Reviews (page 10 of 13)
Biggest draw of this important album was definitely Biggies flow and rhymin skills. Even without being an expert onRap Lyrics, one could notice that he had the ability to make everything sound like a mean bar. Asides from this though, the album was rather long and for me didn't have enough stand out songs to warrant more than a standard 3 stars
Pac better
We all know this is a classic. I don’t think the singles accurately reflect the sound of this record. Biggie tells of his experiences as a young criminal, and his life before getting rich. This record seems more as a precursor to drill rap, similar to Wu-Tang’s 36 Chambers. There are some great vulnerable moments on this record as well. The only thing keeping it from a higher score is the sheer size of this record. It clocks in at 1 hr 16min. Lots of skits throughout the record also made it age a bit badly in that regard. Overall, this is a must listen for any rap/hip hop fan
It was OK
I've heard Big Poppa but that's It, I'm excited to hear the rest This album is like watching a gangster movie and it's pretty interesting, funky After listening to it all, It has been a journey, My favorite is still Big Poppa
Steady, thought I'd enjoy it more but the majority isn't really my thing
I've heard Biggie come up often in the gym or around. There's so much of his music that is of the moment and a deeper piece that extends beyond the trappings of a particular time. An album with a legacy that is both a reflection of survival and a clear look at rebellion without the Hollywood mask--a different mask still.
I appreciated the music. I understood how influential this record was. I liked seeing or hearing some of today's icons in their earlier days. I found it sad that some of the realities he talks about are still true to this day. I thought Big Poppa, Respect and Everyday Struggle were strong tracks. All that said, couldn't really get into this album as a whole. And the skits went on for way too long.
The skits were too much, I liked a couple of the songs
I wasn't into B.I.G. when he was alive, aside from Hypnotize. Listening more closely, I can see why he was considered one of the all time greatest lyricists. Now that I'm older, I can't get into the more materialistic and misogynistic lyrics - BUT the vulnerability he shows in other songs is very revealing and compelling. The resentment towards his mother, the overwhelming sense of hopelessness leading to a life of risk and excess, and the suicidal compulsions all seem to be overlooked when people talk about him (at least from what I've read). Still not my favorite, but you can't deny his brilliance.
It's rap
Ready to Die The Notorious B.I.G. 3.7 4 Not entirely one's joint, but one likes the mix of East Coast attitude with West Coast vibes and the uniqueness of the voice, as well as the leanness and tightness of the overall mid-tempo mood. One can speak to the authenticity or the credibility of the tales of hustling and sexcapades.
Good beats. I'm not a fan of rap but if I was this would be nice. 2.5/5
The language and topics were too much, but if I could ignore that, I actually enjoyed the music.
Hailed as a classic although in my opinion Biggie was always an average rapper at the time before his early demise. Not saying it’s a bad album, just feel that a lot of other rappers around the time had a lot more to offer and get a feeling that his popularity arose more from his early death rather than being judged on his talent
Classic gang rap
BIG’s storytelling is fantastic
Good, general culture
listened to again there's some classics here, but the gratuitous content takes away from the music for me
I had to skip a couple of skits - nobody wants some of those sounds in their ears (if you know, you know). And I don’t know what makes artists like this different but their music is somehow more accessible. I liked, I enjoyed, but it won’t be going on a playlist anytime soon (also, could only listen to some of the songs on the Spotify).
good BIGGG
Dit album heeft geinige samples en relaxte beats, maar rap is niet zo mijn ding. Voor mij dus een hoge score van 3 sterren voor dit soort muziek. Top album! ***
I enjoyed this - yes some sketchy elements but as a lot of reviews say, a lot of head bobbing, and some great rhymes
Big Poppa and Juicy remind me that I sure am white.
I can't relate to most of the album, but I listened to it end-to-end. Not my thing, though I didn't dislike it. The lyrics are brutal, but maybe that's the point here.
I really like Biggie's flow, but I was not a fan of the lyrics. I can definitely see how influential this album was though.
