Lyrical Breakdown of Sixteen - A Journey through Words and Rhymes

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

Lyric Overview: Witness how Rick Ross weaves words into powerful emotions and vivid imagery. From intricate rhyme schemes to compelling storytelling, every line in "Sixteen" 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 Rick Ross 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 Rick Ross's narrative.

This lyrical analysis of "Sixteen" not only celebrates Rick Ross'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!

When 16 ain't enough... It's funny because it's been on my mind lately Having a dope beat, dope idea. Sixteen bars ain't enough! How the fuck can I squeeze my whole life into a 16 bar verse? You know, so many different levels to living your life Depicting with your wordplay exactly what life means to you Sixteen ain't enough I know y'all gonna feel me on this one You gotta feel me on this one It's funny how things change, funny how time fly More than my feet travel, the more that I feel fly More that I make now, the more that the chicks smile She call me a local nigga, I opened a Swiss account Eisenhower status, Etta James on the dash Smooth as John Coltrane cruising in the Cadillac Seville - feel my life on the real We the Last Poets so this is a world premiere Rolling like Mick Jagger, the women just getting badder All I see is the money, cream, Eric Clapton And all I wanted was one, 16 ain't enough Talking that fast money, 15 every month When your people labelled poor, that motivated me more Everything I ever wore was once worn before Roll with the punches now it's box office numbers Dressed like Sammy Davis, steaming my marijuana Double MG's, double M fees We in every hood, nigga: government cheese Yacht to Yachtmasters, Old Dirty Bastard Floor seat for the Heat, paper that I'm stackin Better put away a penny for the rainy days Pick and roll, give and go, fuck a fade away Living like Scottie Pippen, dribble riddles for vittles Started off with a scribble, now I'm flowing a river She say my heart cold, I'm naming my son December Whitney died night before the Grammys -- damn, what a memory Trump Tower and I started with a 10 speed Born broke, had to use a nigga's instincts Now I get a hundred racks for the 16 Waking up to turkey bacon and my thick queen Niggas hating, I'm just watching on the big screen 3 stacks on the beat and the kicks mean When 16 ain't enough... You know how sometimes you got so much to say but They on- they only give you 16, heh. Man it's like. I mean, I got so much to say The world has said so much to me, and I just wanna give right back to 'em But... I only get 16, that's like a cage, you know I really can't say what I wanna say, you know it's just a glimpse That's all, just one uh, one little single glimpse Just a page But I guess I'm defeating the purpose of doing all this talking Summer '88, or was it '89 Or was it winter-time, ah, nevermind I'm in my room, booming Drawin' LL Cool J album covers with Crayolas on construction paper I'm trying to fuck my neighbor, I'm tryna hook my waves up I'm tryna pull my grades up, to get them saddle lace ups Before lil' Marc was Jacob, before them girls wore makeup Before my voice would break up, before we'd tour them shake clubs Before my mama wake up, before my crumbs would cake up Before they tell me they love me and we'll never break up Before the time she makes love to someone that I thought was my homeboy But boy, was I wrong, now I don't budge, don't want much, just a roof and a porch And a Porsche, and a horse and unfortunately But of course an assortment of torches that scorches the skin, when they enter Intruders, whose tutors did a lousy job How's he God if he lets Lucifer let loose on us? That noose on us won't loosen up, but loose enough to juice us up Make us think we do so much and do it big Like they don't let us win, I can't pretend But I do admit, it feel good when the hood pseudo-celebrate Hence, why every time we dine we eat until our belly aches Then go grab the finest wine and drink it Like we know which grape and which region it came from As if we can name 'em, hint hint, it ain't, um, Welch's Hell just fell three thousand more degrees cooler Ya'll can't measure my worth But when you try, you'll need a ruler made by all the Greek gods Because the odds have always been stacked against me when back's against the wall I feel right at home, y'all sitting right at home All Kelly green with envy while I'm jelly beans descending Into the palm of a child, looks up at mama and smile With such a devilish grin, like "where the hell have you been" She yelling that selling's a sin, well so is telling young men That selling is a sin, if you don't offer new ways to win A dolphin gon shake his fin, regardless if he gets in Or out of water, most important thing for him is to swim And Flipper didn't hold his nose, so why shall I hold my tongue? (I miss the days of old when one could hold his gal on his arm) And I set off these alarms, when camera's snap snap snap snap Return fire, pa-pa-pa, pa, pa-pa, pa, pa, pa They'll learn why, mere privacy, so essential They won't make no laws, I break their laws til they see out our window I take the fall to make them all treat human kind more gentle Forsake them all, I hate them all, don't like em, don't pretend to Yea something tells me we ain't in Kansas anymore All that shit that used to be cool ain't cool anymore All the women we were pursuing, now they want more And they deserve it all, don't settle for what ain't yours When 16 ain't enough... When 16 ain't enough... When 16 ain't enough... When 16 ain't enough... When 16 ain't enough... Does your mama know you see me, does she know you're freaky? Does she ever wonder if it's 'bout ya I am speaking? Do you ever ponder where I'm at when you get sleepy? How the hell I'm gonna tell the youth don't be me? Yea Does your daddy think you perfect, does he know for certain? Does he know how you act when you pull back all them curtains? Do he think I'm 2Pac cause I'm black and put the words in? Does he know his daughter might have caught a real merman? Yea