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There Goes the Neighborhood

Big Daddy Kane

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

169

Internal

Multi

237

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Hook]

She caught the vapors^✦

[Verse 2]

I got another partner that's calm and plain

He goes by the name of the Big Daddy^✦ Kane

A mellow^✦ type of fellow^✦ that's laid back

Back in the days he was nothin'^✦ like that

I remember^✦ when he used^✦ to fight every^✦ day

What grown-ups would tell him he would never^✦ obey^✦

He wore his pants hangin'^✦ down and his sneakers untied^✦

And a rasta-type Kangol^✦ tilted^✦ to the side

Around his neighborhood people treated^✦ him bad

And said he was the worst thing his moms ever^✦ had

They said that he will grow up to be nothin'^✦ but a hoodlum

Or either^✦ in jail, or someone would shoot him

But now he's grown up, to their surprise

Big Daddy^✦ got a hit record^✦ sellin'^✦ worldwide

Now the same people that didn't like him as a child

Be sayin' can I borrow^✦ a dollar,^✦ ooh, you're a star now

[Hook]

They caught the vapors^✦

[Verse 3]

Now I got a cousin^✦ by the name of Vaughan^✦ Lee

Better^✦ known to y'all as Cutmaster Cool V

He cuts, scratch, transform with finesse

{imitates cuts and scratches} and all that mess

Well I remember^✦ when he first started to rock

And tried to get this job in a record^✦ shop

He was in it to win it but the boss fronted

Said, "Sorry^✦ Mr. Lee, but there's^✦ no help wanted"^✦

Now my cuz Vaughan^✦ still tried on and on and on

'Til the like break of dawn

To put this J-O-B in effect

But they'd look right past him and be like, "Next"

Now for the year of '88

Cool V is makin'^✦ dollars so my cousin's like straight

He walks into^✦ the same record^✦ shop as before^✦

And the boss be like, "Vaughan,^✦ welcome to my store"

Offerin' him a job but nah, he don't want it

Damn, it feels good to see people up on it

'Cause I remember^✦ when at first they wasn't

Now guess what they caught from my cousin?^✦

The vapors^✦

[Hook]

They caught the vapors^✦

[Verse 4]

Last subject of the story^✦ is about^✦ Biz Mark

I had to work for mine to put your body^✦ in park

When I was a teenager, I wanted^✦ to be down

With a lot of MC-DJ'ing crews in town

So in school on Nobel Street, I say "Can I be down, champ?"

They said no and treated^✦ me like a wet food stamp

After^✦ gettin'^✦ rejected I was very^✦ depressed

Sat and wrote some def doo-doo^✦ rhymes^✦ at my rest

When I used^✦ to come to parties they'd make me pay

I would have to beg to get on the mic and rap that day

I was never^✦ into^✦ girls, I was just into^✦ my music^✦

They acted^✦ like I wanted^✦ to keep it instead of trying to use it

But now things switched, without belief^✦

"Yo, Biz, do you remember^✦ me from Noble Street, chief?

We used^✦ to be down back in the days"

It happens all the time and never^✦ cease to amaze^✦

[Hook]

They caught the vapors^✦

Technical Breakdown

7.9

Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

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 Complexity6.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.5

Performance and control

Computed Score7.89

Production

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Big Daddy Kane utilizes a narrative-driven structure to contrast past perception with present success, relying on steady, conversational flow to deliver a rags-to-riches social commentary.

B+

8.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

8.5

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

6.5

Wordplay

7.5

Delivery

Narrative arc constructionCharacter contrastColloquial imageryRhythmic consistency

Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on consistent AABB/CCDD couplet structures that emphasize clear storytelling, utilizing multisyllabic end-rhymes (plain/Kane, back/that) to anchor the flow.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"She caught the vapors"

① A slang term from the era denoting someone acting stuck-up or conceited.② A literal reference to the 'vapors' as a state of change, reflecting the shifting attitudes of people toward someone once they achieve fame.

"Be sayin' can I borrow a dollar, ooh, you're a star now"

① A literal request for money from an old acquaintance.② A biting critique of fair-weather supporters who only recognize value once it has been validated by mainstream success.

Clear, compelling narrative progression

Strong character development within a limited timeframe

Effortless rhythmic pocket

Effective use of the 'vapors' motif as a bookend

Lower lexical density compared to more abstract lyrical peers

Metaphorical simplicity

Predictable rhyme placement relative to late 80s/early 90s innovation

There Goes the Neighborhood

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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