Good album minus the story tracks. Dumbest shit ever especially when you have to picture his fat ass.
Another that came up for me before starting a group, here's what I said earlier: This is a difficult one for me. It's so often regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, and it's impossible to deny the influence and impact this record has. However no matter how many times I listen, something just doesn't click with me and I just feel underwhelmed. There are some good songs on here, and the closing track especially is so remarkable with its honesty and vulnerability, but the record as a whole just fails to resonate on the same level
Big Poppa is a classic and a couple of other catchy songs.
Better than I thought it might be at first, but it quickly became unlistenable. Who wants to hear other people having sex?
BIG is pretty incredible at what he does but what he does is pretty off-putting. 5 stars for style and flow, 1 star for the horrifying content. The last song of the album added a star but the audio of him getting a sloppy beej lost him a star.
Classic hip-hop, from one of the greatest, but not enough variety in sound and subject matter in my opinion. Also, the last track on the remaster, "just playing (dreams)", is so sexist and misogynistic it meant the album finished on a very sour note
Such a monumental album. I just feel opposed to the themes and tone.
The meanest, cleanest penis. Looses steam after Big Poppa. Forgot how dark this album gets.
This is a tough one. I am not a big rap person so the album isnt super appealing to me. Plus the whole gansta rap aesthetic is just nothing I relate to and this album is full of it. I dont think some of the lyrics have aged well and misogyny is pretty bad. Nonetheless the album is super influential and some of the beats are good. Happy to have crossed this off the list but I probably wont be returning to it again.
Skits were terrible, songs in general okay.
A bit rude!
Most of the songs are okay.. But songs like Juicy and Big Poppa bump it up a lot.
I liked the rap style, beats and production but as usual, I dislike rap lyrics.
This is a difficult one for me. It's so often regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, and it's impossible to deny the influence and impact this record has. However no matter how many times I listen, something just doesn't click with me and I just feel underwhelmed. There are some good songs on here, and the closing track especially is so remarkable with its honesty and vulnerability, but the record as a whole just fails to resonate on the same level
Hip hop en toda regla. Ritmos tranquilos, buenas bases, letras callejeras. Para amantes del género
Nice, 6,5 points, not my preferences, but enjoyable and fun listening
Influential record but much yikes, this did not age well at all.
Interesting. A bit too aggressive on the profanity for my taste. "One More Chance" is a crazy song...
Not really a huge rap fan but I can see why this was so influential.
Gangsta rap isn't generally my thing, but this was mostly a fun listen! The production was great, and the flows smooth. Deducting a star because the misogyny really started to grate as the album went on. Fave track - "Intro" - I really liked all that story telling compressed into 3 and a half minutes - I coulda gone for a lot more of that...
Might be blasphemy, but as good as BIG is he's slightly overrated due to his tragic death. Still he has a style all of his own and it's still a good album with great beats.
xx
Better than most of the East Coast rap I've heard (Wu-Tang etc.). Biggie's flows are great, though the subject matter is ridiculously repetitive once you get past the shock factor.
Rap. Lot's of swearing, haha. Not bad. Liked a few songs
Yttligare ett stereotypiskt tidigt rapalbum. När jag hör artisten sjunga om alla dessa narcisitiska idéer om sig själv hör jag bara hans patetiska strävan att bevisa sig själv. Och det instrumentala var ungefär lika givande som vilket annat tidigt hip hop-album som helst. Albumet hade ett antal märkvärdigare instrumentala kompletteringar. Bland annat stack låten Warning ut. Under den låten var det instrumentala banalt men extremt effektivt.
This is the debut album from the rapper Notorious B.I.G., and his only album released during his lifetime - because he was murdered just before his second album dropped. This album was popular and successful at release, and is now certified 6 times platinum. The music was simply head-bobbing bass beats that allowed B.I.G. to eloquently rap over them. His lyrics are easy to follow and can tell a great story, but the skills of quick bars and great rhymes are still apparent. Overall, this may be one of the greatest rap albums of the past decades and everyone should give it a listen!
