Life After Death

You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)

The Notorious B.I.G.

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

222

Internal

103

Multi

214

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

Yeah, though I walk through the valley^✦ of the shadow^✦ of death

I will fear no evil,^✦ for you are with me

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me

You prepare a table for me, in the presence of my enemies

You anoint^✦ my head with oil, my cup overflows

Surely^✦ goodness and love will follow^✦ me all the days of my life

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever

Niggas in my faction^✦ don't like askin'^✦ questions

Strictly gun-testin', coke-measurin'

Givin'^✦ pleasure in the Benz-ito

Hittin'^✦ fanny,^✦ spendin' chips at Manny's^✦

Hope you creeps got receipts, my peeps get dirty^✦ like cleats

Run up in your crib, wrap you in your Polo^✦ sheets

Six up in your wig-piece, nigga^✦ decease

Muah, may you rest in peace

With my Sycamore style, more sicker^✦ than yours

Four-four and 50-4 draw

As my pilot,^✦ steers my Lear; yes, my dear

Shit's official, only^✦ the Feds I fear

Here's^✦ a tissue, stop your bloodclaat cryin'

The kids, the dog, everybody^✦ dyin', no lyin'

So don't you get suspicious^✦

I'm Big Dangerous,^✦ you're just a Lil Vicious^✦

As I leave my competition,^✦ respirator^✦ style

Climb the ladder^✦ to success escalator^✦ style

Hold y'all breath, I told y'all

Death controls y'all, Big don't fold y'all, uhh

I spit phrases that'll thrill you

You're nobody^✦ 'til somebody^✦ kills you

(I don't wanna^✦ die, God tell me why)

You're nobody,^✦ 'til somebody,^✦ kills you

(I don't wanna^✦ die, God tell me why) uhh, uhh

Watch Casino,^✦ I'm the hip-hop^✦ version^✦ of Nicky^✦ Tarantino

Ask Nino,^✦ he know

Green with envy,^✦ the green tempts me

To make the rich the enemy,^✦ and take their cheese

Take their spots, take their keys, make my faculty

Live happily ever^✦ after^✦ in laughter

Hah, never^✦ seen Cristal^✦ pour faster^✦

And to those bastards, knuckleheads squeeze lead

Three of mine dead, nothin'^✦ left to do

But tear they ass to shreds, leave 'em in bloodshed

Incidents like this, I take trips

Lay up in Miami^✦ with Tamika^✦ and Tammy^✦ (huh)

Some Creole C-O bitches^✦ I met on tour

Push a peach Legend Coupe, gold teeth galore^✦

Told me meet 'em in the future^✦ later^✦

They'll take me shoppin', buy me lavender and fuschia Gators

Introduce me to playa haters^✦ and heavy^✦ weighters

Rich bitch shit, drinkin' Cristal^✦ 'til they piss the shit, uhh

Thorough^✦ bitches,^✦ adapt to any^✦ borough^✦ bitches^✦

Be in spots where they were no bitches,^✦ you feel me

Reminisce on dead friends too

You're nobody^✦ 'til somebody^✦ kills you

(I don't wanna^✦ die, God tell me why)

You're nobody,^✦ 'til somebody,^✦ kills you

(I don't wanna^✦ die, God tell me why)

You're nobody^✦ 'til somebody^✦ kills you

(I don't wanna^✦ die, God tell me why)

You're nobody,^✦ 'til somebody,^✦ kills you

(I don't wanna^✦ die, God tell me why) uhh, uhh

You can be the shit, flash the fattest five (that's right)

Have the biggest dick, but when your shell get hit

You ain't worth spit, just a memory^✦

Remember he used^✦ to push the champagne Range (I 'member^✦ that)

Silly^✦ cat, wore suede in the rain

Swear he put the G in game, had the Gucci^✦ frame

Before^✦ Dana^✦ Dane, thought he ran with Kane

I can't recall^✦ his name (what was his name?), you mean that kid

That nearly^✦ lost half his brain over^✦ two bricks of cocaine?^✦

Gettin'^✦ his dick sucked^✦ by Crackhead Lorraine?^✦

A fuckin'^✦ shame, duke's^✦ a lame, what's his name?

Dark-skin Jermaine,^✦ see what I mean?

You're nobody^✦ 'til somebody^✦ kills you

(I don't wanna^✦ die, God tell me why)

You're nobody,^✦ 'til somebody,^✦ kills you

(I don't wanna^✦ die, God tell me why)

You're nobody^✦ 'til somebody^✦ kills you

Technical Breakdown

8.5

Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres8.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm9.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity5.5

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.50

Production

— Puff Daddy, Stevie J, DJ Enuff, Jiv Pos

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Biggie masterfully combines vivid imagery with sharp wordplay and a commanding delivery, as reflected in his high technical scores. The internal and multisyllabic rhymes bolster the narrative, while a strong cadence engages listeners throughout.

9.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

9.5

Cadence / Flow

5.5

Vocabulary

Wordplay

Delivery

allusionmetaphorinternal rhyme

Rhyme Architecture: The verse employs a mix of couplets and triplets with varied internal rhymes, creating a dynamic flow that emphasizes the themes of conflict and resilience.

strong narrative imagery

dynamic rhythm and flow

User Scores

Notes

Dark themes explored with a powerful message and striking delivery.