Complexity in Simplicty my friend. Only the best writers and authors can do this. It's about getting the most out of your words. Sorry but Big rhyming was far from "Elementary", it was actually very complex when you break it down. Even the 'Gingerbread man' does go over people's head because they don't realize he's making a reference to an Legendary 1875 fairtale called "The Gingerbread Man" and they don't even know what that story is about (im not saying you personally but it's just an example). Take these bars from "Realms of Junior Mafia":
My rhyme, somewhat
Shakespearean, blood I'm smearin' in
Tongue-kissin' my lawyer, at my hearin'
In this
day and age, my rap is like
the plague
I married this shyt, y'all nikkaz still engaged
On the surface you read that outloud and I'm sure you say it's simplistic or elementary. But because of Big's uses of entrandre's the rhyme is actually pretty complex. By saying his rhymes were "Shakespearen" he's obviously talking about Legendary playwrite William's Shakespear. But in the next two lines he makes a reference to "Day and Age" , "Blood i'm smearin" and "The Plague". He's talking about great London (England is Where Shakespear was born) Plaugue that hit only 50 short years after Shakespear death in 1665, the 'Day and Age' he's referencing both his own period and that time period.
The last line "I married this sh!t, ya'll still engaged' means Big is married to the game while other rappers aren't, and the previous line about "Tongue Kissing" obviously deals with marriage but it's also a reference to Shakespears legendary play 'Romeo and Juliet'. Again Complexity in Simplicty my friend. Big may have dropped out of high school but dude was very smart just like NaS is. It was reported he was an honor student before he dropped out. Ironcially Biggie's lyrics became very influencial so maybe he was right, his rhymes were Shakespearean, lol. For the record, Hov, NaS and Rakim are all Top 5 for me.
"Dumb rappers need teaching, Lesson A, Don't f*ck with B.I., that's that oh I thought he was wack but come, come now"
Thanks for the example...you actually taught me something....that breakdown was dope and something that I didn't think of...you maybe reaching a little bit but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt
However can all of his simple shyt be broken down like this
Also just for fun one of my favorite Nas verses below
Probably better than anything Big ever wrote
I'm the enigma, there is none harder, smarter
Martyr, Godfather, my interest, your departure
Pardon Dre this beat is a monster, catchy
Like sleeping under open windows that's drafty
Then waking up my throat scratchy, that's how I spit it nasty
They short, a few inches North of a dwarf
My flow's Murcielago, ghosting them narcos
Toast in the ways of the original Pablos
Still a pyramid architect, mix liquors like a chemist
Killer lyricist, poetical tyrant
Sneaker store terrorist, Mt. Everest I climbed it
Heat is drawn, no creeping on me whenever I'm bent
My mind spray, my nine spray
And freak styles like 3000 Andre
To keep piling, keep pushing them drops
Nas, runnin with hot Busta Bust, we don't stop
