Me Against the World
Death Around the Corner
2Pac
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
25
End
187
Internal
135
Multi
190
Slant
9
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
("When we were kids, belonging✦ felt good...")
I see death around✦ the corner✦
("But having✦ respect,✦ that feels even✦ better...")✦
I see death around✦ the corner✦
("When we were kids, belonging✦ felt good...")
I see death around✦ the corner✦
("But having✦ respect,✦ that feels even✦ better...")✦
[Verse 2]
I see death around✦ the corner,✦ the pressure's gettin'✦ to me
I no longer✦ trust my homies✦ — them phonies✦ tried to do me
Smokin'✦ too much weed, got me paranoid, stressed
Pack a gat and a vest under✦ my clothes when I dress
Here's✦ hopin'✦ I die the way I lived,✦ straight thuggin'
Huggin'✦ my trigger for all them niggas✦ that was buggin'✦
My homie told me once, "Don't you trust them other✦ suckers✦
They front like they your homies,✦ but they phony✦ motherfuckers"✦
And even✦ if I did die young, who'd care?
All I ever✦ got was mean mugs and cold stares✦
Got homies✦ in my head that done passed✦ away✦ screamin' "Please!"
Young nigga,✦ make G's
I can't give up, although I'm hopeless, I think my mind's gone
All I can do is get my grind on
Death around✦ the corner✦
[Chorus]
("When we were kids, belonging✦ felt good...")
I see death around✦ the corner✦
("But having✦ respect,✦ that feels even✦ better...")✦
Death around✦ the corner✦
("When we were kids, belonging✦ felt good...")
I see death around✦ the corner✦
("But having✦ respect,✦ that feels even✦ better...")✦
[Verse 3]
(I was raised)✦ I was raised✦ in the city,✦ shitty✦
Ever✦ since I was an itty✦ bitty✦ kiddy✦
Drinkin'✦ liquor✦ out my momma's✦ titty✦
And smokin'✦ weed was an everyday thang in my household
And drinkin'✦ liquor✦ 'til you out cold
And though I'm grown now, nigga,✦ it's still on — pow!
Bustin✦ on them niggas✦ 'til they gone
How many✦ more jealous✦ ass bitches comin'✦ for my riches?✦
Now I gotta✦ be suspicious✦ when I bone
'Cause if I ain't sharp and heartless, them bitches'll start shit
Excuse✦ me, but this is where we part, bitch
No more game for free, please explain to me
Why niggas✦ trip, bitch, who you came to see?
Murder✦ me now but see me later✦ man, that's on my pops
I got homies✦ that will hunt you 'til you drop
I hope the Lord can forgive me
I was a G, and gettin'✦ high was a way of bein' free
I see death around✦ the corner✦
[Chorus]
("When we were kids, belonging✦ felt good...")
I see death around✦ the corner✦
("But having✦ respect,✦ that feels even✦ better...")✦
I see death around✦ the corner✦
("When we were kids, belonging✦ felt good...")
I see death around✦ the corner✦
("But having✦ respect,✦ that feels even✦ better...")✦
I see death around✦ the corner✦
[Outro]
This is for all the real motherfuckin'✦ niggas✦ out there
I know you ain't scared✦ to die; we all gotta✦ go, y'know?✦
A real motherfucker will pick the time he goes
And make sure he handles his motherfuckin'✦ business
(You think you're gonna✦ live long enough✦ to spend that money,✦ you fuckin'✦ hump?)
Y'all niggas✦ stop actin'✦ like pussies✦ out there, all right?
If any✦ of you...
Are tired✦ of gettin'✦ ripped✦ off by guys like that...
I want his family✦ dead! I want his house burnt to the ground!
I wanna✦ go there in the middle of the night, I wanna✦ piss on his ashes!✦
I want his family✦ dead! I want his house burnt to the ground!
I wanna✦ go there in the middle of the night, I wanna✦ piss on his ashes!✦
I want that son of a bitch dead, I want him dead!
I want him dead, I don't care...
Technical Breakdown
8.6
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 / Rhythm8.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity7.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.57
Production
— Johnny JBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
2Pac utilizes a hyper-focused narrative voice, where the technical rhyme density acts as an auditory manifestation of his character's paranoia, creating a symbiotic relationship between lyrical structure and thematic anxiety.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Assonance-driven internal rhyme chainsCyclical refrain structureConfessional narrative urgencySocio-psychological imagery
Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on dense, multisyllabic end-rhyme couplets (me/do me, stressed/dress, thuggin'/buggin') anchored by an pervasive internal rhyme scheme that emphasizes the terminal 'e' and 'uh' sounds to create a claustrophobic effect.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Huggin' my trigger"
① The literal act of holding a firearm closely for immediate defense.② A subversion of comfort; instead of human intimacy or affection, the protagonist seeks intimacy with a tool of violence.
"I see death around the corner"
① Literal fear of an impending assassination or street-level violence.② A fatalistic worldview where the inevitable end of the protagonist's lifestyle is visible in every daily movement.
Exceptional emotional resonance that enhances the technical delivery
Strong use of conversational cadence to build suspense
High-density internal rhyming that sustains momentum despite the dark subject matter
Limited usage of complex, multi-layered linguistic wordplay
Reliance on established gangsta rap tropes that, while expertly delivered, lack abstract metaphorical innovation