N.Y. State of Mind

Rappers, I monkey flip 'em with the funky rhythm I be kickin' Musician, inflictin' composition Of pain, I'm like Scarface sniffin' cocaine Holding an M-16, see with the pen I'm extreme Now, bullet holes left in my peepholes I'm suited up in street clothes Hand me a nine and I'll defeat foes Y'all know my steelo with or without the airplay I keep some E&J, sitting bent up in the stairway Or either on the corner betting Grants with the cee-lo champs

Rhyme Scheme

Dense internal multi-syllabic structure transitioning into an interconnecting end-rhyme narrative scheme

Producer Notes

Nas opens with a highly complex multi-syllabic chain ('monkey'/'funky' and 'flip 'em'/'rhythm'/'kickin'') that mimics a jazz solo's improvisation before settling into a narrative flow. The technical density peaks with the 'Musician'/'inflictin''/'composition' trio, showcasing his ability to weave internal rhymes that serve both rhythmic and narrative purposes.