I did not hate it. I can understand why people like his music - he has good flow. I didn't pay much attention to the actual lyrics though
A classic gangster rap album. I like the beats but some of the lyrics are yikes
I've never heard Notorious BIG before, he's an undeniable talent but this overly long album lacks variety and it's not long before fatigue sets in. Would have been ⭐⭐⭐⭐ if it was shorter.
Biggie gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️ it’s all pretty decent but gets dull quick and suffers for its length
La supposée série dorée m'attendant ce lundi matin à mon bureau tourne ne eau de boudin. En effet, je me reveillais ce matin avec la perspective de pouvoir enchaîner les 4/5, voir même peut-etre de pouvoir atribuer la note suprême, grâce à un enchainement Pink Floyd - Notorious Big - Bruce Springsteen - Michael Jackson - The Beatles. Pour l'instant c'est une catastrophe, d'autant plus que mon derneir commentaire sur l'album de merde des Pink Floyd a entraîné des poursuites judiciaires à mon encontre, sous l'impulsion d'un dénommé "R. Teillère". Je ne sais pas qui est ce petit connard mais j'espère le retrouver rapidement.
This is a rough album but still alright. 4RS
Ah, Mr BIG. I listened to some of his albums a long time ago when I was trying to catch up on rap that I missed and I wasn't a huge fan. Listening to it again, I still am not a big fan. There were some good ones one here like Ready to Die, Me and my Bitch and Big Papa but I'm just not a big fan of this big man. I don't doubt this album belongs on this list, and I recognize the significance but there is so much rap and hip hop that I enjoy far more than this notorious rapper.
A staple in "classic" hip hop album discussions. I've never been a big fan of Biggie; he was an undeniably talented rapper, but there didn't seem to be a great deal of variety to his style or substance. Plenty of excellent songs on this album, great beats and flows, but given the length it doesn't remain too exciting. I can co-sign the classic status, though I have to say that the sex skits are frankly unbearable. One of the worst habits of '90s rappers is sex skits--nobody wants to hear that. That alone prevents this from being perfect or anything close to it. I can recognize the greatness of this album, but it doesn't call to me as much as many others do. Favorite tracks: Gimme the Loot, The What, Big Poppa, Who Shot Ya, One More Chance. Album art: Another iconic cover. I don't think I know any other Biggie covers. But this surely inspired a lot of other baby picture covers for hip hop (and hip hop adjacent) albums. Looking at you, Lil Wayne. 3.5/5
YO! C'mon!
Den Namen kennt man. Aber ich habe ihn nie bewusst gehört. Klare Aussprache. Krasse Leistung für das Alter.
There's a lot of great stuff in here, but jesus, if I gotta hear one more time about Biggie bustin' a nut... I mean, I don't really need to hear about that shit from anybody. Songs about how many "bitches" you "bust a nut" in are automatic zeroes for me.
The comedy sex bits are a bit tiresome, but the actual tracks are a great listen. This passed me by first time around, glad I got to hear it via albumsgenerator.
3.75
I've never listened to this. But I've seen the cover so many times. I remember seeing it around during high school. One thing I really love about rap records is how everything bleeds from one track to the next. That's really cool. The mixing process must be so great for these records. Regarding the intro, I don't really know what's happening there. Must be a concept thing. Is it his life before the record? I don't know, but when that first sample starts on "Things Done Changed" I'm hooked. I can't really evaluate the quality but this seems like a certainty on the 1001 list. I liked it more than I thought I would.
Intro is interesting. In fact this whole album is something.
great flow, terrible content
Alex: supa, 7/10.
I think this is a pretty good album; has some nostalgic value for me because I was listening to some of these songs in high school. Still really like "Big Poppa" and a few others. Not sure that the album is aging super well overall though.
Don't love the dramatizations and skits throughout. Particularly at the beginning -wish it just went straight into the music. I really like "Juicy" alot but the album is CD-era bloated. I also don't love Puff Daddy's weak backup vocals throughout. Can't ignore the misogyny and the graphic sex stuff is a pretty big turn off. I like his voice alot and I like the beats/samples but as an album it doesn't gel for me.
