Life After Death

Sky's the Limit

The Notorious B.I.G.

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

363

Internal

182

Multi

449

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

Good evenin'^✦ ladies^✦ and gentlemen^✦

How's everybody^✦ doin' tonight? (alright,^✦ alright,^✦ alright)^✦

I'd like to welcome to the stage, the lyrically acclaimed, ha (woo, woo)

I like this young man, because,^✦ when he came out

He came out wit the phrase, he went from ashy^✦ to classy^✦

Haha,^✦ I like that (alright,^✦ alright)^✦

So everybody^✦ in the house, give a warm (uh), round of applause^✦ for

The Notorious^✦ B.I.G. (ha)

The Notorious^✦ B.I.G. ladies^✦ and gentlemen,^✦ give it up for him, y'all

Uh, a nigga^✦ never^✦ been as broke as me, I like that

When I was young I had two pair of Lee's, besides that

The pin stripes and the gray (uh-huh)^✦

The one I wore on Mondays^✦ and Wednesdays^✦ (uh)

While niggas^✦ flirt, I'm sewing^✦ tigers^✦ on my shirt

And alligators (uh)

Ya wanna^✦ see the inside,^✦ huh, I see ya later^✦

Here come the drama,^✦ oh, that's that nigga^✦ with the fake, uh huh (blaow)

Why you punch me in my face? Stay in ya place

Play ya position^✦ (uh), here come my intuition^✦ (uh-huh)^✦

Go in this nigga^✦ pocket^✦

Rob him while his friends watchin'

That hoes clockin' (uh), here comes^✦ respect

His crew's your crew, or they might be next

Look at they man eye, BIG man they never^✦ try

So we roll with 'em (uh), stole with 'em

I mean loyalty, niggas^✦ bought me milks at lunch

The milks was chocolate, the cookies, buttercrunch

'88, Oshkosh and blue and white dunks (everything^✦ will be alright)^✦

Pass the blunt

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can

(Gotta^✦ keep movin',^✦ gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Have what you want, be what you want

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can (oh-ooh)^✦

Have what you want, be what you want

Have what you want, be what you want (oh whoa, oh yeah)

Uh-huh,^✦ I was a shame, my crew was lame (uh)

I have enough heart for most of 'em

Long as I got stuff from most of 'em (oh)

It's on, even^✦ when I was wrong I got my point across^✦ (uh-huh)^✦

They depicted me the boss, of course (alright,^✦ alright)^✦

My orange^✦ box-cutter make the world go 'round (hmm)

Plus I'm fuckin,^✦ bitches ain't my homegirls now (alright,^✦ oh yeah)

Start stackin' (uh), dabbled in crack, gun packin'^✦ (uh)

Nickname Medina,^✦ make the seniors tote my ninas^✦ (uh-huh)^✦ (whoa-oh, ooh yeah)

From gym class, to English, pass off a global^✦ (woo)

The only^✦ nigga^✦ wit a mobile,^✦ can't you see like Total^✦ (yeah)

Gettin'^✦ larger^✦ in waist and taste (oh-ooh)^✦

Ain't no tellin'^✦ where this felon^✦ is headin',^✦ just in case

Keep a shell at the tip of your melon,^✦ clear the space (yeah)

Ya brain was a terrible thing to waste (yeah)

Eighty-eight long gates,^✦ snatch initial name plates^✦ (uh)

Smokin'^✦ spliffs wit niggas,^✦ real life beginner killers (uh)

Prayin' God forgive us for being sinners, help us out (112 sing the chorus)^✦

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (ooh baby)^✦

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can

(Gotta^✦ keep movin',^✦ gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Have what you want, be what you want

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (ohh, gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can (yeah, ooh)

Have what you want, be what you want (whoa ooh, yeah)

Have what you want, be what you want (oh, whoa, yes)

After^✦ realizin' (uh-huh),^✦ to master^✦ enterprisin' (uh-huh)^✦

I ain't have to be in school by ten, I then (woo)

Began^✦ to encounter, with my counter-parts

On how to burn the block apart,^✦ break it down into^✦ sections^✦ (oh, yeah)

Drugs by the selections^✦

Some use pipes^✦ (oh, yeah), others^✦ use injections^✦ (oh, yeah)

Syringe sold seperately (uh-huh),^✦ Frank the deputy^✦ (uh-huh)^✦

Quick to grab my Smith & Wesson,^✦ like my dick was missin'^✦ (alright,^✦ alright)^✦

To protect my position,^✦ my corner,^✦ my layer

While we out here, say the hustlas prayer (yeah)

If the game shakes^✦ me or breaks me (oh)

I hope it makes^✦ me a better^✦ man

Take a better^✦ stand

Put money^✦ in my moms hand

Get my daughter this college plan, so she don't need no man (uh)

Stay far from timid

Only^✦ make moves^✦ when your heart's in it

And live the phrase, "Sky's The Limit"^✦

Motherfucker, see you chumps on top

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (oh oh)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can (gotta^✦ keep movin'^✦ on)

Have what you want, be what you want (gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on, baby)^✦

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (oh, oh, every^✦ day)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (we'll be alright)^✦

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can

(Keep on movin',^✦ keep on pressin'^✦ on)

Have what you want, be what you want

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can (every^✦ day will be alright)^✦

Have what you want, be what you want (if you will, oh)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (oh, gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can

Have what you want, be what you want

(Everything^✦ will be alright^✦ if you will keep on pressin'^✦ on)

(Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can (gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Have what you want, be what you want

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (oh, whoa, ooh)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on

Technical Breakdown

8.9

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 Complexity5.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.2

Performance and control

Computed Score8.92

Production

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Biggie utilizes conversational, narrative-driven cadence to mask extreme internal rhyme density, grounding aspirational luxury tropes in visceral, tactile memories of scarcity.

A+

9.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

7.5

Wordplay

9.2

Delivery

Conversational call-and-response introMultisyllabic internal rhyme clustersAssonance-heavy narrative flowMicro-burst cadence patterns

Rhyme Architecture: The verse employs a sophisticated AABB-adjacent structure punctuated by heavy internal rhyming (e.g., 'Mondays/Wednesdays', 'pocket/watchin'). The rhyme density increases significantly as the narrative shifts from introspection to street confrontation.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"from ashy to classy"

① Physical transformation from having dry, unmoisturized skin (a common sign of poverty) to refined luxury.② A socio-economic ascent, mapping the transition from desperate survival to celebrity status.

"Ya wanna see the inside, huh, I see ya later"

① A dismissive taunt regarding the brand labels/interiors of his clothing.② A double entendre on 'I see ya' (the brand IZOD) vs 'I see you later' (dismissing the perpetrator).

"His crew's your crew, or they might be next"

① The threat of immediate violence, suggesting the associates of his enemies are also targets.② A commentary on the volatility of street hierarchies, where allegiances are easily flipped through force.

Masterful use of conversational delivery to maintain listener engagement

Dense internal rhyming that never forces the beat out of place

Strong narrative arc transitioning from past poverty to street-level tactical survival

The simplicity of the vocabulary choice (per the computed score) slightly restricts the lyrical ceiling compared to his most abstract verses

Some punchlines rely on established tropes of the era

User Scores

Notes

Encourages aspiration and self-improvement with heartfelt lyrics.