Today marks 20 years since the release of The Notorious B.I.G.’s classic Life After Death. Released just two weeks after his untimely passing, Life After Death is a haunting portrait of one of the greatest MCs of all time. From the title to the many references of what Biggie felt would be his imminent death, it’s a chilling listen given his tragic fate. The album showcases everything that made Biggie so legendary: from his intricate storytelling, to his clever sense of humour and razor sharp bars. All this adds up to Life After Death living as the best double disk rap album ever recorded. To celebrate the iconic project and B.I.G.’s life, we decided to countdown 20 of the best lyrics from the project below.
Stay far from timid, only make moves when your heart’s in it
and live the phrase “sky’s the limit,”
– Sky’s The Limit
While Big is well known for his vivid street tales and raw lyricism, his music was also inspirational. ‘Sky’s The Limit’ embodies this to the fullest with the song’s closing giving listeners a mantra to live their life around. In just two bars he eloquently educates us to remain brave, follow our hearts and live without any limitations.
I spit phrases that’ll thrill you
You’re nobody til somebody kills you
– You’re Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)
Hearing this after Biggie’s death is simply haunting. Death tends to elevate iconic figures to a level of legend beyond anything else. B.I.G. was well aware of this and embodies it within these bars.
There Jason with his back to me
Talking to his faculty
I start to get a funny feeling
Put the make on in case his niggas start squealin’
Scream his name out: “Ay yo, playboy!” – squeezed six, nothin’ shorter
Nigga turned around holdin’ his daughter
– Somebody’s Gotta Die
This is one of the coldest and most chilling lyrics on the entire project. After setting the stage for his perfect revenge, this closes with a grim twist. The combination of vivid storytelling and disturbing finale illustrate B.I.G.’s ability to carefully play with the listeners emotions. I still get chills every time I hear this.
Y’all know who killed ’em filled ’em with the lugers from they Rugers
Or their Desert, dying ain’t the shit but it’s pleasant
Kinda quiet, watch my niggas bring the riot
Giving cats the opposite of diets
You gain thirty pounds when you die no lie, lazy eye
– My Downfall
This encapsulated Big’s obsession and fascination with death while also painting revenge in a way like never before. Biggie didn’t just say his crew would kill you, he did so in a way unlike any other. His creative knack for exploring the morbid is second to none. Giving cats the opposite of diets may be the most unique code for murder on wax.
His baby’s mother, she tripping, blaming me
And his older brothers understand the game it be
Kinda Topsy turvy; you win some, you lose some
Damn they lost a brother, they’re mother lost a son
– Miss U
The nonchalant use of the common expression “you win some, you lose some” coupled with the loss of a family member creates a riveting juxtaposition that makes this even more touching and cutting. It’s a portrait of the perils of street life from multiple perspectives amalgamated in such a tight package. It hits you quickly but takes time to digest.
Armed and dangerous
Ain’t too many can bang with us
Straight up weed; no angel dust
Label us “Notorious thug-ass niggas
That love to bust,” it’s strange to us
– Notorious Thugs
This one is less about the actual lyrics and more so about the delivery. Biggie’s swagger and presence are one of the many dimensions that helped to define him as a legend and there’s no better example than on the opening of ‘Notorious Thugs’.
Skip the wine and the candlelight, no Christal tonight,
If it’s alright with you, we fuckin (that’s cool)
– Fuck You Tonight
Part of what made Biggie so successful is the fact that he was able create hot R&B records while remaining raw. ‘Fuck You Tonight’ might be the best example of this in his catalog. Despite the pop-friendly, seductive beat and a guest feature from R. Kelly, B.I.G. keeps it gritty.
Number 3: never trust nobody
Your moms’ll set that ass up, properly gassed up
Hoodied and masked up, shit, for that fast buck
She be laying in the bushes to light that ass up
– Ten Crack Commandments
This whole track is ripe with quotables but this one has to be the most striking. In life generally there’s no one you can trust more than your own mother. Big flip’s this thinking to remind you that you can’t even trust your closest blood relations. The visuals created by the bars are both hilarious and vibrant. I mean, just picture your mom’s in the bushes hoodied and masked up.
Number 6: that goddamn credit? Dead it
You think a crackhead paying you back, shit forget it!
