Mr. Smith
Hollis to Hollywood
LL Cool J
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
29
End
225
Internal
113
Multi
201
Slant
16
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
Hollis✦ to Hollywood,✦ but is he good?
(See how it sounds? A little unrational)✦
(Broken✦ down to his very✦ last compound)✦
Hollis✦ to Hollywood,✦ but is he good?
(See how it sounds? A little unrational)✦
(Broken✦ down to his very✦ last compound)✦
Hollis✦ to Hollywood,✦ but is he good?
(See how it sounds? A little unrational)✦
(Broken✦ down to his very✦ last compound)✦
Hollis✦ to Hollywood,✦ but is he good?
(See how it sounds? A little unrational)✦
(Broken✦ down to his very✦ last compound)✦
[Verse 2]
Check it
I'll make the speed like I'm Keanu✦ Reeves✦
But too many✦ true lies can make a honey✦ bleed
She said, I know you want this, ghetto✦ Pocahontas
I got higher✦ learning and banging gets monotonous
Her ass was classic,✦ cheeks was Jurassic✦
Serving her justice, poetic the way I lasted✦
I touch ground real witty✦ with my lyrics
Make her talk in tongue and feel the Holy✦ Spirit✦
Hear it, pull it like strings, got mad cats to swing
When I do my thing, my balls are hairy✦ like The Lion King
I'm in the jungle laying down my Mack
You brothers✦ need to chill with that
I'm going from
[Chorus]
Hollis✦ to Hollywood,✦ but is he good?
(See how it sounds? A little unrational)✦
(Broken✦ down to his very✦ last compound)✦
Hollis✦ to Hollywood,✦ but is he good?
(See how it sounds? A little unrational)✦
(Broken✦ down to his very✦ last compound)✦
[Bridge]
(Take me away)✦ Uh, you think I won't boo?
(Take me away)✦ Uh, you think I can't boo?
(Take me away)✦ Uh, you think I won't boo?
(Take me away)✦ Uh, you think I can't boo?
(Broken✦ down to his very✦ last compound)✦
[Interlude]
It's kinda✦ like miniature satellites floating in closets
Spying in pockets
Jumping out of a helicopter into✦ a football stadium filled✦ with cotton✦ candy✦
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! Ha-ha-ha!✦
Yknahmean? Worrrrd up!
(Broken✦ down to his very✦ last compound)✦ Uh
[Verse 3]
So your man got a good job loving✦ you so much
Boss on his back coming✦ home like "What the fuck?"
But you be on his side through the thick and all the thin
That's when LL come in
Blast her ass like Apollo✦ 13, sugar✦ dipped✦ in cream
Popping Dom in every✦ direction,✦ what a scene
He can't understand your best friend's plan
Running✦ game while you chill with the demolition✦ man
Good love, mad fun, tight hugs and flowers✦
I have your girl running✦ off to fake baby✦ showers✦
Better✦ get down for your crown at home
I got her standing on the bed, getting closer✦ to the drop zone
Some brothers✦ won't appreciate that
Ain't it scary✦ when you meet a real mack? Let's run it back
See the flavor's in my lifestyle, chill don't even✦ lie to me
Balls are lethal✦ weapons, dick a menace✦ to society
You ain't a playa hater,✦ kid, you took her off restriction✦
I make her tell lies and knock the pulp out of fiction✦
Kid you know I'm game tight
When you hit it tonight I hope she scream my name right
That's word is bond, kid... you know why?
I'm going from
[Chorus]
Hollis✦ to Hollywood,✦ but is he good?
(See how it sounds? A little unrational)✦
(Broken✦ down to his very✦ last compound)✦
Hollis✦ to Hollywood,✦ but is he good?
(See how it sounds? A little unrational)✦
(Broken✦ down to his very✦ last compound)✦
Hollis✦ to Hollywood,✦ but is he good?
(See how it sounds? A little unrational)✦
(Broken✦ down to his very✦ last compound)✦
Hollis✦ to Hollywood,✦ but is he good?
(See how it sounds? A little unrational)✦
(Broken✦ down to his very✦ last compound)✦
[Outro]
Check it
Technical Breakdown
8.4
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres6.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm10.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity7.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control7.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.44
Production
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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse relies on mid-90s associative wordplay and pop-culture referential irony, utilizing a dense, percussive internal rhyme structure that compensates for its relatively simple lyrical metaphors.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
6
Wordplay
7
Delivery
Assonance-heavy multi-syllabic rhymingInternal rhyme stackingPop-culture allusion layeringRapid-fire cadence shifts
Rhyme Architecture: The verse employs a high-density AAAA-BBBB pattern with complex internal slant rhymes, prioritizing percussive syllables over standard end-stopped lines to create a rhythmic, breathless momentum.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"make the speed like I'm Keanu Reeves / But too many true lies can make a honey bleed"
① Reference to the film Speed, where Keanu Reeves is the protagonist.② Reference to the film True Lies, pivoting to the concept of deception leading to emotional or physical harm (honey bleed).
"ghetto Pocahontas"
① A descriptor for a woman with a specific archetype of indigenous-adjacent allure or historical status.② A subversion of the Disney/historical figure trope placed within the 'ghetto' setting to contrast high-culture imagery with street reality.
"Serving her justice, poetic the way I lasted"
① A reference to the film Poetic Justice, implying the sexual encounter was cinematographic or destined.② A boast about sexual stamina and the ability to maintain performance ('lasted') in a rhythmic, lyrical sense.
Exceptional rhythmic integration where cadence dictates the flow
Consistent internal rhyme density throughout
Strong use of multisyllabic sound-alikes for sonic cohesion
Some metaphors rely on dated pop-culture tropes that feel somewhat superficial
The thematic progression occasionally sacrifices narrative clarity for the sake of the rhyme scheme
Vocabulary choices are functional rather than evocative