Walking with a Panther

Clap Your Hands

LL Cool J

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

257

Internal

Multi

238

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus]

Clap your hands everybody^✦ (aiyyo)

And everybody^✦ just clap your hands (aiyyo)

Clap your hands everybody^✦ (aiyyo)

And everybody^✦ just clap your hands (aiyyo)

I said, clap your hands everybody^✦ (aiyyo)

And everybody^✦ just clap your hands (aiyyo)

Clap your hands everybody^✦ (aiyyo)

And everybody^✦ just clap your hands (aiyyo)

[Verse 2]

You'll end up underneath my sneaker^✦

You're dog doo-doo,^✦ I'm watchin you get weaker^✦

You can't believe,^✦ the skill and dexterity

LL Cool J, and the J is for Jeremy^✦

So buff me, James^✦ Todd the earthquaker^✦

That's right my brother,^✦ you're goin out like Sega^✦

Screwed and chewed,^✦ so whassup dude?

One of my ballads'll get your girlies in the mood

Sucker^✦ MC's really^✦ make me sick

I'm so bad, I can suck my own dick

If you go to your girl's house and I'm there already

Don't go Crazy^✦ cause my name ain't Eddie

Rhymes^✦ so rough, it's like a course in trigonometry

When Einstein was talkin,^✦ he was talkin^✦ about^✦ me

The Prince of the Earth, and I'ma^✦ give birth

To a rhyme so hard you'll look soft as a Smurf

Gigglin^✦ and wigglin,^✦ so how we goin out?

LOVELY,^✦ and that's without a doubt!

[Chorus]

Clap your hands everybody^✦ (aiyyo)

And everybody^✦ just clap your hands (aiyyo)

Clap your hands everybody^✦ (aiyyo)

And everybody^✦ just clap your hands (aiyyo)

Clap your hands everybody^✦ (aiyyo)

And everybody^✦ just clap your hands (aiyyo)

[Verse 3]

Rappers^✦ are my servants, they serve me like an emperor

When I'm through, you'll need a nurse to take your temperature

And cool you down, cause you're cold as leftovers

Not the ones^✦ on the table, I'm talkin^✦ about^✦ RUFF rovers

You can't get over,^✦ what's my name, Goofy?^✦

You smoke I'm no joke, so my brother^✦ break out the looseys

And take a pull, cause the buck stops here

I get swift as a magician, wreck shit and dissapear

Don't cross me, or lose your loyalty^✦

To the Prince of the Rap Court, I'm royalty^✦

And it ain't no puzzle, it's a shame how rappers^✦ guzzle

Paragraphs I put together so I carry^✦ a muzzle

To shut em up and cut em up and make em be quiet

I'm a one man RIOT, so don't even^✦ TRY IT

The Prince of special tactics, plus I'm athletic

Before^✦ you play your hand you better^✦ do some calisthenics

Jumpin^✦ jacks, squats, push-ups, the whole nine

Speak your piece, then I'mma^✦ go for mine

And I guarantee you, I'm gonna^✦ strike again^✦

I recommend my friend you drop the pen and give in

Cop out to one rhyme cause you're facin^✦ ten

I ain't Sidney^✦ Poitier but we can "Do This Again"^✦

I'm nice wit mines,^✦ and I gotta^✦ admit^✦ it

You don't really^✦ wanna^✦ battle, why don'tcha just forget^✦ it!

[Chorus]

Clap your hands everybody^✦ (aiyyo)

And everybody^✦ just clap your hands (aiyyo)

Clap your hands everybody^✦ (aiyyo)

And everybody^✦ just clap your hands (aiyyo)

[Verse 4]

But if you're hard-headed and you still don't understand

Here's^✦ a little sample - ahem, my man

*BRRRRRRRING* "Hello?"^✦

{*cut n scratch "Cool J"*}

".. takes^✦ everything you've got"

{*cut n scratch "pushin^✦ a broom"*}

".. sure would help a lot"

Check my stats, how we livin,^✦ I thought so

I'm fresh, oh yes. But can they flow? Hell no

My rhymes^✦ are up to date, excellent, on point

I'm tellin^✦ you, they're the serious joint

I eat my steak fast, I drink my brew slow

My voice is milky^✦ with a nice clear flow

I eat like a fat man, and walk like a gigolo^✦

I'm not a ballplayer, so now Y'KNOW!^✦

[Chorus]

Clap your hands everybody^✦ (aiyyo)

And everybody^✦ just clap your hands (aiyyo)

Cuz I'm in the house, everybody^✦ (aiyyo)

And everybody^✦ just clap your hands (aiyyo)

[Outtro]

KnowhatI'msayin?^✦

And I'mma^✦ be straight til the year 3000

That's word to 'muvva',^✦ yaknahmsayin?^✦

And I say 'muvva'^✦ with a V cuz the V is for Victory, yaknahmsayin?^✦

Cuz I'm the victor in this game, word up, knahmsayin?^✦

That's what time it is

Peace

{*crew applause and chatter*}

[Member of crew]

That man, he sure is FUNKY^✦ FUNKY^✦ FUNKY^✦ FUNKY!^✦ Funky,^✦ he sho' is! You best believe^✦ he's FUNKY!^✦ You didn't KNOW??? FUNKY!^✦

Technical Breakdown

8.7

Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres5.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

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 Score8.65

Production

— Dwayne Simon, LL Cool J

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

LL Cool J leverages high-energy, authoritative vocal performance and aggressive swagger to compensate for literal-leaning wordplay that relies more on shock value than complex metaphorical construction.

8.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

5.5

Wordplay

8.5

Delivery

Aggressive self-mythologizingDynamic vocal projectionInternal rhyme stackingColloquial bravado

Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB and AAAA couplets characterized by heavy terminal end-rhymes combined with consistent internal multi-syllabic chaining that maintains a driving, rhythmic pocket.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"the J is for Jeremy"

① A reference to the artist's real middle name (James Todd).② A playful subversion of the anticipated 'J is for James' by shifting to the similarly syllabic 'Jeremy'.

"my name ain't Eddie"

① A direct warning to the listener not to behave impulsively (Crazy) when finding the artist at their partner's house.② A cultural allusion to Eddie Murphy's film 'Eddie Murphy Raw' or similar tropes of the era involving infidelity and confrontation.

"course in trigonometry"

① The literal academic subject involving complex geometry and calculation.② A metaphor for the technical complexity and structural depth of the artist's rhyme schemes.

Exceptional command of the pocket and rhythmic persistence

High-intensity delivery that elevates simple rhyme structures

Strong characterization through bravado and confidence

Reliance on shock-value punchlines which lack longevity

Limited metaphorical depth outside of self-aggrandizement

Dated references that weaken the structural impact over time

Clap Your Hands

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

User Scores