Mr. Smith

Hip Hop

LL Cool J

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

20

End

143

Internal

77

Multi

203

Slant

6

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
Whenever✦ and ever✦
We want you, I need you (I need hip-hop)✦
Whenever✦ and ever✦
We want you, do you feel the same way too? (I need hip-hop)✦
[Verse 2]
Kane's✦ era✦ was terror, he warmed✦ it up
Parrish and Erick,✦ cat lyrics that'll make ya turn it up
And I was in the cut, chillin' in my drop-top Benz with friends, Loungin' with my mens, laughin' 'bout all the ends that I spends
Making✦ snaps, pumping Kool G Rap and Biz
Dapper✦ Dan, dookie ropes,✦ I'm about✦ to show what time it is
At the rooftop, I was with Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
"La Di Da Di, who likes✦ to party?"✦ was the fat shit
I mean, I saw this hip-hop✦ thing on every✦ level✦
Chuck D, P.E., yes, the rhythm and the rebel✦
I can reminisce✦ the black fist, Uzi, Terminators
Terrordome techniques that terrorize the lighter shade-a✦
It's all about✦ the game that we play every✦ day
Eric✦ B & Rakim flow to such a different✦ way
I'm lovin'✦ hip-hop✦ cos it help brothers✦ escape✦
Let's celebrate✦ our music✦ people before✦ it's too late
[Chorus]
Whenever✦ and ever✦
We want you, I need you (I need hip-hop)✦
Whenever✦ and ever✦
We want you, do you feel the same way too? (I need hip-hop)✦
[Verse 3]
Survival Of The Fittest, Mobb Deep, and Lost Boyz
Lickin'✦ shots got the game hot, they even✦ flipped on 2Pac
Snoop Doggy✦ Dogg put the West Coast in gear
Dr. Dre, NWA, Eazy-E's✦ in here
I wanna✦ tell the world they just don't understand
My man Nas Escobar, Wu-Tang Clan
Keith Murray✦ to the Redman,✦ down south Da Brat
My people are you with me where you at? Ya peep that?
I'm on a mission to rejuvenate✦ the funk
Bring the game back and give the do-or-diers what they want
When you hear Craig Mack, Notorious B.I.G
Latifah, Heavy✦ D, you should reminisce✦ of me
Some say it's Naughty By Nature,✦ "Hip-hop✦ in all its glory"✦
A fleet of battleships floatin' in different✦ categories
My love affair with hip-hop'll never✦ fade away✦
Sincerely✦ yours, LL Cool J
Peace
[Chorus]
Whenever✦ and ever✦
We want you, I need you (I need hip-hop)✦
Whenever✦ and ever✦
We want you, do you feel the same way too? (I need hip-hop)✦
[Outro]
Yeah, ain't no doubt about✦ it kid, know I'm sayin'?
Hip-Hop's the game, helped✦ a lot of brothers✦ escape✦
Take it to another level,✦ know I'm sayin'?
It's our music,✦ we own this music,✦ know what I'm sayin'?
Word life! I wanna✦ give a couple of shoutouts here, know what I'm saying?
First of all, I wanna✦ thank my man Baby✦ Chris, y'nahmean?✦
Helped✦ me put this Mr. Smith, Mr. Smith album together
Make it hot, know I'm sayin'?
Thank the Trackmasters, Poke & Tone, Steve Stoute
We definitely✦ turning this joint out, y'nahmean✦
Word bond! Hip-Hop✦ for life, kid!
Yeah!

Technical Breakdown

7.5
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.53

Production

— Poke And Tone

Be the first to rate the production

Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

LL Cool J utilizes a narrative-heavy, historiographical approach, successfully cataloging the foundational icons of hip-hop while maintaining a conversational, rhythmic flow that prioritizes cultural reverence over complex lyrical obfuscation.

B+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
7
Delivery
Cataloging/Name-checkingHistorical AllusionInternal Rhyme SaturationConversational Cadence
Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB or AAAA couplets with heavy usage of internal multisyllabic clusters, anchored by the internal cadence of the 'in the cut/Benz with friends/mens/ends/spends' sequence.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Kane's era was terror"

① Refers to Big Daddy Kane's reign as a dominant lyrical force.② Refers to the aggressive, 'terrifying' nature of the soundscape he pioneered.

"Terrordome techniques that terrorize the lighter shade-a"

① A reference to Public Enemy's 'Terrordome' production aesthetic.② A socio-political metaphor suggesting the sonic intensity of the era challenged the status quo or the 'lighter shade' of mainstream society.

Exceptional technical mastery of internal rhyme density

Strong sense of place and historical context

Authentic delivery that feels like a reflective autobiography

Reliance on name-checking over original wordplay

Limited use of complex metaphorical layering

Vocabulary remains functional and descriptive rather than abstract or poetic

User Scores