Loyal to the Game
The Uppercut
2Pac
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
9
End
130
Internal
84
Multi
204
Slant
3
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: 2Pac]
Now you know you should have ducked,✦ nigga✦
Got you fallin'✦ from the uppercut,✦ fucked,✦ so what's up, nigga?✦
Now you know you should have ducked,✦ nigga✦
Got you fallin'✦ from this uppercut,✦ fucked,✦ so what's up, nigga?✦
[Verse 2: 2Pac]
They got a nigga✦ in the dice game
I'm feelin'✦ lucky✦ but the nigga's✦ just a little bigger✦ (Bigger)✦
He tryin' fuck me out my cash, I'ma✦ blast, nigga✦
He don't know, I gotta✦ tell you, like the last nigga✦
Gotta✦ go, no need to run for the trunk, I get 'em up
Left to right, my uppercut'll hit 'em up (Hit 'em up)
I'm known to walk the streets on any✦ block
I love my niggas,✦ but I ain't puttin'✦ down my Glock
The gunshots rang when I lose nigga,✦ and, ooh, nigga✦
I'ma✦ show you not to ever✦ play a true nigga✦ (Haha)✦
Lay it down just to prove it
And fuck the rappin',✦ motherfucker, we can do this
[Chorus: 2Pac]
Now you know you should have ducked,✦ nigga✦
Got you fallin'✦ from the uppercut,✦ fucked,✦ so what's up, nigga?✦
Now you know you should have ducked,✦ nigga✦
Got you fallin'✦ from this uppercut,✦ fucked,✦ so what's up, nigga?✦
[Verse 3: E.D.I. and Young Noble]
They claim that we violent, we named✦ after✦ tyrants
This revolution won't be televised, we keep it silent (Shh)
Roll on our enemies, beat 'em at they own game
Molotov cocktails, releasing up in flames✦
Tired✦ of bein' stepped on, sick of bein' held back
Lookin'✦ through my rearview, thinkin' 'bout the payback
Wanna✦ see my kids grow, don't know if I'ma✦ make it though
One more nigga✦ came up short in the ghetto✦ (Ghetto)✦
Society lied to me so I'm strapped with the metal
Push your middle fingers up, nigga,✦ if you a rebel
Have your face down, goin' in ya pockets if ya let 'em
I done lost too many✦ homies✦ for me to ever✦ forget✦ 'em
I done made so many✦ mistakes, but still I don't regret✦ 'em
I'm a product✦ of the pimp, the pusher,✦ and the reverend
I'm a product✦ of the block, the fiends, and the felons
We all lost souls tryna✦ find our way to heaven✦ (To heaven)✦
[Chorus: 2Pac]
Now you know you should have ducked,✦ nigga✦
Got you fallin'✦ from the uppercut,✦ fucked,✦ so what's up, nigga?✦
Now you know you should have ducked,✦ nigga✦
Got you fallin'✦ from this uppercut,✦ fucked,✦ so what's up, nigga?✦
[Outro: E.D.I.]
Yeah, yeah
To all the comrades no longer✦ with us
See you when we get there
'Pac, Yak, we gon' keep on ridin'✦
Give these cowards the uppercut✦
'Til we get up there with y'all, you know
Thug life, we still livin'✦ it
Outlaw for life, in the name of the Don
Let's go, woo
Technical Breakdown
6.7
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres5.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm5.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity6.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control7.0
Performance and control
Computed Score6.70
Production
— Eminem, Luis RestoBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
2Pac uses aggressive, percussive delivery to compensate for a lyrical focus on intimidation rather than complex wordplay, resulting in a visceral but linguistically straightforward performance.
B
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
5.5
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
5
Wordplay
7
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhymingAggressive prosodyRepetitive thematic signalingPercussive cadence
Rhyme Architecture: Highly dense AAAA-style multi-syllabic patterns focusing on terminal -uck and -igga suffixes, creating a rhythmic trap that reinforces the violent themes.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Left to right, my uppercut'll hit 'em up"
① A literal description of a boxing technique (left/right hook/uppercut).② A direct reference to 2Pac's song 'Hit 'Em Up', symbolizing lethal retaliatory violence.
Commanding vocal presence
Exceptional rhythmic integration
Strong emotional intensity
Lack of complex metaphorical layering
Repetitive vocabulary
Limited semantic depth beyond confrontational stance