Life After Death
Kick in the Door
The Notorious B.I.G.
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
32
End
249
Internal
88
Multi
262
Slant
15
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Interlude: Martin Lawrence & The Notorious B.I.G.]
I gots to talk
I gotta✦ tell what I feel (Mhm)
I gotta✦ talk about✦ my life as I see it
[Intro: The Notorious B.I.G.]
(Biggie)
Uh, uh-huh✦
Uh, this goes out to you (Biggie)
This goes out to you
And you, and you, and you (Biggie)
This goes out to you
This goes out to you (Biggie)
This goes out to you
And you, and you (Uh)
[Verse 1]
Your reign on the top was short like leprechauns
As I crush so-called willies,✦ thugs and rapper-dons (Uh)
Get in that ass quick-fast like Ramadan
It's that rap phenomenon Don Dada,✦ fuck Poppa✦
You gotta✦ call me Francis M.H
White, intake✦ light tokes,✦ tote iron✦
Was told in shootouts, stay low and keep firin'✦
Keep extra✦ clips for extra✦ shit (Uh-huh)✦
Who's next to flip on that cat with that grip on rap?
The most shady✦ (Tell 'em!) Frankie, baby✦
Ain't no tellin'✦ where I may be
May see me in D.C.
At Howard✦ Homecoming with my man Capone,✦ dumbin'✦
Fuckin'✦ somethin', you should know my steelo:✦
Went from ten G's for blow to thirty✦ G's a show
To orgies✦ with hoes I never✦ seen befo',✦ so
Jesus! Get off the Notorious'✦
Penis, before✦ I squeeze and bust
If the beef between us, we can settle it with the chrome and metal✦ shit
I make it hot like a kettle get
You're delicate, you better✦ get — who sent ya?
You still pedal✦ shit, I got more rides✦ than Great Adventure
Biggie ("How are you gonna✦ do it?")
[Chorus]
Kick in the door, wavin'✦ the .44
All you heard was, "Poppa,✦ don't hit me no more"
Kick in the door, wavin'✦ the .44
All you heard was, "Poppa,✦ don't hit me no more"
Kick in the door, wavin'✦ the .44
All you heard was, "Poppa,✦ don't hit me no more" (Biggie)
Kick in the door, wavin'✦ the .44 (Uh-huh)✦
All you heard was, "Poppa,✦ don't hit me no more (Uh, uh-huh)✦
[Verse 2]
On ya mark, get set when I spark, ya wet
Look how dark it get when you're marked✦ for death (Uh)
Should I start your breath, or should I let ya die?
In fear, you start to cry, ask why, lyrically I'm
Worshiped, don't front, the word sick
You cursed✦ it but rehearsed it
I drop unexpectedly like bird shit, you herbs get
Stuck quickly for royalties✦ and show money✦
Don't forget✦ the publishin', I punish 'em (Uh-huh),✦ I'm done with them (Uh-huh)✦
Son, I'm surprised you run with them
I think they got cum in them, 'cause they nothin'✦ but dicks
Tryna✦ blow up like nitro✦ and dynamite sticks
Mad I smoke hydro,✦ rock diamonds that's sick
Got paid off my flow, rhyme with my own clique
Take trips to Cairo,✦ layin' wit' yo' bitch
I know you prayin' you was rich, fuckin'✦ prick, when I see ya, I'ma...✦
[Chorus]
Kick in the door, wavin'✦ the .44 (Uh-huh)✦
All you heard was, "Poppa,✦ don't hit me no more" (Uh, uh, uh)
Kick in the door, wavin'✦ the .44
All you heard was, "Poppa,✦ don't hit me no more"
Kick in the door, wavin'✦ the .44
All you heard was, "Poppa,✦ don't hit me no more" (Biggie)
Kick in the door, wavin'✦ the .44
All you heard was, "Poppa,✦ don't hit me no more"
[Verse 3]
This goes out for those that choose to use
Disrespectful views on the King of N-Y
Fuck that, why try? Throw bleach in ya eye
Now ya braillin' it, snatch that light shit, I'm scalin'✦ it
Conscious✦ of ya nonsense, in '88
Sold more powder✦ than Johnson✦ & Johnson✦
Tote steel like Bronson, Vigilante
You wanna✦ get on, son? You need to aks me
Ain't no other✦ kings in this rap thing, they siblings
Nothin'✦ but my children—one shot, they disappearin' (Uh)
It's ill when MCs used✦ to be on cruddy✦ shit
Took home Ready✦ to Die, listened, studied shit
Now they on some money✦ shit, successful out the blue
They lightweight, fragili, my 9 milli'
Make the whites✦ shake, that's why my money✦ never✦ funny✦
And you still recoupin', stupid!✦
Stupid,✦ stupid,✦ stupid,✦ stupid...✦
Technical Breakdown
8.9
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres8.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm10.0
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 Score8.93
Production
— DJ PremierBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Biggie utilizes an aggressive, percussive vocal delivery that mimics the physical weight of his threats, masterfully pivoting between direct confrontation and clever, multi-syllabic cultural shorthand.
A+
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
8
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Internal Rhyme chainingMultisyllabic enjambmentCultural/Mythological allusionRhythmic syncopationAggressive prosody
Rhyme Architecture: A dense AAAA structure focused on multi-syllabic terminal rhymes (leprechauns, rapper-dons, Ramadan, Don Dada), followed by a shift into a tighter, internal-rhyme-heavy sequence.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Your reign on the top was short like leprechauns"
① A commentary on the fleeting nature of the rival's success.② A mythological reference to leprechauns, who are literally diminutive in stature.
"Get in that ass quick-fast like Ramadan"
① A threat of swift, aggressive physical confrontation.② An allusion to the month of Ramadan where the fast is strictly observed (quick-fast).
Commanding vocal presence and authority
Exceptional use of assonance to bridge line breaks
Rhythmic consistency despite varying word lengths
High-impact opening punchline
Vocabulary breadth is subordinate to rhythmic flow
Brief duration limits structural development