Lyrical Breakdown of One Mic - A Journey through Words and Rhymes

Welcome to the detailed analysis of "One Mic" on Lazyjot. Here, we unravel the lyrical complexity and artistic brilliance that define this iconic song.

  • Lyric Overview: Witness how Nas weaves words into powerful emotions and vivid imagery. From intricate rhyme schemes to compelling storytelling, every line in "One Mic" is a testament to masterful songwriting.
  • Rhyme and Rhythm Analysis: Our Lazyjot editor highlights the ingenious use of multi-syllabic rhymes and the rhythm pattern that Nas employs. Understand the construction of each verse and how it contributes to the song's overall impact.
  • Syllable Pattern Insights: Dive deeper into the structural elements of the lyrics. See how the syllable count varies across the song, adding a unique rhythm and flow to Nas's narrative.

This lyrical analysis of "One Mic" not only celebrates Nas's artistic prowess but also serves as an educational tool for aspiring songwriters. If this analysis inspires you and you'd like to see your own songs analyzed in this way, join the Lazyjot community. Register at Lazyjot and start exploring the full potential of your lyrical creativity. Turn your thoughts into rhymes and your rhymes into songs with Lazyjot!

One time, yeah, yeah

Yo, all I need is one mic, one beat, one stage

One nigga front, my face on the front page

Only if I had one gun, one girl and one crib

One God to show me how to do things his son did

Pure, like a cup of virgin blood

Mixed with 151, one sip'll make a nigga flip

Writin' names on my hollow tips, plottin' shit

Mad violence, who I'm gon' body? This hood politics

Acknowledge it, leave bodies chopped up in garbages

Seeds watch us, grow up and try to follow us

Police watch us, roll up and try knockin' us

One knee I ducked, could it be my time is up?

But my luck, I got up, the cop shot again

Bus stop, glass burst, a fiend drops his Heineken

Ricochetin' between the spots that I'm hidin' in

Blackin' out as I shoot back-, fuck gettin' hit!

This is my hood, I'ma rep to the death of it

'Til everybody come home, little niggas is grown

Hoodrats, don't abortion your womb

We need more warriors soon

Sent from the stars, sun and the moon

In this life of police chases, street sweepers and coppers

Stick-up kids with no conscience, leavin' victims with doctors

If you really think you ready to die with .9s out

This is what Nas is 'bout, nigga, the time is now!

Yo, all I need is one mic

All I need is one mic (that's all I need)

All I need is one mic (all I need, niggas)

All I need is one mic (yeah)

All I need is one blunt, one page and one pen

One prayer, tell God forgive me for one sin

Matter of fact, maybe more than one

Look back at all the hatred against me, fuck all of them!

Jesus died at age 33, there's 33 shots

From twin Glocks, there's 16 apiece, that's 32

Which means one of my guns was holdin' 17

27 hit your crew, six went into you

Everybody gotta die sometime, hope your funeral

Never gets shot up, bullets tear through the innocent

Nothin' is fair, niggas roll up, shootin' from wheelchairs

My heart is racin', tastin' revenge in the air

I let this shit slide for too many years, too many times

Now I'm strapped with a couple of MACs, too many .9s

If y'all niggas really with me, get busy, load up the semis

Do more than just hold it, explode the clip until you empty

There's nothin' in our way, they bust, we bust, they rush, we rush

Lead flyin', feel it? I feel it in my gut

That we take these bitches to war, lie 'em down

'Cause we stronger now, my nigga, the time is now!

All I need is one mic (that's all I need, niggas, that's all I need)

All I need is one mic (there's nothin' else in the world)

All I need is one mic (that's all a nigga need to do his thing y'know)

All I need is one mic (this is all I need)

All I need is one life, one try, one breath, I'm one man

What I stand for speaks for itself, they don't understand

Don't wanna see me on top, too egotistical

Talkin' all that slick shit the same way these bitches do

Wonder what my secrets is

Niggas'll move on, you only if they know what your weakness is

I have none, too late to grab guns

I'm blastin' 'cause I'm a cool nigga

Thought I wouldn't have that ass done? Fooled you niggas

What you call an infinite brawl, eternal souls clashin'

War gets deep, some beef is everlastin'

Complete with thick scars

Brothers knifin' each other up in prison yards

Drama, where does it start?

You know the block was ill as a youngster

Every night it was like a cop'll get killed

Body found in the dumpster

For real a hustler, purchased my Range

Niggas throwin' dirt on my name

Jealous 'cause fiends got they work and complain

Bitches left me 'cause they thought I was finished

Shoulda knew she wasn't true

She came to me when her man caught a sentence

Diamonds are blindin', I never make the same mistakes

Movin' with a change of pace

Lighter load, see now the king is straight

Swellin' my melon 'cause none of these niggas real

Heard they were tellin' police, how can a kingpin squeal?

This is crazy, I'm on the right track, I'm finally found

You need some soul-searchin', the time is now

All I need is one mic (yeah, yeah yeah yeah)

All I need is one mic (all I ever needed in this world, fuck cash)

All I need is one mic (fuck the cars, the jewelry)

All I need is one mic (to spread my voice to the whole world, baby)