Life After Death

Somebody's Gotta Die

The Notorious B.I.G.

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

185

Internal

Multi

269

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

I'm sittin^✦ in the crib dreamin about^✦ leer jets and coupes^✦

The way salt shoops and how they sell records like snoop

Oops!

I'm interrupted by a doorbell

3: 52, who the hell is this?

I gets up quick

Cocks my shit

Stop the dogs from barkin^✦

Then proceed^✦ to walkin^✦

Its a face that I seen before^✦

My nigga^✦ sing, we used^✦ to sling on the 16th floor

Check it

I look deeper^✦

I see blood up on his sneakers

And his fist gripped^✦ a chrome four-fifth

So I dip

Nigga,^✦ is you creepin or speakin?

He tells me c-rock just got hit up at the beacon^✦

I opens up the door, pitiful

Is he in critical?

Retaliation^✦ for this one won't be minimal

Cuz I'm a criminal

Way before^✦ the rap shit

Bust the gat shit

Puff won't even^✦ know what happened,

If it's done smoothly

Silencers on the uzi^✦

Stash in the hooptie

My alibi,^✦ any^✦ cutie

With a booty^✦ that done fuck the pop

Head spinnin, reminiscin bout my man c-rock

Somebody's^✦ got ta die

If I got, you got ta go

Somebody's^✦ got to die

Let the gunshots^✦ blow

Somebody's^✦ got to die

Nobody^✦ got ta know

That I killed^✦ yo ass in the mist, kid

Somebody's^✦ got ta die

If I got, you got ta go

Somebody's^✦ got to die

Let the gunshots^✦ blow

Somebody's^✦ got to die

Nobody^✦ got ta know

That I killed^✦ yo ass in the mist, kid

Fillin^✦ clips he explained our situation^✦

Precisely, so we know exactly what we facin^✦

Some kid named^✦ jason^✦

In a honda^✦ station^✦ wagon^✦

Was braggin

About^✦ how much loot and crack he stackin

Rock had a grip so they formed^✦ up a clique

Small crew

'round the time I was locked^✦ up with you

True indeed^✦

But yo nigga^✦ let me proceed^✦

Don't fill them clips too high

Give them bullets room to breathe

Damn where was i?

Yeah

One night in town

Blew the fuck up

D-rock went home

And jay got stuck the fuck up

Hit 'em twice

Got 'em right for the virgin^✦ white

Pistol whipped^✦ his kids

And taped^✦ up his wife

He said yo rock, set em up, no question^✦

Wet em up no less

Than 50 shots in his direction^✦

How many^✦ shots?

Man nigga,^✦ I seen mad holes^✦

What kinda^✦ gats?

Hitch links, cocks, and calicoles

But fuck that

I know where all them niggas^✦ rest at

In the buildin hustlin

And they don't be strapped

Supreme in black

Is downstairs, the engine^✦ runnin^✦

Find a bag to put the guns in

And c'mon if yo comin^✦

Somebody's^✦ got ta die

If I got, you got ta go

Somebody's^✦ got to die

Let the gunshots^✦ blow

Somebody's^✦ got to die

Nobody^✦ got ta know

That I killed^✦ yo ass in the mist, kid

Somebody's^✦ got ta die

If I got, you got ta go

Somebody's^✦ got to die

Let the gunshots^✦ blow

Somebody's^✦ got to die

Nobody^✦ got ta know

That I killed^✦ yo ass in the mist, kid

Exchanged hugs and pounds before^✦ the throw down

How it's gonna^✦ go down

Lay these niggas^✦ low-down

Slow down

Fuck all that plannin shit

Run up in they cribs

And make em catch the man n shit

See niggas^✦ like you do ten year bids

Miss the niggas^✦ they want

And murder^✦ innocent kids

Not i

One niggas^✦ in my eye

That's jason^✦

Ain't no slugs gonna^✦ be wasted^✦

Revenge I'm tastin^✦ at the tip of my lips

I can't wait to feel my clip in his hips

Pass the chocolate

Thai

Sing ain't lie

There's^✦ jason^✦ with his back to me

Talkin^✦ to his faculty

I start to get a funny^✦ feelins

Put the mask on in case his niggas^✦ start squealin

Scream his name out

Squeeze six knuckles shorter

Nigga^✦ turned^✦ around^✦ holdin^✦ his daughter

Technical Breakdown

8.6

Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes8.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.62

Production

— Nashiem Myrick, Carlos Broady, Puff Daddy

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The verse functions as a masterclass in narrative kinetic energy, utilizing B.I.G.'s trademark conversational pacing to transition from mundane luxury daydreams to high-stakes street tension.

7.5

Multisyllabic

8.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

Wordplay

Delivery

Cinematic narrative pacingInternalized cadence shiftsDirect address/dialogue integrationOnomatopoeic rhythm markers

Rhyme Architecture: A fluid AABB/AABB flow punctuated by A-rhyme clusters that mirror the protagonist's spike in adrenaline, moving from multisyllabic end-rhymes (jets/coupes/shoops/snoop) to punchy, monosyllabic urgency.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"The way salt shoops"

① A reference to the group Salt-N-Pepa (Salt/Shoop) highlighting their commercial success.② The literal act of 'shooting' or 'shifting' product/records, blending the pop-culture reference with street hustle terminology.

"Is he in critical?"

① Literal medical status ('in critical condition').② An appraisal of the severity of the situation for Biggie himself, as 'critical' implies a decision point that will define his own survival.

Impeccable control of narrative pacing

High-density internal rhyming that sustains momentum

Authentic world-building through specific spatial and temporal details

Limited usage of dense metaphorical layers compared to his abstract abstract work

Reliance on classic 'thug rap' tropes which were becoming standard in the mid-90s

User Scores

Notes

Masterful storytelling with a smooth, aggressive flow.