The beats and flow are great, but lyrics and themes are gross gansta rap that I can't get behind too much. If it had a bit more lyrical depth I'd be more into it.
Great hip hop album. The start is better than the end! Won’t be for everyone and there are thousands of hip hop albums better than this! But it is pretty bloody good!
Wat dis? It's not in my bag, but fair play to him.
Honestly the beginning of this album was great and got into some very important discussions. Then it became very violent. Great sound and rhythms though
Some great songs, class backing tracks. Too many sex noises
Pretty decent and could get into it with a few more listens
When listening to albums like this I think to myself, am I enjoying this song or am I liking it because of the samples being used. Would I rather listen to the song the sample came from? Yes. Does that mean I'm not enjoying this song? Kinda. As hippity hoppity albums go, I can see why this is regarded so well. Just not my thing
cool vibes. if you don't know now you know. feels repetitive rhythm-wise over the album, but listening to it in one sitting becomes all the more pleasant. very autobiographic. not my favourite music genre though
ganz ok
Meh. I don't get the hype, hooks are THAT good and the lyrics aren't THAT profound.
Great.
It’s ok. Probably needs more attention than I could give it to be honest. I will go back though.
3/5 good..ish one but too bitch-y
Interesting albumn, not really my thing.
Serieus, wat is dat toch met die seksgeluiden op albums? voor de rest is het een goed album.
Het is wel leuk maar ik merk niet zo veel verschil met vergelijkbare artiesten
Too many songs about bitches, skits are shit, but when its being serious it's not that bad
Fine for what it is
Maybe if you lived in a 'hood in the mid90s NYC this is a masterpiece, who knows...
Okay, 2,7
Good sound, a lot of foul words.
It was good, a bit graphic and monotonous but that is just hip hop. He’s got flow.
Pretty rappy. He's in Tamy's shocks :)
Not my style of music
I appreciate his significance and cultural relevance but I just didn't connect with this album in any way.
Genius intro track perfectly setting up the journey of the album. Expert use of samples for effect and to connect different tracks. And Hamilton influences everywhere. Lyrically, there’s a lot of misogyny and homophobia to unpack throughout, which I don’t care for at all. Biggie gave us a STORY in this album. It’s an interesting listening experience with a tragic ending.
Solid album. I liked the storytelling aspect of it. It is a clear product of it time though. It was interesting to see how many modern day references are made in relation to this album.
Not my type of music
The album aged mostly well, the interludes are corny and cringe now but they kinda were then too. Mostly reminds me of college parties, I wasn’t exactly the target audience of this one.
Very funky and cool flow, just not my kinda rap. Definitely more like 7.2/10 than 3/5 though. Wouldn't complain if it was playing, but wouldn't seek it out
Production: 13/20 Songwriting: 12/20 Innovation: 10/20 Bangers: 10/20 Emotional response: 12/20 =57 Yeah not bad
can hear how influential this has been on the whole rap scene for better or worse.. raisea alot of moral questions regarding lyrical content. want to give it less but that would be somewhat disingenuous
good album. first few songs I loved but the rest were okay.
думал посчитать сколько раз будет "нигга".. у меня нигга оверфлоу
Not for me
gillade detta. vill ge en fyra men det är för långt och för mycket mellansnack.
Solid.
This is hard to evaluate. I cannot relate to the subject matter, and the content was indeed extremely heavy. At times I was overwhelmed, but I think that this was incredibly well-done and told a story. Plus, the beats and the vocals (sometimes) were excellent. 3.5?
1994. Key Songs: Big Poppa, Juicy
Look, there are some rap albums that stand out as excellent critiques of the state of society of the day over masterful flow; aka great rap albums. This isn't that. It's frequently misogynistic and violent braggadocio delivered with admittedly masterful flow and excellent sampling. And excellent musical bones do not a great rap album make, especially when the lyrics are this gross. I mean, the literal interlude of moaning in the middle of the album kind of gives away that it's not very good. Also, in what world is an 80-minute album really going to hold my interest when its content is this lacking. So in the end, this album did not age well at all despite its reputation among rap fans. It's worth listening to once, but I will never listen to it again.
