Ready to Die
Juicy
The Notorious B.I.G.
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
45
End
228
Internal
71
Multi
209
Slant
11
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Total & Puff Daddy]
You know very✦ well (Yeah)
Who you are (Money,✦ hoes and clothes)✦
Don't let 'em hold you down (Bankrolls,✦ yeah, haha)✦
Reach for the stars (It's all good)
You had a goal (C'mon)
But not that many✦ (It's all good)
'Cause you're the only✦ one
I'll give you good and plenty✦ (Check it)
[Verse 2: The Notorious B.I.G.]
I made the change from a common✦ thief
To up close and personal with Robin✦ Leach
And I'm far from cheap, I smoke skunk with my peeps all day
Spread love, it's the Brooklyn way
The Moët and Alizé keep me pissy,✦ girls used✦ to diss me
Now they write letters 'cause they miss me
I never✦ thought it could happen,✦ this rapping stuff
I was too used✦ to packing gats and stuff
Now honeys✦ play me close like butter✦ play toast
From the Mississippi down to the East Coast
Condos in Queens, indo✦ for weeks
Sold out seats to hear Biggie Smalls speak
Living life without fear
Puttin'✦ five karats✦ in my baby✦ girl ear
Lunches,✦ brunches,✦ interviews by the pool
Considered a fool 'cause I dropped out of high school
Stereotypes of a black male misunderstood
And it's still all good
And if you don't know, now you know, nigga✦
[Chorus: Total & Puff Daddy]
You know very✦ well (C'mon)
Who you are (Bankrolls)✦
Don't let 'em hold you down (Clothes)✦
Reach for the stars (Mansions)
You had a goal
But not that many✦ (It's all good)
'Cause you're the only✦ one
I'll give you good and plenty✦ ('94)
[Verse 3: The Notorious B.I.G.]
Super✦ Nintendo, Sega✦ Genesis
When I was dead broke, man, I couldn't picture this
50-inch screen, money-green leather sofa✦
Got two rides,✦ a limousine with a chauffeur
Phone bill about✦ two G's flat
No need to worry,✦ my accountant handles that
And my whole crew is loungin'
Celebrating every✦ day, no more public housin'✦
Thinkin' back on my one-room shack
Now my mom pimps an Ac' with minks on her back
And she loves✦ to show me off of course
Smiles✦ every✦ time my face is up in The Source
We used✦ to fuss when the landlord dissed✦ us
No heat, wonder✦ why Christmas missed✦ us
Birthdays was the worst days
Now we sip Champagne when we thirsty
Uh, damn right I like the life I live
'Cause I went from negative✦ to positive✦ and it's all (It's all good, nigga)✦
And if you don't know, now you know, nigga✦
[Chorus: Total, The Notorious B.I.G. & Puff Daddy]
You know very✦ well (Money)✦
Who you are (Hoes and clothes)✦
Don't let 'em hold you down (Bankrolls)✦
And if you don't know, now you know, nigga✦
Reach for the stars (That's right)
You had a goal (It's all good)
But not that many✦ (All good)
'Cause you're the only✦ one (East coast, represent)
I'll give you good and plenty✦ (C'mon)
And if you don't know, now you know, nigga✦
[Post-Chorus: The Notorious B.I.G. & Puff Daddy]
Representin' B-Town in the house (Biggie Smalls)
Junior✦ Mafia,✦ mad flavor✦ (Bad Boy)
Uh, uh, yeah, aight (I see you, Cooch)
[Chorus: Total]
You know very✦ well
Who you are
Don't let 'em hold you down
Reach for the stars
You had a goal
But not that many✦
'Cause you're the only✦ one
I'll give you good and plenty✦
[Outro: Puff Daddy & Total]
Biggie Smalls, it's all good, nigga✦
Junior✦ Mafia,✦ it's all good, nigga✦
Bad Boy, it's all good, nigga✦
It's all good
That's right, '94
And on and on, and on and on
You know very✦ well
It's all good
Who you are
Yeah
Don't let 'em hold you down
Reach for the stars
[Produced by Pete Rock and Poke of Trackmasters]
Technical Breakdown
8.5
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm9.0
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 Score8.53
Production
— Poke, Sean "Puffy" CombsBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Biggie utilizes high-density internal rhyme schemes and specific cultural markers to transition from street-level narratives to aspirational luxury, setting the blueprint for the 90s 'rags-to-riches' rap trope.
A
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
9
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhymeCultural signalingNarrative arc progressionAssonance-heavy flow
Rhyme Architecture: A sophisticated AABB-adjacent structure punctuated by heavy internal rhyme chains (e.g., 'pissy/diss me/miss me') that anchor the cadence against the beat's swing.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"up close and personal with Robin Leach"
① A direct reference to the host of 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous'.② A symbolic statement indicating that Biggie is now living the lifestyle once only observed on television.
"honeys play me close like butter play toast"
① Physical closeness of women to the artist.② The metaphorical inevitability of the union, relying on the idiomatic 'butter on toast' connection.
Exceptional rhythmic pocket
Relatable thematic progression
Vivid luxury imagery contrasted with past struggle
Consistently smooth, conversational delivery
Reliance on established rap tropes of the era
Vocabulary is accessible rather than abstract or overly complex