R U Still Down? (Remember Me)

The Good Die Young

2Pac

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

302

Internal

119

Multi

320

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Hook]

Does anybody^✦ have an answer^✦ why (In times^✦ like these we feel closest)

It seems the good die young (The good die young)

Can anybody^✦ tell me why (Rest in peace, God bless the dead, and we carry^✦ on, huh)

Can anybody^✦ tell me why (The good die young)

Does anybody^✦ have an answer^✦ why (I ain't Quincy^✦ Jones)^✦

It seems the good die young (The good die young)

Does anybody^✦ tell me why (Now we hear from the future,^✦ the next generation, tell me)

Does anybody^✦ tell me why

[Verse 2: Napoleon]

Now in my world will it get worse

When I been trapped since birth

But I had to sleep in a hearse, 'cause it was my bed first

My grands probably burnin'^✦ turnin'^✦ in they, grave

Some folks ain't even^✦ get to see a high age

But they did, so I ain't afraid^✦

And this money^✦ got me feelin'^✦ like a, star

And this murder^✦ got me feelin'^✦ like my death ain't far

And the land of stolen^✦ cars don't get no better^✦

Don't get no weaker^✦ or no harder^✦

I was raised^✦ in a rush without my moms and my, father^✦

So tell me somethin'^✦

If I grab my gat and get the, dumpin'^✦

Would God get to lookin'^✦ at me, funny?^✦ (Haha)^✦

Rest in peace to my mother,^✦ Aquillah Beale

Rest in peace to my father,^✦ Salek Beale

Rest in peace to my grandparents

And thug in peace to my brother Seike

You know I love you

[Verse 3: Young Noble]

Which is worst, first Storm and then Al

Pac and then Yak

Regrey^✦ Brown

Coulda'^✦ sworn I seen ya face in a cloud

Family^✦ grievin' on your last breath

Close to the heart whether you know it or not

I swear the love won't stop

Jewel,^✦ that's my boo, mom duke and Nu

From jump you kept it true

Helped^✦ to feed the crew

The good die young

Livin'^✦ fast jumpin'^✦ the gun

Mama^✦ blamin'^✦ the community for killin'^✦ her son

My cousin^✦ Darren^✦ wasn't scared^✦ of goin'

But never^✦ knowin'^✦ he was dyin' slower^✦

I guess I see ya when I see ya, soulja^✦

[Hook]

Does anybody^✦ have an answer^✦ why (Answer^✦ why)

It seems the good die young (Young)

Can anybody^✦ tell me why (Tell me why!!)

Can anybody^✦ tell me why

[Verse 4: Kastro]

I know my life ain't promised

That's why the wise move in silence

Analyze these scandalous times^✦

It's hard, dog, but we managed

Schools, turn to war zones^✦

Even^✦ homes^✦ unsafe^✦

Leavin'^✦ children to play caged^✦ and raged^✦ they hate (Can anybody,^✦ tell me why)

How come, someone^✦ explain "why the good die young"

Why the bad die slow and outlive, everyone^✦

It's time somethin'^✦ is done

For our young kids

They growin'^✦ hopeless

That ain't the way to live

Tell me why

[Verse 5: E.D.I Mean]

Days go past and as they pass, time move, quicker^✦

No time for wastin',^✦ put your hustle down, my young dealers

'Cause the end is nearer^✦

But at least that's what they tellin'^✦ me

Hell, all I know brothers ain't ridin'^✦ 4-3, felony's

It's time to plan, plot, and strategize^✦

Capitalize,^✦ mobilize^✦

We in the war y'all

It's for all y'all

My family,^✦ to the ones^✦ that stand me (Can anybody)^✦

Little bit mo' love is what's recommended

Yeah, and it's plain to see (Plain to see)

The seeds from you and me

Gon' be the ones^✦ to lead us towards unity^✦

That's if we treat them right (Right)

Man, teach them right (Right)

Raise your kids better^✦ than you was

And see what it does

But if you don't

Man, we sure to be dumb

And we'll all see exactly why the goods die young, right

(We ain't lyin', man)

[Hook]

Does anybody^✦ have an answer^✦ why (Tell me why)

It seems the good die young (Tell me why)

Can anybody^✦ tell me why

Can anybody^✦ tell me why (The good die young)

Does anybody^✦ have an answer^✦ why (Tell me why)

It seems the good die young (Die young)

Can anybody^✦ tell me why (Tell me why)

Can anybody^✦ tell me why (The good die young)

[Outro: 2Pac]

I send this out for all my homeboys^✦ that passed^✦ away^✦

And all yo' homeboys^✦ that passed^✦ away^✦

I send this out to all the former^✦ fallen^✦ soldiers

That's in the cemeteries^✦ buried^✦

Never^✦ got to see they dreams (Can anybody,^✦ tell me why)

For everything I touch you touch

For every^✦ step I take you take

For every^✦ breath I breathe you breathe (Can anybody,^✦ tell me why)

Every^✦ dollar^✦ I make you make, hehe

I told you we'd make it to the sunshine^✦ one day

You just got there a little quicker,^✦ heh

But like my homeboys^✦ Thugs say (Can anybody,^✦ tell me why)

"I'll catch you at the crossroads"

The good die young

This song is dedicated to all them (To all the, families...)^✦

Young kids that died innocent

That died young

At Columbine^✦ High

Rest in Peace (Oklahoma)

Outlawz

(Lil' Yummy^✦ Sandifer

Tasha^✦ Harlins, all them

All the fallen^✦ kids

The dead babies^✦

The closed^✦ caskets)

Technical Breakdown

8.3

Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres5.5

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 Control7.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.30

Production

— Darryl Harper

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Napoleon delivers a raw, visceral performance that prioritizes emotional resonance and rhythmic cadence over complex lyrical puzzles, effectively capturing the nihilism of his environment.

8.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

5.5

Wordplay

7.5

Delivery

Enjambment for rhythmic tensionInternal rhyme clustersStaccato flowAutobiographical narrative layering

Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AAAA/BBBB terminal rhyme structure anchored by strong internal rhymes (e.g., 'worse/birth/hearse/first'), creating a claustrophobic, driving beat that mimics the subject's trapped reality.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"I had to sleep in a hearse, 'cause it was my bed first"

① Literal translation of the environment being so dangerous that a funeral vehicle is the only available shelter.② Metaphorical foreshadowing of his own death, treating the hearse as a cradle, suggesting his path was set from birth.

"the land of stolen cars don't get no better / Don't get no weaker or no harder"

① The physical environment of the inner city remains static in its struggle.② The moral and physical degradation is absolute; it has reached a state of unchanging, inevitable decay.

Strong vocal delivery and emotional intensity

Effective use of internal rhyme to maintain forward momentum

Coherent thematic narrative regarding the normalization of death

Rhythmic pocket maintenance within a complex, dense flow

Literalistic approach limits higher-level entendre

Wordplay is functional rather than inventive

Limited variation in vocabulary range

The Good Die Young

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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