That’s what this album sounds like? Yeesh
I'm sorry I can't
I thought I was going to like this one more than I did. There are two decent/good songs on here: Big Poppa and Respect. The others were just meh.
Album #105: Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G. Genre (W): East Coast hip-hop Singles: Juicy, Big Poppa / Warning, One More Chance I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: Disclaimer: I’m trying my best to separate the art from the artist, case in point, Diddy. This review may be biased as a result, but I will do my best to keep a levelheaded perspective. I think Biggie is a talented rapper. His ability to craft internal rhymes and tell stories is something pretty amazing. The aggression and misogyny is appalling and it repulses me, but, ironically, I think that’s the appeal of it. I’m gonna study this further. Another thing I enjoy are the beats by Easy Mo Bee. I think “Juicy” has the greatest hip hop songwriting ever too! Honestly, “Suicidal Thoughts” is such a heavy song. Wow. Favorite songs: Gimme the Loot*, Warning*, Ready to Die-*, Juicy-*, Respect-*, Suicidal Thoughts*
one of the better rap albums, but I still have my problems with it. Some of it does just come down to not being a big fan of rap in general, just not my thing
la verdad solo escuche los primeros dos temas pero parece estar bueno. Prometo escucharlo en un futuro y veo si se puede cambiar la reseña
A definite classic but too crude for me I guess. Call me a prude idk.
I literally just said I needed to listen to a full Biggie album the other day, and voila-this popped up! While there are some essential hits on this album, there is waaaay too much damn talking! Interludes, scripted endings and intermissions, and too many gunshots and pagers. Yes. I’m old now. I just wanna hear the music. Songs are good. Rapping is gold. Lyrics are thought provoking. It’s all ruined by the flow (or interruption of that) by the useless scripted talking. Listen again: probably, just skipping a lot Purchase for my collection: Nah, unless it’s thrifted. Favourite Song: Warning. Even with the pagers haha
Nope
Entiendo por qué a alguien le gustaría pero a mi no
Too many skits. Juicy and Everyday Struggle good. Other than that, nah
I just don't like rap very much
Ready to Die is probably an important album in hip-hop history, but it never really connected with me. It’s not an album I see myself returning to.
it was ok, pretty much understood some cultural pop references
I can hear he 's got the flow, but that doesn"t speak to me much
Aggression, homophobia, and misogyny. Musically engaging but not a great message to be blasting out. 2/5
eh not rly my taste
This album definitely had a tangible impact on influencing the later sounds of hip hop 90s and modern hip hop. The beats and rhythms of this album are incredible in some places, however unfortunately this is overshadowed by the blatant misogyny and derogatory acts towards women. Of course, across a wide range of genres and especially in hip hop this is has been the norm and unfortunately still is, however just because it was more accepted or unchallenged at the time doesn’t mean that we should ignore it or try to challenge it nowadays, and if we wish to see change in the way music and the music industry deals with women we should be more critical of lyrical context. An honourable mention is ‘things done changed’ because I liked the beat, it’s just sad hearing such normalised misogyny.
Listening to this album and there's no surprise how biggie died
A gangbanger's poetry, simple-minded thinking all about robbing, killing, stealing, and defending against his enemies, all in poetry with background music, vulgar and attractive to vulgar people
When will there be a full critical evaluation of the full social ramifications of late 80s-mid 90s gangter rap? Was the music just a symptom of society -- or do the music executives who got rich by greenlighting the artists eventually have to reckon with their effects?
Not my type but its okay
Some pretty silly lyrics in here, it was a decent listen but not one im likely to revisit
Just a bit dull. Couldn’t enjoy it despite trying.
what a tedious listen overall for something punctuated by such good hits
Another rap album. It's not my thing but at least I can understand what he/they are saying. Same old gangsta rap lyricus about guns, shooting people and fucking bitches gets old.
