Life After Death
Niggas Bleed
The Notorious B.I.G.
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
22
End
226
Internal
107
Multi
271
Slant
7
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
Niggas✦ bleed just like us
Picture✦ me being scared✦ of a nigga✦ that breathe the same air as me
Niggas✦ bleed just like us
Picture✦ me being shook, we can both pull burners,✦ make the motherfucking✦ beef cook
Niggas✦ bleed just like us
Picture✦ a nigga✦ hiding,✦ my life in that man's hands while he just deciding✦
Niggas✦ bleed just like us
I'd rather✦ go toe-to-toe✦ with all of y'all, running✦ ain't in my protocol✦
[Verse 2]
Since it's on, I call my nigga✦ Arizona Ron
From Tucson,✦ push the black Yukon✦
Usually✦ had the slow grooves on, mostly✦ rock the Isley✦
Stupid✦ as a youngin', chose not to move wisely✦
Sharper with game, him and his crooks caught a jux
Heard it was sweet, 'bout 350 a piece
Ron bought a truck, two bricks laid in the cut
His peeps got bucked,✦ got locked✦ the fuck up
That's when Ron vanished, came back speaking✦ Spanish
Lavish habits,✦ two rings, twenty✦ carats✦
Here's✦ a criminal, nigga✦ made America's Most
Killed✦ his baby✦ mother✦ brother, slit his throat
The nigga✦ got bagged✦ with the toast, weeded,✦ took it to trial, beat it
Now, he feel he undefeated, he mean it
"Nothing✦ to lose" tattooed around✦ his gun wounds
"Everything to gain" embedded in his brain
And me? I feel the same—for this money,✦ you dying
Especially✦ if my daughter crying, I ain't lying, y'all know the science
[Chorus]
Niggas✦ bleed just like us
Picture✦ me being scared✦ of a nigga✦ that breathe the same air as me
Niggas✦ bleed just like us
Picture✦ me being shook, we can both pull burners,✦ make the motherfucking✦ beef cook
Niggas✦ bleed just like us
Picture✦ a nigga✦ hiding,✦ my life in that man's hands while he just deciding✦
Niggas✦ bleed just like us
I'd rather✦ go toe-to-toe✦ with all of y'all, running✦ ain't in my protocol✦
[Verse 3]
We agreed✦ to go in shooting is silly✦
Because niggas✦ could be hiding✦ in showers with MAC-millis
So I freaked 'em, the telly✦ manager was Puerto✦ Rican✦
Gloria✦ from Astoria, I went to war with her
Peeps in '91, stole a gun from my workers
And they took drugs, they tried to jerk us
We blazed✦ they place, long story,✦ Glo' seen my face
Got shook, thought a nigga✦ was coming✦ for the safe
Now she breaking,✦ "Shut up! 112, what's shaking?"✦
"A Jamaican, some bitches, I swear they look gay
And a black Range Rover✦ been outside all day"
If it's trouble, let me know, I'll be on my way
"Please, I got kids to feed, I done seen you make niggas✦ bleed"
Nightmare, this bitch don't need
"Ron, get the gasoline,✦ this spot, we about✦ to blow this
Get the cash before✦ the cops and Range Rover✦ cats notice"✦
Room 112, right by the staircase, perfect place
When they evacuate, they meet their fate
"Ron, pass the gasoline,"✦ the nigga✦ passed✦ me kerosene
Fuck it, it's flammable,✦ my hunger✦ is unexplainable✦
Strike the match, just what I expected
The dread kid ejecting in seconds and here come two...
Opposite sexes,✦ one black, one Malaysian
We in the hallway✦ waiting patient
As soon as she hit the door, we start blasting
I saw her brains hit the floor, Ron laughing
I swear to God, I hit Maxi Priest at least twelve times✦ in the chest
Spinned around,✦ shot the chink in the breast
She crying, headshots put her to rest
Pop open✦ them briefcases, nothing✦ but Franklin faces✦
The spot's hot, sprinklers, alarm systems
That's when other✦ guests start to slip in, it's time for us to get to dipping✦
I know them niggas✦ in the Range is on they way up flipping✦
Pistol-gripping,✦ I load the clip in
The hallway✦ got real loud and crowded
They walked✦ right past us, I don't know how they allowed it
The funny✦ thing about✦ it, through all the excitement
Their Range got towed,✦ they double-parked by a hydrant
Stupid✦ motherfuckers (Hahahahahaha!)
Technical Breakdown
8.6
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres8.5
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm7.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity8.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.5
Performance and control
Computed Score8.56
Production
— Nashiem Myrick, Carlos "6 July" Broady, Puff Daddy, Stevie JBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Biggie utilizes a masterclass in narrative economy and internal rhyme density, turning a standard crime report into a cinematic, high-stakes character study that maintains rhythmic intensity through conversational vernacular.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
8.5
Wordplay
9.5
Delivery
Assonance-heavy multi-syllabic rhymingCinematic narrative pacingEnjambment-based rhythmic tensionColloquial character shorthand
Rhyme Architecture: Complex interwoven internal rhyme structures paired with aggressive end-rhymes (e.g., Ron/Tucson/Yukon, Spanish/Lavish/Carats/Bagged).
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"Heard it was sweet"
① The robbery target was perceived as easy or vulnerable.② The financial gain from the heist was perceived to be substantial/desirable.
"bagged with the toast"
① Arrested by law enforcement.② Caught in possession of a firearm (the toast).
"His peeps got bucked"
① His associates were shot or killed.② His associates were betrayed or 'thrown off' the plan by external forces.
Superior narrative clarity
Vivid character building through brief, precise details
Flawless pocket management during heavy multisyllabic sequences
Minimal reliance on abstract metaphor (though this serves the street-narrative style)
Strict adherence to realism slightly limits conceptual abstraction