Life After Death

Sky's the Limit

The Notorious B.I.G.

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

317

Internal

149

Multi

379

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Verse 1: The Notorious B.I.G.]

A nigga^✦ never^✦ been as broke as me, I like that

When I was young, I had two pair of Lees, besides that

The pinstripes and the gray

The one I wore on Mondays^✦ and Wednesdays^✦

While niggas^✦ flirt, I'm sewin'^✦ tigers^✦ on my shirts, and alligators

You wanna^✦ see the inside?^✦ Huh, I see ya later^✦

Here comes^✦ the drama^✦

"Oh, that's that nigga^✦ with the fake"

Blaow! "Why you punch me in my face?" Stay in your place

Play your position^✦ (Uh), here come my intuition^✦ (Uh-huh)^✦

Go in this nigga^✦ pocket,^✦ rob him while his friends watchin'

And hoes clockin', here comes^✦ respect

His crew's your crew, or they might be next

Look at they man eye, big man, they never^✦ try

So we rolled^✦ with 'em, stole with 'em

I mean loyalty, niggas^✦ bought me milks at lunch

The milks was chocolate, the cookies — butter^✦ crunch

'88 Oshkosh and blue and white dunks, pass the blunt

[Chorus: 112]

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can

(Gotta^✦ keep movin',^✦ gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Have what you want, be what you want

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can (Oh-ooh)^✦

Have what you want, be what you want

Have what you want, be what you want (Oh woah, oh yeah)

[Verse 2: The Notorious B.I.G.]

I was ashamed, my crew was lame

I had enough heart for most of 'em

Long as I got stuff from most of 'em

It's on, even^✦ when I was wrong, I got my point across^✦

They depicted me the boss, of course

My orange^✦ box-cutter make the world go round

Plus I'm fuckin',^✦ bitches ain't my homegirls now

Start stackin', dabbled in crack, gun packin'^✦

Nickname Medina,^✦ make the seniors tote my ninas^✦

From gym class to Inglés, pass off and global^✦

The only^✦ nigga^✦ with a mobile,^✦ can't you see like Total^✦

Gettin'^✦ larger^✦ in waists and tastes^✦

Ain't no tellin'^✦ where this felon^✦ is headin',^✦ just in case

Keep a shell at the tip of your melon,^✦ clear the space

Your brain was a terrible thing to waste

'88 on Gates,^✦ snatch initial name plates^✦

Smokin'^✦ spliffs with niggas,^✦ real-life beginner killers

Prayin' God forgive us for being sinners, help us out

[Chorus: 112]

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (Ooh baby)^✦

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can

(Gotta^✦ keep movin',^✦ gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Have what you want, be what you want

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (Ohh, gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can (Yeah, ooh)

Have what you want, be what you want (Woah ooh, yeah)

Have what you want, be what you want (Oh, woah, yes)

[Verse 3: The Notorious B.I.G.]

After^✦ realizin', to master^✦ enterprisin'

I ain't have to be in school by ten, I then

Begin^✦ to encounter with my counterparts

On how to burn the block apart^✦

Break it down into^✦ sections,^✦ drugs by the selections^✦

Some use pipes,^✦ others^✦ use injections^✦

Syringe sold separately, Frank the Deputy^✦

Quick to grab my Smith & Wesson^✦ like my dick was missin'^✦

To protect my position,^✦ my corner,^✦ my lair

While we out here, say the Hustler's Prayer:

"If the game shakes^✦ me or breaks me

I hope it makes^✦ me a better^✦ man, take a better^✦ stand"

Put money^✦ in my mom's hand

Get my daughter this college plan so she don't need no man

Stay far from timid, only^✦ make moves^✦ when your heart's in it

And live the phrase "Sky's the limit"^✦

Motherfucker, see you chumps on top

[Chorus: 112]

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (Oh oh)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can (Gotta^✦ keep movin'^✦ on)

Have what you want, be what you want (Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on, baby)^✦

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (Oh, oh, every^✦ day)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (We'll be alright)^✦

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can

(Keep on movin',^✦ keep on pressin'^✦ on)

Have what you want, be what you want

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can (Every^✦ day will be alright)^✦

Have what you want, be what you want (If you will, oh)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (Oh, gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can

Have what you want, be what you want

(Everything will be alright^✦ if you will keep on pressin'^✦ on)

(Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on (Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you can (Gotta^✦ keep pressin'^✦ on)

Have what you want, be what you want

Sky is the limit^✦ and you know that you keep on (Oh, woah, ooh)

Just keep on pressin'^✦ on

Technical Breakdown

8.4

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 / Rhythm8.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity5.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score8.36

Production

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Biggie employs a masterclass in narrative economy, using specific brand signifiers and childhood poverty anecdotes to build a compelling 'from nothing to something' origin story that anchors the track's aspirational theme.

9.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

8.5

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

7.5

Wordplay

Delivery

Narrative progressionInternal rhyme chainsConversational cadenceBrand-focused imagery

Rhyme Architecture: Highly sophisticated AABB and AAAA multisyllabic clusters embedded within long-form conversational sentences, typical of Biggie’s fluid 'conversational' delivery style.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"sewin' tigers on my shirts, and alligators"

① Literal act of sewing luxury designer logos (Kenzo/Lacoste) onto clothing to feign status.② Metaphorical representation of the hustle and the 'fake it till you make it' mentality of a youth craving social mobility.

"His crew's your crew, or they might be next"

① A tactical ultimatum given to a rival crew to join forces or suffer violence.② A reflection on the fragile nature of hierarchy in the streets where the 'next' up is always susceptible to the shifting power dynamics.

Unrivaled pocket placement

Relatable and vivid childhood nostalgia

Seamless integration of internal rhymes

Strong character development in a short span

Lower lexical density compared to more abstract rappers

Focus is primarily grounded in realism rather than complex abstract metaphors

Sky's the Limit

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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