Look up the Thomas the Tank Engine mashups of this, those go a lot harder.
A good listen at times and would be higher if not for a lot of the uncomfortable misogynistic lyrics. I acknowledge his influence, but I'll probably not return to this one any time soon.
Hmmm
straight men are so gay theyd suck their on dicks if they could two hit wonder
Wow, yesterday MissE, today Notorious... It really takes the fun out of this project. Musically, both are still somewhat tolerable, but I feel deep pity for the people behind them and their extremely limited worldview. Because of that, the lyrics are just repulsive, but I feel so sorry for this guy with his completely messed-up life that I’m still giving it 1.5 stars.
Finns bra inslag, men överlag för töntigt. "Fuck Me (Interlude)" ett lågvattenmärke.
Not for me
idk. i just can't with 1990-205 rap and hip hop
Song after song about how powerful your gun makes you and how little you value the lives of others…willing to kill people for not looking at you right or for having something you want. I thought the misogyny common in this genre was off putting? The violence worship comes off worse. But don’t worry, this album turns to misogyny about 4 songs in. The music might be interesting, the lyrical styling and phrasing impressive, but the content says nothing to me and is simply bullshit. Looking at his life, perhaps there is a moral here. Plus 1 for the creativity. 2/5
Apparently he was quite the condom filler.
Didn't float my boat.
- he does not seem like a very nice person :( - I didn’t vibe with this very much - probably won’t listen through again
Another day, another simulated sex interlude. Highlights: "Gimme the Loot", "Juicy", "Everyday Struggle"
It's well known that this was the only album the artist released during his life, as he was killed just days before releasing his second effort. Unfortunately, it's not a very enjoyable rap album. While his flows are strong, and he has obvious storytelling abilities, he just stays in one mode for the bulk of the album. Even more damningly, that mode is "brag about shooting people and committing violent crimes", which does not make for an enjoyable listen. While I understand(or think I understand as much as I can, being a white teenager from suburban Florida) where it all comes from, I just don't want to hear it. That, ultimately, ruins the album for me, alongside the tedious length. It just gets boring after a while, and it wasn't great to begin with, so it gets a 2.
Two stars, all on the back of a single aong. The rest had nothing to offer me.
4/10 Musically, this album could push towards a 7 or 8, but the rancid nature of some of the lyrics really leaves a sour taste
I like some Biggie, but not all Biggie. This album is really hit and miss for me. Not to mention that lyrically, it's not aged super well. It's pretty misogynistic and the sexualized content is pretty gross. Plus, I really don't like skits, and I really don't like how many skits are on this album. I get that skits are done to make an album feel like an audio "movie" or act as a palette cleanser between songs. They give people a glimpse of the rapper's life and environment outside of lyrics and beats. Sort of a chance to show their personality and sense of humor. So I can get why skits exist but I also just don't like them. 2.5 rounded down
I'm rap curious, I'd say, at best. I don't think I am an authority on rap. I like what I like. This record feels lazy to me but maybe that's the point, I don't know. Anyway, I'm learning to save my 1's for Kid Rock tier garbage. BIG isn't on that tier but I just simply don't care for it, don't find it compelling.
Oh sh*t, here we go again…. Violence, misogyny, excessive vulgarity once again ruins an otherwise great album. Just 3 days ago, I had to listen to NWA’s Straight Outta Compton. I loved it, except for everything listed above. Same thing here. Only this time, I won’t put myself through it all the way through. I liked NWA enough to suffer, but not Biggie, sorry. I read the reviews and can safely say I’m surprised at how well this was received and lauded for the lyrical content. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Bob Dylan and other great songwriters. I don’t get it. 2 stars.
5/10 - Biggie is one hip-hops greatest talents. His voice is iconic, his flow is effortless and smooth, his ability to change his flow is unmatched. His sampling is excellent. His rhyming and his ability to play off words is genius. He would be on my personal Mt. Rushmore of rappers based off of ability alone. That being said, this album has not aged well. The skits detract from the album, its run time is too long, and the mysoginy/homophobia/violence doesn’t further a story or morale (think GKMC). There are some hits here, but too much of the album is unpalatable. I would save a handful of songs and not come back.
