Block of Biggie (Pt. 2): Classic Verse: Notorious B.I.G.‘s “What’s Beef?” (Video)

Today we're fittingly paying tribute to the legend that is Biggie Smalls in a big ass Block of Biggie, so it was only fitting that this week's classic verse belongs to Christoper Wallace and his epic, tragically prophetic "What's Beef?" There are about 3,117 classic Biggie verses to choose from, but "What's Beef?" has always been a personal favorite. I'll let you figure out what that says about me.

Lyrics are underneath the video.

"Ha ha ha ha ha, check out this bizarre
Rapper style used by me, the B.I.G. (b.i.g.)
I put my key you put your key in, money we'll be seein (c'mon)
Will reach the fuckin ceiling, check it (check it)
My Calico been cocked, this rap Alfred Hitchcock
Drop top notch playa hating won't stop (uhh)
This instant, rappers too persistant
Quick to spit Biggie name on shit
Make my name taste like ass when you speak it, (yeah)
See me in the street your jewelry you can keep it, (keep it)
That'll be our little secret, (shhh)
See me, B that is, I that is, G whiz
Motherfuckers still in my biz (c'mon)
Hope they know my nigga Gutter fuckin kidnip kids (thats right)
Fuck 'em in the ass, throw 'em over the bridge (aaah)
That's how it is, my shit is laid out (laid out)
Fuck that beef shit, that shit is played out (played out)
Y'all got to go, all I make is one phone call
All y'all disappear by tomorrow (tomorrow)
All your guns is borrowed, I don't feel sorrow (no sorrow)
Actually, your man passed the gat to me, now check this (talk to em)"

Um, yeah. That's why he's still the best. On a purely lyrical level this isn't necessarily Biggie at hist best, but as with all great rappers, their rhymes are a marriage of flow and lyrics, and here it's Biggie's delivery that really shines. He somehow manages to be be simultaneously menacing and harmonic, intimidatingly musical, a skill very, very few rappers have ever pulled off with such skill (and yes, Tupac was probably the best at this). If you're an aspiring rapper and you hear "Beef" and don't immediately memorize every word, sorry, you don't really love hip-hop. It really is that simple. R.I.P. B.I.G.