Mama Said Knock You Out
Illegal Search
LL Cool J
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
33
End
120
Internal
114
Multi
168
Slant
13
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: The Flex & LL Cool J]
Keep on searchin'✦ (I'm totally relaxed)
Keep on searchin'✦ (Illegal✦ searchin')✦
Keep on searchin'✦
Illegal—✦ Illegal✦ search (Illegal✦ search)
Keep on searchin'✦
Keep on searchin'✦ (Illegal✦ searchin')✦
Keep on searchin',✦ gotta,✦ gotta,✦ gotta—✦
[Verse 2]
I call it nice, you call it a drug car
I say disco,✦ you call it a drug bar
I say nice guy, you call me Mr. Goodbar
I made progress, you say, "Not that far"
I just started it, you're searchin'✦ my car
But all my paperwork is up to par
It's in my uncle's name, so the frame won't work
Chump, illegal✦ search
[Chorus: The Flex & LL Cool J]
Keep on searchin'✦
Keep on searchin'✦ (Illegal✦ searchin')✦
Keep on searchin'✦
Illegal—✦ Illegal✦ search (Illegal✦ search)
Keep on searchin'✦
Keep on searchin'✦ (Illegal✦ searchin',✦ you won't find nothin')✦
Keep on searchin',✦ gotta,✦ gotta,✦ gotta—✦
[Verse 3]
On the turnpike and everything's right
In the background is flashin' lights
Get out the car in the middle of the night
It's freezin' cold and you're doin' it for spite
Slam me on the hood, yo, that ain't right
You pull out your gun if I'm puttin'✦ up a fight
My car, my clothes and my girl is hype
But you wanna✦ replace my silk with stripes
You're real mad, your uniform is tight
Fingerprint me, take me name and height
Hopin'✦ it will, but I know it won't work
Illegal✦ search
[Bridge: LL Cool J]
Do you wanna✦ see it?
Keep on searchin',✦ baby✦ (Illegal✦ search)
Do you wanna✦ see it?
Ayo, Marley,✦ get funky✦
[Refrain: The Flex & LL Cool J]
Illegal—✦ Illegal—✦ Illegal✦ search (Real funky)✦
Illegal—✦ Illegal—✦ Illegal✦ search (Right there)
Illegal—✦ Illegal—✦ Illegal✦ search (Funk it up)
Illegal—✦ Illegal—✦ Illegal—✦
[Verse 4]
I wore a suit to court, the case got thrown out
I'm that man that you all read about✦
Put me in jail, you're doin' it for clout
I only✦ got one question, what's that all about?✦
Jail is somethin' that I can do without
Case dismissed and now you wanna✦ pout
You feel like tryin' it again,✦ but you know it won't work
Illegal✦ search
[Chorus: The Flex & LL Cool J]
Keep on searchin'✦
Keep on searchin'✦ (Illegal✦ searchin',✦ baby,✦ illegal✦ search)
Keep on searchin'✦ (But I got all my ID and my car's registered)
Illegal✦ search (Illegal✦ searchin')✦
[Interlude: LL Cool J]
Illegal✦ search
And them cops out there
That did the wrong thing to one of my brothers in Jersey✦
Keep on searching, you know what I'm sayin'?
'Cause that was foul
Peace
[Outro: The Flex]
Keep on searchin',✦ gotta,✦ gotta,✦ gotta✦ keep on searchin'✦
Keep on searchin',✦ gotta,✦ gotta,✦ gotta✦ keep on searchin'✦
Keep on searchin',✦ gotta,✦ gotta,✦ gotta✦ keep on searchin'✦
Keep on searchin',✦ gotta,✦ gotta,✦ gotta✦ keep on searchin'✦
Keep on searchin',✦ gotta,✦ gotta,✦ gotta✦ keep on searchin'✦
Keep on searchin',✦ gotta,✦ gotta,✦ gotta✦ keep on searchin'✦
Illegal—✦ Illegal—✦ Illegal✦ search
Illegal—✦ Illegal—✦ Illegal✦ search
Technical Breakdown
8.3
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes8.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres6.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm10.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity6.5
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control7.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.28
Production
— Marley MarlBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
LL Cool J utilizes a rigid, percussive AAAA rhyme scheme to emphasize the repetitive harassment of police encounters, using clever pop-culture juxtapositions to highlight the absurdity of racial profiling.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
8.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
6.5
Vocabulary
6
Wordplay
7
Delivery
Monorhyme schemeAnaphoraPop culture allusionInternal rhythmic mirroring
Rhyme Architecture: The verse employs a dominant AAAA monorhyme scheme based on the 'ar' phoneme, creating a claustrophobic and insistent sonic environment that mimics the pressure of a police interrogation.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"I say nice guy, you call me Mr. Goodbar"
① A reference to the candy bar, painting himself as 'sweet' or harmless.② A play on the 'good bar' as a defensive legal defense in the context of being profiled/searched.
"I call it nice, you call it a drug car"
① The speaker's perception of his vehicle as a luxury or personal asset.② The officer's prejudiced classification of the vehicle as an instrument for illicit activity.
Rhythmic consistency that reinforces the theme of harassment
Effective use of repetitive structures to build tension
Strong vocal presence and confident delivery
Limited vocabulary range in comparison to peak-era complexity
Over-reliance on simple end-rhymes which limits narrative depth