10
After School
LL Cool J
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
26
End
206
Internal
147
Multi
217
Slant
8
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: LL Cool J & Diddy]
So after✦ school, I take a dip in the pool
Which is really✦ on the wall
I got a color✦ TV so I can see the Knicks play basketball✦
And we talkin'✦ 'bout checkbooks,✦ credit✦ cards, more money✦
Than a sucker✦ could ever✦ spend
And I couldn't give a what about✦ them cats you with
Get your friends baby,✦ jump in the Benz, everybody✦ go
[Verse 2: LL CooL J & Diddy]
I got a judge named✦ Donna,✦ I call her Your Honor✦
Wildin'✦ out with the gavel✦ and the silk pajamas (Let's go)
And then there's✦ Tamika,✦ the saga✦ gets deeper✦
She turned✦ the bass way up and wind on the speaker
Girl named✦ Kelly,✦ rhinestones in her belly✦
Curly✦ red hair, crackin' jokes✦ in the telly✦
Game concealed, a female✦ Machiavelli
Hopin'✦ and prayin' that I ain't ready✦ for the jelly✦
What about✦ Asia?✦ (Major✦ flavor)✦
Can you feel it? Nothin'✦ can save ya
Once again✦ I got 'em catchin' the vapors
Mr. Smith 'bout to get this paper✦
Paparazzi, please give me a minute✦
You're pushin'✦ me to the limit,✦ I know that I represent it
Be easy,✦ Tammy,✦ down in Miami
For sheezy,✦ baby,✦ uh, I'll see you at the Grammys (Let's go)
[Chorus: LL Cool J & Diddy]
So after✦ school, I take a dip in the pool
Which is really✦ on the wall
I got a color✦ TV so I can see the Knicks play basketball✦
And we talkin'✦ 'bout checkbooks,✦ credit✦ cards, more money✦
Than a sucker✦ could ever✦ spend
And I couldn't give a what about✦ them cats you with
Get your friends baby,✦ jump in the Benz, everybody✦ go
[Post-Chorus: LL Cool J & Diddy]
I wanna✦ rock right now
LL and Diddy,✦ we came to get down
Yes, we're internationally✦ known
For making✦ movies✦ and the microphone✦
'Cause we get crazy,✦ I mean outrageous✦
You rollin'✦ with us? You rollin'✦ with flavor✦
[Verse 3: LL Cool J]
Ask Penny,✦ I call her Good & Plenty✦ (Why?)
'Cause after✦ the show, there's✦ nothin'✦ open✦ but Denny's (Oh, yeah)
Maybe the waffle house, down south there's✦ many✦
She fix me a T-bone and take it to the Bentley
Little Shaniqua,✦ from Massapequa✦
Went and bought a beeper✦ so I could reach her, anyway✦
When you talk about✦ Diddy✦ and L
You talk about✦ careers that's hard to kill
The whole entire✦ globe recognize the grill
Walkin'✦ down the red carpet✦ we're chilly-chill
[Chorus: LL Cool J & Diddy]
So after✦ school, I take a dip in the pool
Which is really✦ on the wall
I got a color✦ TV so I can see the Knicks play basketball✦
And we talkin'✦ 'bout checkbooks,✦ credit✦ cards, more money✦
Than a sucker✦ could ever✦ spend
And I couldn't give a what about✦ them cats you with
Get your friends baby,✦ jump in the Benz, everybody✦ go
[Post-Chorus: LL Cool J & Diddy]
I wanna✦ rock right now
LL and Diddy,✦ we came to get down
Yes, we're internationally✦ known
For making✦ movies✦ and the microphone✦
'Cause we get crazy,✦ I mean outrageous✦
You rollin'✦ with us? You rollin'✦ with flavor✦
[Interlude: LL Cool J & Diddy]
You rollin'✦ with flavor✦ (C'mon, baby)✦
Dream team (And we don't stop)
Get that money,✦ baby✦ ('Cause we can't stop)
[Chorus: LL Cool J & Diddy]
So after✦ school, I take a dip in the pool
Which is really✦ on the wall
I got a color✦ TV so I can see the Knicks play basketball✦
And we talkin'✦ 'bout checkbooks,✦ credit✦ cards, more money✦
Than a sucker✦ could ever✦ spend
And I couldn't give a what about✦ them cats you with
Get your friends baby,✦ jump in the Benz, everybody✦ go
[Outro: LL Cool J & P. Diddy]
Friends to the end, baby✦
You know what I'm sayin'? (Got history, baby)✦
No question about✦ it (We won't stop)
Yeah, never,✦ word up
We keepin'✦ this money✦ (10)
Oh, yeah (10)
Rockin'✦ with my man, rockin'✦ with that Bad Boy cat (Uncle L)
Rock the Bells (A.K.A.),✦ uh (Black Elvis)
P. Diddy✦ (Diddy)✦
Hottest man in the city✦ (Y'all see it)
Word up, please believe it (Smile at it, love it)
Grin, baby✦ (Embrace it), grin
Get used✦ to it
That get money✦ smile, hahaha✦
Technical Breakdown
8.0
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 / Rhythm8.5
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 Score8.03
Production
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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
LL Cool J utilizes a conversational, rhythmic cataloging technique that prioritizes flow and personality over dense lyrical abstraction, characteristic of his mid-career mainstream dominance.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8.5
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
6
Wordplay
7
Delivery
Catalographic rhymingInternal multi-syllabic chainingConversational cadenceDynamic vocal projection
Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on dense, multisyllabic internal rhyming (e.g., Donna/Honor/Pajama; Kelly/Belly/Telly/Machiavelli) creating a consistent percussive momentum that drives the listener through the list of personas.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"a female Machiavelli"
① A reference to the historical political strategist Niccolò Machiavelli, implying deviousness and cunning.② A descriptor for the character 'Kelly' mentioned in the previous bar, utilizing the name to create a phonetic pun while defining her personality.
"not ready for the jelly"
① A literal reference to the popular cultural slang of the time regarding physical attractiveness or 'booty'.② A playful challenge to the antagonist's preparedness for his lifestyle/status.
High level of technical consistency in rhyme placement
Strong sense of vocal presence and performance persona
Effective use of proper nouns to ground the verse in a specific lifestyle narrative
Content is largely anecdotal and lacks deeper thematic exploration
Some metaphors (e.g., 'not ready for the jelly') rely heavily on contemporary pop culture tropes of the era rather than original lyrical subtext