When it comes to the greatest lyricists in hip-hop, there simply is no comparison to The Notorious B.I.G. His multiple flows and verses were impeccable, and his punchlines were always of the highest caliber.
During hip-hop's golden age, political and community commentary reigned supreme over bragging about clothes, cars, and good-looking women. While Biggie Smalls was a commercial success who at times covered the latter, he never sold himself short, interweaving humor and light-hearted fun ("Big Poppa," "I Got a Story To Tell)" with introspection and depth ("Big Struggle," "Suicidal Thoughts") on both of his albums.
Here are 10 of my all-time favorite Biggie Smalls punchlines, all of which contain the makings of lyrical genius:
1. "Excuse me/Flows just grow through me/Like trees to branches/Cliffs to avalanches/It’s the praying mantis/Deep like the mind of Farrakhan/A motherf***in’ rap phenomenon." ["The What"]
2. "Because the streets is a short stop/Either you slingin’ crack rock or you got a wicked jump shot." ["Things Done Changed"]
3. "Ain’t no other kings in this rap thing, they sibling/Nothing but my chil'ren, one shot they disappearing." ["Kick in the Door"]
4. "I leave my competition, respirator style/Climb the ladder to success escalator style." ["You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)"]
5. "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." ["N****s Bleed"]
6. "F*** all that bickerin’ beef/I can hear sweat tricklin’ down your cheek/Your heartbeat sounds like Sasquatch feet/Thunderin’/Shaking the concrete.” ["Who Shot Ya"]
7. "Back in the days, our parents used to take care of us/Look at 'em now, they even f***ing scared of us" ["Things Done Changed"]
8. "Your girl fed my man Jacob/Heard in three weeks she sniffed a whole half a cake up/Heard she suck a good d and could hook a steak up.” ["Ten Crack Commandments"]
9. "B-I-G P-O P-P-A/No info for the DEA/Federal agents mad ’cause I’m flagrant/Tapped my cell and the phone in the basement.” ["Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems"]
10. "I know you sick of this/name-brand n**** with/Flows, girls say he’s sweet like licorice." ["Hypnotize"]
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
