R U Still Down? (Remember Me)
Somebody's Gonna Die Tonight
2Pac
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
29
End
189
Internal
147
Multi
282
Slant
11
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Nate Dogg & (2Pac w/ Outlawz)]
Will I forever✦ be alone?✦
(Teardrops✦ and closed✦ caskets)✦
(Teardrops✦ and closed✦ caskets)✦
Will I forever✦ be alone?✦
(Teardrops✦ and closed✦ caskets)✦
[Verse 2: 2Pac & Outlawz]
(Don't let these ghetto✦ streets get you, Precious)✦
(Was the victim, from a dime to a nickel)
Hopin'✦ God's blessings stick with ya
Picture✦ the neighborhood kingpin
Who's gettin'✦ bigger✦
Familiar face, but a man now
It's Lil' Trigga✦
Now Lil' Mo was a soldier to the fullest
Down for his homies,✦ always✦ the first to spit bullets
(All he wanted✦ was to be a thug)
Never✦ pictured his truest homeboy would fall in love
(Here's✦ where it gets ya)
Now Precious✦ is pregnant, Lil' Trigga✦ is happy✦
He wants to marry✦ her now
(Not knowin'✦ he ain't the daddy)✦
But Precious✦ was lonely,✦ while Lil' Trigga✦ was makin'✦ dough
She's slippin' in secret✦ places✦ and gettin'✦ with Lil' Mo
The neighborhood's buzzin',✦ now people are talkin'✦
Lil' Trigga's gettin'✦ pictures of the both of 'em walkin'✦
(Hand in hand, couldn't understand)
How his baby's✦ mama✦ could disappear with another man (And his best friend)
Now jealousy's dangerous,✦ and if you don't believe✦ me
Then watch the way that this story✦ ends and maybe you'll see
There ain't no heroes✦ or villains,✦ ain't no pleasure✦ in killin'✦
Just the smoke from the cap peelin',✦ a man with no feelings✦
Teardrops✦ and closed✦ caskets✦
[Chorus: Nate Dogg, Val Young & (2Pac w/ Outlawz)]
Will I forever✦ be alone?✦
(Teardrops✦ and closed✦ caskets)✦
(Bury✦ you dead and look ahead,✦ hehe, a man with no feelings)✦
(Teardrops✦ and closed✦ caskets)✦
Will I forever✦ be alone?✦
(Teardrops✦ and closed✦ caskets)✦
[Verse 3: Outlawz]
Now with the problems of poverty, and the tricks to these tales✦
How many✦ people'll die? How many'll live to tell?
Although best friends before,✦ Lil' Trigga✦ and Mo
They in an all out war, over✦ a fiend, they ain't know
Behind the curtains✦ their privacy lust is already laid down
The results is the same with different names✦ and it turns out
[Break: 2Pac]
Heh, y'all know how it is, same old thing in the same old town
Lil' Trigg got his nose wide open✦ on this one trick
Now he's played out
[Verse 4: 2Pac & (Outlawz)]
Think it's Lil' Mo (Was plottin' plans on gettin'✦ bigger)✦
(Precious✦ was his way to put his hands on Lil' Trigga)✦
Heh, all the while let's look at Precious,✦ too dumb to see what's goin' down
(Too doped✦ up to ask questions)
Used✦ to be comrades,✦ (but now we blast on sight)
What could be so bad? (God, will we last tonight?)
From misdemeanors to felonies,✦ small-time to sellin'✦ ki's
I can't believe✦ the shit they tellin'✦ me
They opened✦ fire, three bodies✦ dropped, so call the cops
(Precious,✦ Lil' Mo and Trigg)
Teardrops✦ and closed✦ caskets✦
[Overlapped Hook: Nate Dogg & (2Pac w/ Outlawz)]
Will I forever✦ be alone?✦
(Teardrops✦ and closed✦ caskets)✦
Will I forever✦ be alone?✦
(Teardrops✦ and closed✦ caskets)✦
Will I forever✦ be alone?✦
Will I forever✦ be alone?✦
(Teardrops✦ and closed✦ caskets)✦
Will I forever✦ be alone?✦
Will I forever✦ be alone?✦
[Collision: 2Pac]
Ayy, QDIII in this motherfucker (Uh-huh)
We dedicate this to all the fallen✦ comrades✦ (That's right)
All the homies✦ that didn't make it to see this day
(Rest in peace)
Yaknahmean? I know it's hard out there, hehehe✦
With teardrops✦ and closed✦ caskets✦
It's like that's all we got to look forward to these days
Murders, brothers✦ dyin', funerals (Hehe)
Shit, it's like I done ran out of suits, homie
I done ran out of tears
Know we gon' have to do somethin'✦ y'all
We gon' have to do somethin'✦ (Uh)
'Cause I know all these mothers✦ is tired✦ of seeing the same thing (Rest in peace)
Teardrops✦ and closed✦ caskets✦
I send this out to Mutulu✦ and Geronimo
And to all the fallen✦ comrades,✦ all the soldiers
(To the homie Boonie, rest in peace, nigga)✦
All the homies✦ that fell, all the homies✦
May God bless your families✦ (Alright)
May you always✦ live in the motherfuckin' heart
In a thug nigga's✦ heart forever✦ (That's right)
Rest in peace, nigga✦
May your enemies✦ be deceased, dead on the streets
We can't have peace 'til the niggas✦ get a piece
Technical Breakdown
8.3
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5
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 Control8.5
Performance and control
Computed Score8.34
Production
Be the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
2Pac utilizes a cinematic narrative structure that prioritizes character development and plot tension over complex lyrical abstraction, fitting perfectly within the G-funk storytelling tradition of the mid-90s.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Narrative storytellingCharacter foil constructionInternal rhyme chainsCinematic scene-settingConversational cadence
Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on tight, rhythm-driven end rhymes (Trigga/bigger/bullets/dough/Mo) interspersed with multi-syllabic internal patterns that maintain a propulsive, conversational flow characteristic of 1996 West Coast storytelling.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"from a dime to a nickel"
① The transition from being worth little (a nickel) to having more value or status (a dime).② A literal reference to the escalation of street-level drug trade quantities or profit margins.
"Lil' Trigga"
① A proper name of a character in the narrative.② A double entendre referencing his role as someone who 'triggers' violence or gunfire on behalf of the crew.
Expert pacing of a linear narrative arc
High emotional resonance through character identification
Effective use of the 'outlaw' vernacular
Consistent thematic cohesion
Limited reliance on complex metaphors or abstract literary devices
Predictable plot trajectory within the 'street tragedy' trope
Wordplay is functional rather than inventive