The hip hop is not know from me, but the album sound great
Some head nodding here. Some head shaking at some of the lyrics. Poor women. They've had it so bad in hip hop. It's hard to just shake it off and carry on nodding my head.
Another gangsta album from Biggy
It has a lot of personality. I already knew some of the songs, but none of them made me want to save them to listen to later. Personally, I didn’t like it that much. 4/10.
Some good tracks, but a lot of filler. Would be better for being half the length. And lyrically, not my cup of tea at all.
It’s not for me but I do quite like his voice/rhythm… some of it is great and some of it is unlistenable
Good enough album, too long maybe? Two stars.
I hate rap skits so much. Like it becomes impossible for me to tell if the album is actually good or not. Overall I did think this was really thematically and musically repetitive.
Gross and forgettable.
I agree to a lot of the existing reviews I read. This album didn’t age well and while I can still acknowledge Biggies legacy I found the lyrics very disturbing. Also in 2026 I can’t ignore his close relationship to Diddy which leaves at least a weird feeling. I stick to my rap queens of this time Lil Kim, Queen Latifah, Foxy Brown, Missy Elliott….
Some of the tracks are OK, but overall not something I would listen to again.
There’s a lot here that passes me by. And then there are a few tracks like Juicy, which are fantastic. Overall, it feels so bloated at 76 minutes long though.
Nn
It’s angry and raw but stylistically unimpressive
My usual gangsta rap review: love the beats and flow but can't get past the language and violence, which I know is not meant for me.
The beats are ok on this, pretty much what I'd expect - they roll along nicely. But do I really need to know that he had the "cleanest, meanest penis"? It's pretty laughable that the only thing I heard that they censored was where he said that he'd kill a pregnant woman and they censor the word "pregnant". Woah, step too far there boys. Wouldn't want to be too unpleasant. Also, who ever told Diddy that he could rap, he's so bad. When Method Man comes along, he's a cut above. Even if it still is gun loving nonsense. Skits are, as always, painfully embarrassing. And it's so long. Oo-er missus.
the misogyny really got to me. this lyrically doesn’t age well. beats and samples are cool, but i would not revisit this as a whole album.
Good flow and beats, but the lyrics make me cringe. The misogyny and sex is very hard to listen to.
Not too sure.
Hadn’t listened to it ever, P diddy on the tracks made me cringe, gangsta lyrics…Juicy was the only banger on effort
Plus 1 star for Good Times sample
I do not like gangster rap.
Gangsta' rap is not a genre I have any interest in. Not a fan of the non-stop cursing (it should be seasoning, not the main dish), slurs, misogyny, glorifying of violence, braggadocious machismo ('affectation' is a word that comes to mind). I appreciate a few of these tracks,"Everyday Struggle" and "Things Done Changed" for example, but not enough to listen to them for enjoyment. This just isn't for me and that's ok.
Another long album of my least favorite music, yayyyyy. This album was trying to tell a story I think, but there wasn't much to it. The interlude made me feel uncomfortable and I just wanted this album to be over as fast as possible. No matter how much this generator makes me listen to this genre, I will never like it. Every time the music dropped and there was some kind of talking it just made me want to stop listening more and more.
This one is tough because I feel it has a lot of ups and downs. Overall I could see myself listening to some of the tracks again and coming back to this project.
1. Intro: Okay wow, this is cool, this is so interesting, i kind of dig it. 2. Really catchy, but once again, maybe not really my thing. The first album if have to read the lyrics along with listening to the song. The lyrics are interesting. 3. UGGGH IM SORRYYYY, it started off good but i get bored easily SUE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. All the songs just sound the same I DONT KNOWWWWWWWWW. Gangsta rap just isn't my thing either. 4. Just not a very discernible melody I KNOWWWWW THAT'S THE GENRE IM NOT SAYING IT'S WRONG, it really just doesn't reach me. 5. Yeah every single song sounds exactly the same just with different lyrics. Sorry. Gets a 2 for the cool intro.
