G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time)
You and Me
LL Cool J
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
42
End
249
Internal
121
Multi
276
Slant
13
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Kelly Price]
Every✦ night, every✦ day
I just sit and dream about✦ you
You and me, you and me
Hold me tight, ecstasy✦
Makin✦ love 'til ever✦ after✦
Baby,✦ you and me, yeah, you and me
[Verse 2: LL Cool J]
Now we dippin'✦ on the FDR
It's one of them lucky✦ nights when you can peep out the stars
We speak without talkin'✦ and the world is ours
When I glance over✦ at ya I can feel your power✦
You schemin',✦ L want a one-night stand
I'm schemin',✦ she probably in love with her man
But we keep on rollin',✦ hopin'✦ there's✦ somethin' more
Dreamin' about✦ tomorrow and what life got in store
Livin,✦ no drama,✦ we can chill, relax
Sex all night in the morn' count stacks
Sip Grand Marnier and maybe puff a dime sack
But only✦ in moderation, we ain't livin'✦ like that, y'know?✦
We jetted✦ up the tavern on the green
To talk about✦ love cause the game's✦ extreme
Domestic abuse✦ and everything✦ in between
'Cause I want you to think of me
When you need a shoulder to lean on
I'm from Queens, I'ma✦ rep to the fullest
But I'd rather✦ chill with you, 'stead of dodgin'✦ bullets
Glock in the stash I don't really✦ wanna✦ pull it
On some so-called thug cat, that's faker✦ than acrylics
He said your fam be ridin'✦ your nerves✦
And you hate him for never✦ given✦ you the life you deserve
Remember,✦ the one who hold a grudge is foul
And everything✦ you ever✦ wanted✦ is in front of you now
Whassup?
[Chorus: Kelly Price]
Every✦ night, every✦ day
I just sit and dream about✦ you
You and me, you and me
Hold me tight, ecstasy✦
Makin✦ love 'til ever✦ after✦
Baby,✦ you and me, yeah, you and me
[Verse 3: LL Cool J]
I promise you, dreams do come true
There's✦ trials and tribulations that we all go through
When your heart's bleedin', how could the sky seem blue?
But listen✦ up shorty,✦ this is what I wanna✦ do
Be there for you, baby✦ care for you
When my dogs stare at you never✦ sharin'✦ you
And to my ex-girlfriend, never✦ comparin' you
And do the things that your ex never✦ dared✦ to do
Time to bounce baby,✦ I'm takin'✦ you home
Look at the moonlight sparkle on the 20 inch chrome
The rocks on my hand got a life of they own
Plus the blend tape's✦ bumpin'✦ and it's settin'✦ the tone
Should I jet to the hotel,✦ is now the right time
Or should I be patient and explore your mind?
You said you grew up in the ghetto✦ and it hurt your heart
Tried to live smart but your dreams fell apart✦
You dated✦ hustlers and brought 'em customers
They totally destroyed whatever✦ trust there was
Now you hate men and everything✦ they stand for
'Cause you wanna✦ be treated like a queen, not a whore
Close your eyes, don't be afraid✦ to dream
Open✦ your heart to this cat from Queens
Whatever✦ you wanna✦ do, however✦ you wanna✦ do it
Back to back baby,✦ we can get each other✦ through it
[Chorus: Kelly Price]
Every✦ night, every✦ day
I just sit and dream about✦ you
You and me, you and me
Hold me tight, ecstasy✦
Makin✦ love 'til ever✦ after✦
Baby,✦ you and me, yeah, you and me
Every✦ night, every✦ day
I just sit and dream about✦ you
You and me, you and me
Hold me tight, ecstasy✦
Makin✦ love 'til ever✦ after✦
Baby,✦ you and me, yeah, you and me
Every✦ night, every✦ day
I just sit and dream about✦ you
You and me, you and me
Hold me tight, ecstasy✦
Makin✦ love 'til ever✦ after✦
Baby,✦ you and me, yeah, you and me
[Outro: LL Cool J]
Knahmean?✦ Word up
Yeah, yeah
C'mon, c'mon
C'mon, c'mon
Yeah, I just want you to think about✦ that, y'knahmsayin?✦
Late at night when you layin there
And you feel like the whole world is fallin'✦ around✦ you
Remember✦ these words that I said
There's✦ somebody out there for you baby✦
Might be me, you never✦ know, ahahah✦
Word up, stay strong shorty✦
Keep your eyes up to the sky, knahmsayin'?✦
Don't let nobody✦ tell you you can't make it
And don't let nobody✦ around✦ you tell you
That it ain't possible to make your dreams come true
Word up, uhh
Knahmean?✦ That's real
Queens represent, rock on
Technical Breakdown
8.2
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres5.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm10.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity6.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control7.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.23
Production
— DJ Scratch, LL Cool JBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
LL Cool J utilizes a narrative-driven, conversational flow that prioritizes rhythmic accessibility over dense lyricism, reflecting the polished R&B-crossover rap style of the late 90s.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
5
Wordplay
7
Delivery
Conversational cadenceMultisyllabic internal rhyme stringsNarrative pacingIn-line assonance
Rhyme Architecture: The verse employs a consistent AABB-style couplet progression with heavy internal multisyllabic rhyming, anchored by strong end-rhymes (stars/ours/power, stand/man/more/store).
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"You schemin', L want a one-night stand / I'm schemin', she probably in love with her man"
① The protagonist (L) is playfully suggesting a physical encounter.② The protagonist is projecting a mutual state of suspicion and romantic conflict regarding their respective partner statuses.
Excellent rhythmic pocket and cadence control
Strong narrative cohesion and world-building
Effective use of internal rhymes to sustain momentum
Authentic conversational tone
Lack of complex wordplay or multi-layered metaphors
Relatively predictable rhyme patterns
Limited vocabulary range compared to higher-tier technical lyricists of the era