Ready to Die

Warning

The Notorious B.I.G.

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

20

End

124

Internal

50

Multi

151

Slant

6

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2: The Notorious B.I.G. & Pop]
They heard about✦ the Rolexes and the Lexus
With the Texas✦ license plates✦ out of state
They heard about✦ the pounds you got down in Georgetown
And they heard you got half of Virginia locked✦ down
They even✦ heard about✦ the crib
You bought your moms out in Florida, the Fifth Corridor
Call the coroner!
There's✦ gonna✦ be a lot of slow singin'✦ and flower-bringin'
If my burglar alarm starts ringin'✦
What ya think all the guns is for?
All-purpose war, got the Rottweilers by the door
And I feed 'em gunpowder so they can devour✦
The criminals tryin' to drop my decimals
Damn, niggas✦ wanna✦ stick me for my cream
And it ain't a dream, things ain't always what it seem
It's the ones✦ that smoke blunts with ya, see your picture
Now they wanna✦ grab they guns and come and get ya
Bet ya Biggie won't slip
I got the Calico✦ with the black talons loaded✦ in the clip
So I can rip through the ligaments
Put the fuckers✦ in a bad predicament
Where all the foul niggas✦ went
Touch my cheddar, feel my Beretta
Buck what I'ma✦ hit you with, you motherfuckers✦ better✦ duck
I bring pain, bloodstains✦ on what remains✦
Of his jacket,✦ he had a gun, he shoulda packed✦ it
Cocked✦ it, extra✦ clips in my pocket✦
So I can reload✦ and explode on your asshole
I fuck around and get hardcore
C-4 to your door, no beef no more, nigga✦
Feel the rough, scandalous✦
The more weed smoke I puff, the more dangerous✦
I don't give a fuck about✦ you or your weak crew
What you gonna✦ do when Big Poppa✦ come for you?
I'm not runnin',✦ nigga,✦ I bust my gun and
Hold on, I hear somebody comin'✦
[Skit]
C'mon, motherfucker✦
Man, I'm comin'✦ as fast as I can
Just g— bring your motherfuckin'✦ ass on, come on
Are we gettin'✦ close, huh?
It's right over✦ here
You sure it's Biggie Smalls crib, man?
Yeah, I'm sure, motherfucker,✦ come on
Man, fuck, this better✦ be his motherfuckin'✦ house
Fuck, right here
Tsk, this better✦ be this motherfucker's✦ house
Oh shit
What? What's wrong?
What's that red dot on your head, man?
What red dot?
Oh shit! You got a red dot on your head, too
Oh shit!

Technical Breakdown

8.1
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.5

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 Score8.13

Production

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Biggie utilizes internal rhyme density and a cinematic narrative structure to turn a standard 'warning' trope into a high-tension, visceral performance that redefined street-rap storytelling in 1994.

A
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Internal rhyme chainingMultisyllabic rhyme densityCinematic narrative escalationDynamic vocal projection
Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on heavy internal rhyming ('Rolexes', 'Lexus', 'Texas') coupled with long-form multi-syllabic end-rhymes ('singin'/flower-bringin'/ringin', 'ligaments/predicament/went').
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"All-purpose war"

① Military conflict preparation② A versatile, tactical readiness for any type of threat (

"drop my decimals"

① Literal decrease in his financial net worth② Slang for stealing money (dropping the dollar amount/profits)

"Touch my cheddar, feel my Beretta"

① A conditional warning to physical contact regarding his money② A causal relationship between theft and violent retribution

Masterful build-up and tension release within the 16-bar arc

The 'calico/talons/ligaments' sequence demonstrates elite-level rhythmic pacing

Exceptional command of narrative voice and authoritative tone

Wordplay is primarily literal and narrative-driven rather than abstractly clever

The dependence on 'guns' as a recurring motif is standard for the era's subgenre

User Scores