G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time)
Homicide
LL Cool J
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
25
End
171
Internal
136
Multi
200
Slant
7
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
I don't mean this in a disrespectful✦ way
But Columbine✦ happens✦ in the ghetto✦ every✦ day
When the shit goes down y'all ain't got nothing✦ to say
[Verse 2]
Jamaican✦ cat, real treacherous✦
Used✦ to smuggle burners up from Texas✦
Had the ill crib out in Rosedale
Took the money✦ from the trunk and copped✦ the fish scale
Chinese, Jamaican,✦ real pretty✦ nigga✦
Love puffin'✦ blunts, throwin' bodies✦ in the river✦
One of the illest✦ niggas✦ that the world ever✦ saw
Used✦ to take loaded✦ nines✦ and throw 'em on the floor
He was from Brooklyn, and I don't know the block
I met him at the flicks he commented on my rocks
We rolled✦ back to back, while I was slingin'✦ raps
He was slingin'✦ crack, I was seventeen fascinated✦ by the stacks
Runnin'✦ with dangerous✦ niggas✦ and packin'✦ gats
Uh, the shit thrill me, lookin'✦ so clean, and livin'✦ so filthy✦
I heard his right-hand✦ man disappeared
They found his bike in the street somewhere
Conspiracy theories, niggas✦ talkin'✦ shit
Small world, I was close to his right-hand✦ man's chick
She kept beepin'✦ him he never✦ called✦ back
When they found him in the trunk his body✦ was jet black
Pretty✦ Jamaican✦ kept doin' his thing
Him and his older✦ brother got caught up in a sting
Out on bail, pressure by the Feds, he caught seven✦ in the head
What goes around,✦ comes✦ back around✦
Nigga✦ rest in peace when they lay ya down
[Interlude]
"Uh, central,✦ your assistance is requested we have a major✦ crisis✦ here
Mrs. Winthrop's cat is stuck in a tree"
"Roger,✦ a squad car is on the way"
[Chorus]
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
I don't mean this in a disrespectful✦ way
But Columbine✦ happens✦ in the ghetto✦ every✦ day
When this shit goes down y'all ain't got nothing✦ to say
"Central,✦ the cat has been rescued"
[Verse 3]
In the ghetto✦ black men are dyin' at alarmin' rates✦
Walkin'✦ the street is like entering a sweepstakes
You never✦ know if you gon win or lose
We walk around✦ feelin'✦ confused and totally abused✦
Can't front, I'ma✦ millionaire livin'✦ like a king
Still feenin'✦ for that shrimp, fried rice and chicken wings
Still feenin'✦ for the vibe, only✦ the ghetto✦ bring
Pumpin'✦ songs of pain only✦ real niggas✦ sing
Queens finest,✦ but there's✦ one minus
The bodies✦ on the battlefield that got left behind us
I'm sick and tired✦ of going to wakes✦
'Cause niggas✦ never✦ look the same in the casket✦
It's bugged✦ out, they skin look like plastic
I shed tears, but use shades✦ to mask it
"Mr. Media",✦ where was you at when my man died
When it was classified a drug related✦ homicide✦
It's like until✦ the killer✦ hit the suburbs
I ain't hear nothing,✦ not a word
"Mr. Media",✦ help us shed light on these homicides
Not just Columbine,✦ but all the time
[Chorus]
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
It's a, homicide,✦ just a homicide✦
Technical Breakdown
7.5
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 / Rhythm7.5
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 Score7.48
Production
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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse relies heavily on narrative-driven street realism rather than complex linguistic gymnastics, utilizing consistent cadence to maintain a gritty, observational flow typical of 90s storytelling rap.
B+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
5
Wordplay
7
Delivery
End-rhyme narrative stackingMultisyllabic focus on street terminologyInternal rhythmic alignmentConversational cadence
Rhyme Architecture: A consistent AABB or AAAA-style rhyming couplet structure that prioritizes internal flow and rhythmic consistency over complex, unconventional patterns.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"copped the fish scale"
① Purchasing a high-grade, shiny variety of cocaine often described as looking like fish scales.② A literal reference to the weight or measure used in street-level drug distribution.
"commented on my rocks"
① Referring to jewelry/diamonds worn by the narrator.② A subtle allusion to the 'rocks' of crack cocaine mentioned earlier in the thematic context of the verse.
Strong descriptive imagery that builds a character profile
Rhythmic consistency that serves the narrative arc
Effective use of street vernacular that grounds the verse in its era
Limited use of complex metaphorical layering
The narrative relies on tropes common to the genre
Lack of significant double entendres