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It's Time for War

LL Cool J

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

107

Internal

Multi

184

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Hook]

It's time for war

It's time for war (Uh, yeah)

It's time for war

It's time for war (Check it)

It's time for war

[Verse 2]

This is a resurrection^✦

I'm back from the dead

They told me quit a long time ago

But I conquered instead

I had dreams and visions

Swirling around^✦ in my head

I had this hunger^✦ deep inside^✦ of me

That has to be fed

Hip-Hop^✦ will respect

All the blood that I shed

I have a covenant with God

I have swallowed the bread

Hip-Hop^✦ my co-defendant

With this mic I thee wed

I made an entire^✦ generation^✦

Obey^✦ what we said

I'm talkin'^✦ France to Germany

From Italy^✦ to Japan^✦

From London^✦ to Belgium

To Afghanistan

From Farmers Boulevard

Smokin'^✦ a blunt with my man

To writin'^✦ rhymes on a ironing board

To build Def Jam

You see, I'm the undisputed

King of all Hip-Hop^✦

Everything after^✦ is my legacy^✦

Like it or not

And I will keep making^✦ history

I can't stop

LL Cool J

Eternally hot

[Hook]

It's time for war

[Verse 3]

Look at how easily^✦ I flipped it

And switched the style around^✦

Competition^✦ losin'^✦ their footing

I see them falling down

They will plot against me

It kills them because I'm ballin'^✦ now

Some of y'all didn't pick up the phone

But I got you callin'^✦ now

This is a job that must get done

Even if I become^✦ public^✦ enemy^✦ number^✦ one

If I had to pick up an Uzi

That weighs over^✦ a ton

I will attack^✦ Hip-Hop^✦

Until competition^✦ is none

Nobody^✦ on God's earth wants it with L

You end up tortured

And trapped in psychological hell

And this is the beginning

Of a new era in rap

LL Cool J, feel the impact

It's okay^✦ if you call it a comeback

And let them know

I'm ready^✦ for combat^✦

Tell those dumb motherfuckers to fall back

The crown looks wrong on your head

I want that

[Hook]

It's time for war

Technical Breakdown

7.8

Multisyllabic Rhymes6.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes7.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres5.5

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 Score7.77

Production

— Ray Burghardt, Suits

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

LL Cool J utilizes a consistent, anthemic cadence that relies on AAAA end-rhyme structures to build intensity, favoring rhythmic momentum over dense lyrical complexity.

B+

6.5

Multisyllabic

7.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

5.5

Wordplay

Delivery

monorhyme enduranceanaphorasincere thematic autobiographical framing

Rhyme Architecture: The verse employs a rigid monorhyme scheme focused on the 'ed' phonetic sound (dead, instead, head, fed, shed, bread, co-defendant), creating a driving, percussive pulse that mirrors the aggressive 'war' theme.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Hip-Hop my co-defendant"

① A legal relationship where Hip-Hop is accused alongside the rapper in the court of public opinion.② A partnership where the artist and the genre are inseparable, standing together to defend their legacy.

"I have swallowed the bread"

① A literal reference to consuming food to satisfy hunger.② A metaphorical reference to the religious sacrament of the Eucharist or consuming the 'word' to internalize power.

strong rhythmic consistency that maintains engagement

thematic unity between the hook and verse

commanding vocal presence typical of LL's experienced delivery style

wordplay is largely literal and lacks depth in multi-layered metaphors

over-reliance on a single rhyme sound leads to some forced syntax

predictability of the rhyme scheme limits the potential for surprise

It's Time for War

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

User Scores