– Ten Crack Commandments
Another one of the ‘Ten Crack Commandments.’ It’s simple and straight to the point but you can’t help but smirk every time this comes through your speakers.
My nine flies, baptize, rap guys
With the Holy Ghost, I put holes in most
– Long Kiss Goodnight
The wordplay on this one is no joke. From using baptize as way to say he’s “wetting” rap guys is genius while the mention of the holy ghost ties things together with a spiritual bow.
“When the Remy’s in the system, ain’t no telling
Will I fuck him? Will I diss him?” That’s what these hoes yelling
I’m a pimp by blood, not relation
Y’all still chase em, I’ll replace em
– The World Is Filled
When most people hear this line, they think of Jay-Z’s smash ‘I Just Wanna Love U’ but that was actually Jay paying homage to B.I.G. Never forget it.
Ladies, my Mercedes
Hold 4 in the back, 2 if you’re fat.
– Nasty Boy
An example of BIG’s humour in its purest form. With B.I.G. being a large man himself and having a reputation for appreciating women of all sizes, it should be taken as him simply stating facts rather than trying to be disrespectful.
As I leave my competition, respirator style
Climb the ladder to success, escalator style
-You’re Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)
Plain and simple: B.I.G. killed all competition with ease.
Your reign at the top was short like leprechauns
as I crush so-called willies, thugs and rapper-dons
– Kick in the Door
Straight up calling out his rap peers, Biggie is addressing Nas who in ’94 dropped Illmatic in April which was toppled by Ready to Die a few months after.
Die for a dollar nigga, life ain’t sweet
Play for keeps wet shirts with experts on the creep
Our beef is my fiancé, about to marry it
Illegal transactions in Farragut with Arabics
– Last Day
Franky Baby just styling on rappers by rhyming multis on this one. He raps, “sweet” with “keeps” and “creep” while in the same bar rhyming “wet shirts” and “experts”. BIG repeats with the next two bars and doesn’t miss a beat.
Spit your game, talk your shit
grab your gat, call your clique
squeeze your clip, hit the right one
pass that weed, I got to light one
all them niggas, I got to fight one
all them hoes, I got to like one
our situation is a tight one
what you gon’ do: fight or run?
– Notorious Thugs
I know, I know – we already referenced this track for another quote but lets get serious for a second, how are we not supposed to pull this? These 8 bars are some of the most iconic bars from any rap song, and that’s saying a lot. You might not know all the lyrics to this joint but as soon as you hear this part you can bet everybody knows what Biggie is saying. I’ve personally belted this out in the whip whilst playing this song.
Her brain racin, she’s tellin me to stay patient
She don’t know I’m, cool as a fan
Gat in hand, I don’t wanna blast her man
But I can and I will though, I probably chill though
Even though situation lookin’ kinda ill yo
– I Got a Story To Tell
The man truly was as cool as fan. Not only is the wordplay on point but it demonstrates B.I.G.’s laid-back demeanor even in the face of crisis.
Since it’s on, I call my nigga Arizona Ron
From Tuscon, push the black Yukon
Usually had the slow grooves on, mostly rock the Isley
Stupid as a youngin, chose not the moves wisely
– Niggas Bleed
This is some of Big’s storytelling at best. Though this is one quote pulled from a song that offers a full three verses, this highlights just how descriptive he can be. Tell me you don’t picture a dude in a black SUV, bumping slow jams, smoking a cigarette and busting jokes that no man his age should be making. Ha!
It’s the N-O, TO-, R-I, O
U-S, you just, lay down, slow
– Going Back to Cali
The flow here is simply incredible. Every rapper has spelled his or her name on a track but Biggie does it flawlessly over the production here.
While I give your girl the eye, player please
lyrically, niggas see B-I-G be flossin’,
jig on the cover of fortune 5 double-0
here’s my phone number, your man ain’t got to know
– Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems
On one of the greatest tracks from one of the greatest to ever do it, Biggie finishes off his track with a banging verse. The Notorious effortlessly macks on your girl while bragging about his success. And while you were wondering where you girl was at, he slid her the digits and continued on.
That concludes our list of the 20 best quotes off Life After Death. Be sure to let us know if we missed any of your favourites and bump the album below and revel in its mastery.
Word by Colin & Kash.
