14 Shots to the Dome

Straight from Queens

LL Cool J

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

117

Internal

Multi

215

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

The instrument'll rip

With the ultimate

Of all the rappers^✦

Toe to toe

Whenever^✦ I go

I guarantee

The flow will smack ya

Pumpin^✦ ya full a lead

Just like a 9

Kickin^✦ it off in half the time

Takin^✦ a break

And makin^✦ mine

You're way behind

Ya needed^✦ a title

And all the uncle

Made your title for ya

Hopin^✦

And prayin

And wishin^✦

That I can't rap

But I rip all a yall

In half

Look at me laugh

Ya hee-haw style

Ya kick it

Mmmmm I see goodies

Gimme the mic and hoodie

Now I'll dick it

Any^✦

The every^✦

The his

The hers

Of those

Of theirs

Of them

I see your title

Around^✦ your neck

Just swingin loose

I take your gem

I'm takin^✦ it off you neck

With every^✦ line that I select

And rappin^✦ it up in cotton^✦

While I'm starin^✦

With disrespect

Bustin^✦ off

Yeah

Squeezin like a vice grip

Blowin^✦ ya off the stage

Into^✦ the crowd

So have a nice trip

I'm takin^✦ control

I hold

The microphone^✦ is good as gold

Fly so many^✦ heads

I built my twenty-fifth

Totem^✦ pole

Turnin^✦ it out

And gettin^✦ wrecked

Is just a understatement^✦

How special to rap a flat

Puttin^✦ his head

Inside^✦ the pavement^✦

Burnin^✦ 'em up

Just like a flame thrower

Rippin^✦ 'em

With the cool flower^✦

Takin^✦ 'em out in pairs

Like the man, Noah

Holdin^✦ 'em up

Just like a trophy^✦

For the world to see

You really^✦ ain't superb

You see

You're goin out

Like a girl to me

Takin^✦ your little

Boo-hoo^✦ baby^✦

Tear drop

Cryin style

Breakin it down

Until^✦ there's^✦ dust

And I'ma^✦ vacuum up the pile

Showin^✦

And provin^✦

And groovin

And makin^✦ a movie

On the mic

Slappin a Marlboro

In his mouth

Just like

A dirty^✦ little tyke

Master^✦ of the murderous

Maniac

Mad style

Amazin^✦ man

Mackin^✦ the mic

Since I was just

A mere child

Props and props

More props than Terminator 2

With pen and pad

I play to you

And on the cross-fader too

Endlessly with energy^✦

Undefeatable lyrically

Expandin my empire^✦

You don't wanna^✦ test me

Wizard of funkadelic

Every^✦ album's like a relic^✦

Bite the line

Chewin^✦ on mine

But ya never^✦ live to tell it

Bustin^✦ it off quick

Flippin the script

That's in the bushes^✦

Then walkin^✦ around^✦ the jam

I'm handin^✦ out pounds

And mushes^✦

You're makin^✦ a face

You wanna^✦ test my slick manuever?^✦

Your best to rock a break beat

Or somethin you can groove to

Even^✦ if every^✦ rapper^✦

In the world was makin^✦ jams

As soon as I set this off

Their mic's are slidin^✦

Out their hands

Rockin^✦ the junky's^✦ world

With the release

Of every^✦ single

Back in the days

I told ya

I need a beat

To make ya jingle

Overlord

Droppin^✦ the sword

And choppin^✦ off the mic cord

Rappers^✦ are dead

All over^✦ the street

In every^✦ state I toured^✦

They're dealin'^✦ with the

True and living god

That's right before^✦ ya eyes

And I'll be rollin^✦

In hoods and sneakers

You can keep the suit and ties

No sell out

Bet ya uncle never^✦ dies

Gimme that microphone^✦

I'll rip it up

Until^✦ sunrise

Technical Breakdown

7.8

Multisyllabic Rhymes6.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes6.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres5.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity8.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.82

Production

Be the first to rate the production

Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

LL Cool J utilizes a foundational, rhythm-focused approach that prioritizes pocket-alignment and aggressive vocal presence over dense lyricism, reflecting the peak of late 80s/early 90s swagger-rap.

B+

6.5

Multisyllabic

6.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

Wordplay

Delivery

Staccato phrasingEnd-rhyme heavy structureAggressive prosodyInternal syllabic clusters

Rhyme Architecture: A-A-A-B-B-B-B sequence shifting into rhythmic couplets; emphasizes strong-syllable landing points to drive forward momentum.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Pumpin ya full a lead / Just like a 9"

① Physical violence through the metaphor of a 9mm handgun discharging ammunition.② A play on 'lead' as both the heavy metal projectile and the 'lead' position in a race, suggesting he is leaving his opponents behind.

"Ya hee-haw style"

① A direct insult comparing the opponent's flow to the braying sound of a donkey.② A dismissive categorization of the opponent as amateurish, unrefined, and lacking the street credibility required for the genre.

Exceptional rhythmic lock-in

Commanding vocal delivery typical of the artist's peak

Effective use of short, percussive phrasing to maintain intensity

Lack of complex figurative language

Simple, linear narrative structure

Relies on standard battle-rap tropes of the era

Straight from Queens

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

User Scores