Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
If I Should Die
Jay-Z
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
20
End
270
Internal
111
Multi
251
Slant
7
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Jay-Z, Wais]
If I should die, don't cry, my niggas✦
Just ride, my niggas,✦ bust bullets✦ in the sky, my niggas✦
And when I'm gone don't mourn, my niggas✦
Get on, my niggas✦
When it's real say word to Shawn, my niggas✦
If I should die don't cry, my niggas✦
It's been one hell of a ride, my niggas✦
Say word to Wais, my niggas✦
When I'm gone don't mourn, my niggas✦
Just keep gettin'✦ it on, my niggas✦
Say word is bond, my niggas✦
[Verse 2: Wais]
I got a lot to look back on, in '88 got my crack on
Ten years later✦ gettin'✦ my rap on
Gettin'✦ shorties like a thespian
Had an episode with two lesbians, got a fetish for that
Drunk ginseng with Japanese chicks and pulled✦ the root out
Squeeze my whole clip to survive shootouts
Been on both coasts, fired✦ all kinds of heat
Probably be kinda✦ glad to leave these mean streets
I got de-mands to meet and questions to fulfill
Like is that mystery god real?
And how was Kennedy killed?✦
I ain't mad, I must've smoked✦ a ton of reefer✦
Sipped✦ Coronas with Latifah, broke the code of Geneva✦
I know when I reach the other✦ side I'ma✦ see the
Cat I had beef with who blood remains on my sneaker
Then it's on again,✦ if I could be born again✦
I live my life through my son
And tell him never✦ have a friend
Just family,✦ reincarnated I'll shorten the time
That I waited✦ to get paid, tell him never✦ be afraid✦
Niggas✦ hearts pump Kool Aid and yo' blood run thicker
Never✦ shed tears, cry liquor,✦ my nigga✦
[Chorus: Wais, Half Dead]
If I die don't cry, my niggas✦
It's been one hell of a ride, my niggas✦
Say word to Wais, my niggas✦
When I'm gone don't mourn, my niggas✦
Just keep bangin'✦ these songs, my niggas✦
Say word is bond, my niggas✦
If I die don't cry my niggas✦
Just stay gettin'✦ high, my niggas✦
Don't wonder✦ why, my niggas✦
When I'm gone live on, my niggas✦
Just follow✦ my path, my niggas✦
Say word to Half, my nigga✦
[Verse 3: Half Dead]
I'm the aftermath of pleasure never✦ die alone✦
Born to live forever through life's✦ struggles
I cut corners and took drastic measures
Seen niggas✦ life expire✦ right in front of me
Time could never✦ mend what these cold streets
Mentally done to me, too often,✦ I close my eyes
And see my own coffin✦ feelin'✦ haunted
Ready✦ to leave this world that I'm lost in
My only✦ chance to see the seeds I lost through abortion✦
When I'm gone y'all niggas✦ better✦ not mourn, keep flossin'
As long as my name lives✦ on what's most important
I'll be down in hell scorchin'✦ preparin' for life
Afterlife still torchin'✦ and blazin'✦ these mics
It'd rain for 40 days and 40 nights
And I'd return✦ on the 3rd like Christ
(Without my physical✦ portion)✦
My spirit a poltergeist for sure
I'll be back through the Heights tomorrow
Blood over✦ y'all fake niggas✦ door
What you thought, huh?
What you thought, nigga?✦
[Chorus: Half Dead, Wais, Jay-Z]
If I should die don't cry, my niggas✦
Just stay gettin'✦ high, my niggas✦
Don't wonder✦ why, my niggas✦
When I'm gone live on, my niggas✦
Just follow✦ my path, my niggas✦
Say word to Half, my nigga✦
When I die don't cry, my niggas✦
It's been one hell of a ride, my niggas✦
Say word to Wais, my niggas✦
When I'm gone don't mourn, my niggas✦
Just keep gettin'✦ it on, my niggas✦
Say word is bond, my niggas✦
If I die don't cry, my niggas✦
Just ride, my niggas,✦ bust bullets✦ in the sky, my niggas✦
And when I'm gone don't mourn, my niggas✦
Get on, my niggas✦
When it's real say word to Shawn, my niggas✦
If I should die
[Verse 4: Jay-Z]
I'd tell Big they're still hearin'✦ his songs
Run into✦ Pac ask him where we went wrong
Tell him life is miserable when ya dealin'✦ in the physical✦ form
Is everything that's invisible gone?
I need to know, will I still feel pain or will it be ironic?
Will I chill in the flames✦ for all the ills of my brain?
Can I re, veal the game to all the hustlers
Trapped in the race and if so can I leave this place?
Can I puff cigars✦ and drink Cristal?
If this is heaven✦ to me is this considered heavenly?
Can I still touch lives,✦ answer✦ their "whats and whys"
Make sure everybody in my fam' clutch five?
If I should die... don't cry, my niggas✦
Technical Breakdown
7.3
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres5.0
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 Control6.5
Performance and control
Computed Score7.26
Production
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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Wais delivers a visceral, autobiographical snapshot that prioritizes narrative flow over lyrical complexity, grounding the mortality theme in street-level experiences.
B+
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
5
Wordplay
6.5
Delivery
Chronological progressionMultisyllabic anchoringColloquial cadenceNarrative storytelling
Rhyme Architecture: Primarily relies on long-form 'on/an' assonance chains (back on, crack on, rap on) that provide a consistent pulse, punctuated by intermittent internal rhyme clusters.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"pulled the root out"
① The physical act of harvesting the ginseng root from the tea.② A sexual metaphor involving climax and physical extraction.
"got my crack on"
① Started selling crack cocaine in 1988.② An idiomatic expression for getting busy or starting a new hustle.
Consistent rhythmic pocket
Clear chronological narrative arc
Strong vocal presence and conversational tone
Predictable rhyme choices
Lack of complex multi-layered wordplay
Occasional filler-heavy construction