all that really matters is that your rhymes was

The phrase “all that really matters is that your rhymes was…” is a reference to an MF DOOM lyric that appears in a New York Times crossword clue from January 2026, usually completed with the word “ill.” In hip‑hop slang, “ill” here means exceptionally good, clever, or impressive rather than sick or unwell.

Meaning of the line

• The full clue is framed as: “All that really matters is if your rhymes was ___ (MF DOOM lyric),” and the expected answer is “ILL.”

• In context, the line implies that style, creativity, and technical skill in lyrics are what truly count, regardless of other factors like image or hype.

Why “ill” matters in rap

• In rap culture, ill is long‑standing slang for standout quality: a verse, flow, or beat that hits unusually hard or shows advanced technique.

• This fits MF DOOM’s reputation for dense rhyme schemes and internal rhymes, where the ultimate test of a rapper is how strong the rhymes actually are.

Connection to MF DOOM’s style

• Commentators on MF DOOM’s writing often highlight how he packs complex internal rhymes into nearly every bar, making “good rhymes” the core of his artistic identity.

• The crossword’s use of this lyric underlines how iconic that attitude is: for DOOM and many fans, what endures is whether the rhymes are “ill,” not the surrounding noise.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.