Capital Punishment
You Came Up
Big Pun
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
33
End
186
Internal
116
Multi
330
Slant
24
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Intro: N.O.R.E. & Big Pun]
Yo, what the deal, baby?✦
I see ya, aight?
Still not a player, but you still a hater✦
Ha! Pun here, where my horns at?
Where my horns?
[Bridge: Big Pun & N.O.R.E.]
Fa ye da da ya da da da da
Fa ye da da ya da da da
[Chorus: N.O.R.E. & Big Pun]
Pun, you came up, what, what? Makin'✦ it happen✦
From rappin'✦ on the corner✦ to possibly✦ goin' Platinum✦
But when we roll, are you still ready✦ to ride?
Yo, I'll be ready✦ to ride, and I'll be ready✦ to die
Pun, you came up, what, what? Makin'✦ it happen✦
From rappin'✦ on the corner✦ to possibly✦ goin' Platinum✦
But when we roll, are you still ready✦ to ride?
Yo, I'll be ready✦ to ride, and I'll be ready✦ to die
[Verse 1: Big Pun]
Ayo, my word is bond, long as I'm alive,✦ I'ma✦ put it on
Coulda✦ gone to jake, shit, thug nigga✦ 'til I'm gone
Weight of the Bronx, I'm flippin', five boroughs thoroughly reppin'✦
Let's unite✦ the city✦ and step to the world as a weapon✦
'Cause everybody's checkin' for Pun, second✦ to none
'Cause Latins goin' Platinum✦ was destined to come
The inevitable, heavenly, better✦ than whatever you do
We eligible,✦ T.S. is incredibly✦ credible✦
For the revenue, we gettin'✦ you open✦ with lyrical dope
And these breaths that are potent is like an injectional dose
And it never✦ quits, take it from T.S.'s top terrorist
Rapper✦ slash hijacker,✦ bombin'✦ tracks ever✦ since
I was young, I wasn't always✦ Big Pun
It wasn't always✦ this fun – aiyyo, I rose from the slums
I had to pay my due, lay a few, but I ain't sayin' who's
Stayin' true to the game, no names,✦ playin' it cool
Just me and the crew, holdin'✦ it down
Long as we 'round, we gonna✦ keep sockin'✦ it to you, like Homey✦ D. Clown
Goin' down like Pac, ready✦ to ride or die, nigga✦
"La-da-le-la-la-la-la-la"
[Chorus: N.O.R.E. & Big Pun]
Pun, you came up, what, what? Makin'✦ it happen✦
From rappin'✦ on the corner✦ to possibly✦ goin' Platinum✦
But when we roll, are you still ready✦ to ride?
Yo, I'll be ready✦ to ride, and I'll be ready✦ to die
Pun, you came up, what, what? Makin'✦ it happen✦
From rappin'✦ on the corner✦ to possibly✦ goin' Platinum✦
But when we roll, are you still ready✦ to ride?
Yo, I'll be ready✦ to ride, and I'll be ready✦ to die
[Verse 2: Big Pun]
Ayo, ain't nothin'✦ changed, I'm still the same
The way you remembered me, since the Centipede
Harder,✦ bigger,✦ blacker,✦ back in the '70s
Try to remember me from my aggressive will
The way I kept it real is more important than any✦ record✦ deal
I used to chill on the block with Cuban✦ and Seis
I still do, but now it's in the blue convertible✦ 8-
50, my true niggas'll always✦ be with me
The shifty✦ kiss me, tell me they miss me, then try to diss me
'Cause I'm a rispy,✦ crispy✦ for life, sixty's✦ the price
Another fifty✦ for the Cuban✦ twisted in ice
Niggas✦ is sheist, but I psych 'em out, though they like to doubt
I make 'em all believers, once I let the Tyson✦ out
'Cause I can vouch for only✦ a few, only✦ the crew
From the old school, I consider loyally✦ true
I morally✦ grew from a fool to a scholar
Follow✦ the rules✦ on how to spot a plotter that's cool for a dollar
I wanna✦ holla✦ at my peeps that's reppin'✦ the streets
Wrestlin' the beast of chess, restin'✦ in peace
Blessin' my seeds and watchin' over✦ us
'Til I die, I'll align the souls with mine and shine for all of us
[Chorus: N.O.R.E. & Big Pun]
Pun, you came up, what, what? Makin'✦ it happen✦
From rappin'✦ on the corner✦ to possibly✦ goin' Platinum✦
But when we roll, are you still ready✦ to ride?
Yo, I'll be ready✦ to ride, and I'll be ready✦ to die
Pun, you came up, what, what? Makin'✦ it happen✦
From rappin'✦ on the corner✦ to possibly✦ goin' Platinum✦
But when we roll, are you still ready✦ to ride?
Yo, I'll be ready✦ to ride, and I'll be ready✦ to die
[Outro: Big Pun]
Fa ye da da ya da da da da
Fa ye da da ya da da da
Fa ye da da ya da da da da
For my thug niggas,✦ thug niggas✦
Technical Breakdown
9.1
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm10.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity7.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.2
Performance and control
Computed Score9.13
Production
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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Big Pun demonstrates his peak era ability to synthesize complex, multi-syllabic rhyme structures with high-octane delivery while maintaining a cohesive, street-oriented narrative identity.
A+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
9.2
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhyme chainsPhonetic mirroringStaccato rhythmic punctuationDynamic cadence shifting
Rhyme Architecture: The verse utilizes dense, multi-syllabic internal rhyming ('alive/it on/coulda gone/thug nigga') that bridges lines seamlessly, moving away from simple end-rhyme structures into a flowing, percussive block.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Weight of the Bronx, I'm flippin'"
① A reference to the physical burden of representing his home borough at a high level.② A double entendre involving drug trafficking terminology ('flippin' weight') rooted in the street culture of the era.
"step to the world as a weapon"
① A metaphor describing his lyrical prowess being a dangerous tool in the rap game.② A literal/violent implication of readiness to handle physical conflict in the streets.
Unmatched breath control and flow fluidity
Highly efficient use of rhyme-dense syllables
Strong authoritative vocal presence
Vocabulary remains focused on persona-consistent bravado rather than broad thematic expansion
Some metaphors are genre-standard rather than experimental