Ready to Die

Juicy

The Notorious B.I.G.

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

228

Internal

Multi

209

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus: Total & Puff Daddy]

You know very^✦ well (Yeah)

Who you are (Money,^✦ hoes and clothes)^✦

Don't let 'em hold you down (Bankrolls,^✦ yeah, haha)^✦

Reach for the stars (It's all good)

You had a goal (C'mon)

But not that many^✦ (It's all good)

'Cause you're the only^✦ one

I'll give you good and plenty^✦ (Check it)

[Verse 2: The Notorious B.I.G.]

I made the change from a common^✦ thief

To up close and personal with Robin^✦ Leach

And I'm far from cheap, I smoke skunk with my peeps all day

Spread love, it's the Brooklyn way

The Moët and Alizé keep me pissy,^✦ girls used^✦ to diss me

Now they write letters 'cause they miss me

I never^✦ thought it could happen,^✦ this rapping stuff

I was too used^✦ to packing gats and stuff

Now honeys^✦ play me close like butter^✦ play toast

From the Mississippi down to the East Coast

Condos in Queens, indo^✦ for weeks

Sold out seats to hear Biggie Smalls speak

Living life without fear

Puttin'^✦ five karats^✦ in my baby^✦ girl ear

Lunches,^✦ brunches,^✦ interviews by the pool

Considered a fool 'cause I dropped out of high school

Stereotypes of a black male misunderstood

And it's still all good

And if you don't know, now you know, nigga^✦

[Chorus: Total & Puff Daddy]

You know very^✦ well (C'mon)

Who you are (Bankrolls)^✦

Don't let 'em hold you down (Clothes)^✦

Reach for the stars (Mansions)

You had a goal

But not that many^✦ (It's all good)

'Cause you're the only^✦ one

I'll give you good and plenty^✦ ('94)

[Verse 3: The Notorious B.I.G.]

Super^✦ Nintendo, Sega^✦ Genesis

When I was dead broke, man, I couldn't picture this

50-inch screen, money-green leather sofa^✦

Got two rides,^✦ a limousine with a chauffeur

Phone bill about^✦ two G's flat

No need to worry,^✦ my accountant handles that

And my whole crew is loungin'

Celebrating every^✦ day, no more public housin'^✦

Thinkin' back on my one-room shack

Now my mom pimps an Ac' with minks on her back

And she loves^✦ to show me off of course

Smiles^✦ every^✦ time my face is up in The Source

We used^✦ to fuss when the landlord dissed^✦ us

No heat, wonder^✦ why Christmas missed^✦ us

Birthdays was the worst days

Now we sip Champagne when we thirsty

Uh, damn right I like the life I live

'Cause I went from negative^✦ to positive^✦ and it's all (It's all good, nigga)^✦

And if you don't know, now you know, nigga^✦

[Chorus: Total, The Notorious B.I.G. & Puff Daddy]

You know very^✦ well (Money)^✦

Who you are (Hoes and clothes)^✦

Don't let 'em hold you down (Bankrolls)^✦

And if you don't know, now you know, nigga^✦

Reach for the stars (That's right)

You had a goal (It's all good)

But not that many^✦ (All good)

'Cause you're the only^✦ one (East coast, represent)

I'll give you good and plenty^✦ (C'mon)

And if you don't know, now you know, nigga^✦

[Post-Chorus: The Notorious B.I.G. & Puff Daddy]

Representin' B-Town in the house (Biggie Smalls)

Junior^✦ Mafia,^✦ mad flavor^✦ (Bad Boy)

Uh, uh, yeah, aight (I see you, Cooch)

[Chorus: Total]

You know very^✦ well

Who you are

Don't let 'em hold you down

Reach for the stars

You had a goal

But not that many^✦

'Cause you're the only^✦ one

I'll give you good and plenty^✦

[Outro: Puff Daddy & Total]

Biggie Smalls, it's all good, nigga^✦

Junior^✦ Mafia,^✦ it's all good, nigga^✦

Bad Boy, it's all good, nigga^✦

It's all good

That's right, '94

And on and on, and on and on

You know very^✦ well

It's all good

Who you are

Yeah

Don't let 'em hold you down

Reach for the stars

[Produced by Pete Rock and Poke of Trackmasters]

Technical Breakdown

9.0

Multisyllabic Rhymes6.0

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes6.0

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres8.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity8.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score9.00

Production

— Poke, Sean "Puffy" Combs

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Notes

A classic anthem of success against the odds.