhyme chainsStaccato deliveryPersona-driven swagger
Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AAAA or AABB couplets with heavy reliance on terminal rhymes supported by an aggressive, consistent 4/4 time signature that emphasizes the punch of each end-syllable.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"He'll drive the cross fader like a cut mobile"

① A play on the 'Cutlass' automobile, suggesting speed and style.② A functional description of how the DJ manipulates the mixer cross-fader to 'cut' the record.

"LL went to Hell, gonna rock the bells"

① A literal journey or dare to a difficult place.② A stylistic nod to the rebellious 'bad boy' persona of the mid-80s, framing the 'bells' as the target of his sonic takeover.

Exceptional rhythmic drive and vocal presence

Effective use of call-and-response to build crowd engagement

High-energy delivery that defines the era's 'rock' rap style

Limited metaphorical density

Some rhymes feel functional rather than revelatory

Relies heavily on bravado rather than intricate thematic development

User Scores