Life After Death
Somebody's Gotta Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
24
End
160
Internal
78
Multi
183
Slant
10
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
Somebody✦ gotta✦ die, if I go, you got to go
Somebody✦ got to die, let the gunshots✦ blow
Somebody✦ got to die, nobody✦ got to know
That I killed✦ yo' ass in the mist, bitch
Somebody✦ got to die, if I go, you got to go
Somebody✦ gotta✦ die, let the gunshots✦ blow
Somebody✦ got to die, nobody✦ got to know
That I killed✦ yo' ass in the mist, bitch
[Verse 2]
Uhh, fillin'✦ clips, he explained our situation✦
Precisely, so we know exactly what we facin'✦
"Some kid named✦ Jason,✦ in a Honda✦ station✦ wagon✦
Was braggin', about✦ how much loot and crack he stackin'
Rock had a grip so they formed✦ up a clique
A small crew, 'round the time I was locked✦ up with you"
"True indeed",✦ "But, yo, nigga,✦ let me proceed (Uh-huh)✦
Don't fill them clips too high, give them bullets room to breathe
Damn, where was I? Yeah, went outta✦ town, blew the fuck up
D-Roc went home and Jay got stuck the fuck up
Hit him twice, caught him right for the Persian white
Pistol whipped his kids and taped✦ up his wife (Niggas✦ is trife)
He figured Rock set 'em up, no question✦
Wet 'em up no less than fifty✦ shots in his direction"✦ (Uhh)
"How many✦ shots?" "Man, nigga,✦ I seen mad holes"✦
"What kinda✦ gats?" "Hitchlinks, Kochs, and Calicos"
But fuck that, I know where all them niggas✦ rest at (Uh-huh)✦
In the buildin' hustlin' and they don't be strapped
Supreme and Black is downstairs, the engine✦ runnin'✦
Find a bag to put the guns in, then c'mon if you're comin'✦
[Chorus: The Notorious B.I.G]
Somebody✦ gotta✦ die, if I go, you got to go
Somebody✦ got to die, let the gunshots✦ blow
Somebody✦ got to die, nobody✦ got to know
That I killed✦ your ass in the mist, bitch
Somebody✦ got to die, if I go, you got to go
Somebody✦ gotta✦ die, let the gunshots✦ blow
Somebody✦ got to die, nobody✦ got to know
That I killed✦ your ass in the mist, bitch
[Verse 3: The Notorious B.I.G]
Exchanged hugs and pounds before✦ the throwdown✦
How it's gon' go down? Lay these niggas✦ low-down✦
"Slow down (Ah), fuck all that plannin' shit
Run up in they cribs and make them cats abandon ship!"
See niggas✦ like you do ten-year bids
Miss the nigga✦ they want and murder innocent kids
Not I, one nigga's✦ in my eye, that's Jason✦
Ain't no slugs gonna✦ be wasted✦
Revenge I'm tastin'✦ at the tip of my lips
I can't wait to fill my clip in his hips
"Pass the chocolate, Thai!" Sing ain't lie
There's✦ Jason✦ with his back to me, talkin'✦ to his faculty
I start to get a funny✦ feeling
Put the mask on in case this nigga✦ start squealin'
Scream his name out ("Ayo,playboy!"), squeezed six, nothin'✦ shorter
Nigga✦ turned✦ around✦ holdin'✦ his daughter
[Outro: Diddy]
Take that, take that, take that
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 / Rhythm9.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity6.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.64
Production
— Nashiem Myrick, Carlos "July Six" Broady, Sean "Puffy" CombsBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse functions as a masterclass in narrative efficiency, leveraging tight multisyllabic internal rhyme structures to ground a high-stakes crime drama while maintaining a conversational, cold-blooded cadence.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
9
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhymingCinematic narrative expositionDialogue-driven storytellingSyncopated tension buildingPhonetic mirroring
Rhyme Architecture: Complex interlocking scheme utilizing AABB and multisyllabic strings (station/braggin/stackin/clique/trick/with you). The verse transitions from descriptive narrative into a calculated, rapid-fire technical recount of the act.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"give them bullets room to breathe"
① Physical instruction to not overfill a magazine to prevent jamming② Metaphorical anticipation of the violence to come, giving the shots space to impact their target
"Persian white"
① High-grade heroin or cocaine② A specific reference to the high-value contraband acting as the catalyst for the murder
"Wet 'em up"
① To shoot someone② A slang term implying the saturation of the targets with gunfire
Exceptional rhythmic consistency that mimics the tension of an impending hit
Economy of language that develops complex characters and history within very few bars
Authentic dialogue integration
Commanding, stoic vocal presence
Literal approach leaves little room for abstract metaphor
Vocabulary usage is utilitarian rather than experimental