Capital Punishment

Beware

Big Pun

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

178

Internal

Multi

218

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

I gave you fair warning,^✦ beware^✦

Yo, what you thought

Pun's shit was weak? Now you can't sleep

Gotta^✦ keep your eyes open^✦ wide and hide your face from the streets

I'm like the beast with a warrant, far from a law man

Gave you fair warnin',^✦ now you on the stairs fallin'^✦

I'm callin'^✦ out any^✦ rapper^✦ that I doubt, smack him in the mouth

Throw him in the yoke, boom, then I knock him out

No doubt, Freddie Foxxx files^✦

Twenty-shot auto^✦ Glock, blaow

Benny^✦ Blanc Puerto^✦ Rock style

With a twist of black, and I'm proud

Twist your cap and I'm out

Sleep with the fish-dips for yappin'^✦ too loud

What's happenin'^✦ now?

Niggas^✦ is hard as hell, but they Gargamels

Pickin'^✦ on the smallest victim^✦ gives^✦ 'em heart to kill

My squad is real and holds it down, the hardest regardless

Besides of the largest

We polish the floor with the rawest^✦ hardcore artists

Flawless victory, ya niggas^✦ can't do shit to me

Physically,^✦ lyrically,^✦ hypothetically,^✦ realistically^✦

I'm the epitome of catchin' wreck

Catch you when you cash your cheque

Smash you when you pass, then jack you for your fuckin'^✦ 'Lex

Nothin'^✦ less than the best if the Squad did it

Hard-headed niggas^✦ better^✦ beware^✦ and fear like God said it

I gave you fair warning,^✦ beware^✦

Ayo, I warned^✦ you, now all niggas^✦ could do is mourn you

I'm born to kill and still thrilled to put it on you

There's^✦ no regrets, remorse only^✦ results in loneliness

Only^✦ the strong survive and strive through life as warriors

All of us die, some of us kill, even^✦ massacre

Who wanna^✦ try? Punisher^✦ will if you ask for it

I'm hazardous for your health and Hell's your next stop

For real, my shit's cocked,^✦ the world has just stopped

I'm not the one you should be underestimatin'

Come test your fate and I guarantee I'll be under^✦ investigation^✦

You can't handle the whole, I'll slam you on your skull

Or we can go blow for blow like Evander and Bowe

You never^✦ know

However,^✦ though, I still hold the title

When all my rivals have chance to dance with Mr. Homicidal

Hand on the Bible, I swear to defend my crown

I've been around^✦ since forever^✦ and never^✦ let it touch the ground

Don't fuck around^✦ and catch a rude awakenin'^✦

My crew's basically^✦ waitin'^✦ patiently

For you to move your patrons in

Then we'll surround you, form Desert Storm and pound you

Look around^✦ you, Terror^✦ Squad's everywhere like Soundview

The Boogie Down do it like nobody,^✦ who are we?

The foundation,^✦ you're facin'^✦ a whole army^✦

I gave you fair warning,^✦ beware^✦

Yeah, yeah, yeah

What's up now, partner?

Know I'm sayin'?

Think this is just some rap shit?

We do this shit for real

Terror^✦ Squad, nigga^✦

Fuckin'^✦ shoot the place up

Motherfuckers know the time

This motherfuckin' rap game

Joe Crack, Big Dog Punisher,^✦ Full-A-Clips crew

What the fuck?

What

Beware,^✦ beware,^✦ beware,^✦ beware,^✦ beware^✦

Technical Breakdown

8.2

Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres8.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.18

Production

— Juju

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Big Pun utilizes his signature multisyllabic density and aggressive vocal pacing to establish a lyrical persona that blends street menace with technical precision, effectively setting the standard for late 90s East Coast hardcore delivery.

8.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

7.5

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

Wordplay

Delivery

Multisyllabic internal rhyme clustersDynamic cadence shiftsConsonance-heavy rhythmic patternsInternalized punchline structure

Rhyme Architecture: A complex web of AAAA and AABB structures interwoven with heavy multisyllabic internal rhyming, maintaining a rapid-fire, percussive consistency that anchors the listener in the pocket.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"I'm like the beast with a warrant, far from a law man"

① A literal reference to a criminal being pursued by the authorities.② A play on words where 'beast with a warrant' functions as a homophonic twist on 'beware' (be-warrant), establishing his dominance.

"Gargamels"

① A reference to the villain from The Smurfs, representing people who prey on those smaller/weaker than themselves.② A mocking characterization of 'hard' rappers as cartoonish villains who only feel powerful when bullying the vulnerable.

"Twist your cap and I'm out"

① Street slang for shooting someone in the head (capping them).② A literal reference to 'twisting' a cap off a bottle, paralleling the 'twist of black' reference earlier, showcasing Pun's penchant for wordplay layering.

Elite breath control and rhythmic stamina

High-density rhyme scheme that never loses readability

Commanding, authoritative vocal delivery

Effective use of cinematic imagery to enhance threats

Occasional reliance on standard battle rap tropes of the era

Some punchlines prioritize rhythm over semantic depth

User Scores

Notes

Big Pun raps at breakneck speed without sacrificing a single syllable of clarity. A technical marvel