So does it biggie’s rapping flow? Yes. Is this tough to listen to also yes. Some of the over top sec stuff is just juvenile and misogynistic. I’d call this just ok. I like some hip hop but this isn’t really it for me. “Big poppa” is my fave.
Escuche solo algunos, me falta el disco completo
Some catchy tunes, and he’s a really talented rapper. But I just couldn’t get past all the terrible skits and misogyny.
Every song sounds the same. Good flow, production and beats, but god the lyrics are horrible to listen to. This whole album is a relic of its time, and I don’t think it translates well 30 years later, unless it gives a sense of nostalgia to the listener. Really just wanted it to be over after about 20 minutes. 2/5
I really respect his delivery and a lot of the beats but ultimately it’s not for me.
Not my thing
Jeugdherinneringen, maar niet mijn ding
its giving hamilton - IT INSPIRED HAMILTON I WAS RIGHT
that interlude was...quite interesting... But I lowkey kinda vibed to this album (not sure why is everything is blocked from listening to though) So far, juicy is my favourite, but that might just be because there's a direct reference to it in Hamilton. Overall, I don't think this album was for me. I liked some of the songs and the beats were kind of a vibe, but it's probably something I wouldn't listen to again
Close to a 3 but some of the interlude-ish bits dropped it
the lyrics and the sex cmon
Not my style
The thing about this project is that you’ll be going through the worst phase of your life and you’ll still have to listen to shit like this. (I’m kind of joking, I know this is optional and self-imposed torture.)
I like the flow on this album. The beats are undoubtedly catchy, but I just felt lyrically it was a bit lacking. There are just some lines that really didn't age well. I could look past that, perhaps, but then we get into the skits. I just do NOT like the skits in any of these old school rap albums. I still think there were good aspects to this album. It's just not one I can picture myself ever coming back to.
Ok groove and enjoyed the samples. Rapping was good but the lyrics were... well I could not relate to them. Also I think the album was too long. Best song was Suicidal Thoughts.
Even Biggie’s accomplishment can’t save this collection of 90s rap and sex skits.
Du rap
Fun times. Don’t know if I ever listened all the way thru. Btw don’t listen with your daughters in the car. Yikes. As mentioned by everyone else, Lyrics and “sounds” don’t hold up to today’s standards of respect.
Not really a rap fan. This was just ok for me.
“I got the cleanest, meanest, penis”. Actually made me laugh. This honestly felt like an album glorifying this man’s dick.
Who cares? It's not interesting. Over an hour of music with 2 decent songs.
Not a hip-hop buff, but worth the listen. I found it pretty repetitive (especially lyrically). I guess this may have been pretty provocative, but I found it kind of boring.
It was lowkey a bop but honestly I can't even believe I listened to this, basically just about shooting people down on top of some ridiculously uncomfortable theming that had me turning it off midway through
would have liked this album much more if the lyrics weren't so offensive. many songs in this album made me feel sick to my stomach. ignoring all the lyrics, the instrumentals and beat was good, but because of how offensive this is, I cant give it higher than a 2. 3/10
Interesting lyrics and music. Hard to get past the mysoginism.
His voice is good, his flow is good but as a non American this is so off my social understanding, I enjoy hip hop but don’t get the gangsta rap side of things, and I just wanted to skip tracks ( I didn’t as l am trying to do this list completely). But the ego big man shit wore thin after about 1 and a half tracks. And it takes on a whole darker tone and meaning with the P- diddy allegations. I have now heard a whole album of biggie instead of just hearing of him, musically I couldn’t get around the content, not in any way prudish but it just came over as grim, shitty and nasty, sorry but it was a stretch 2 Star cause he has talent and influencial but I a don't have hood fantasy so not my thing unfortunately.
It pumps you up, but emotionally it doesn’t always go anywhere new. After a while it starts to feel the same on repeat. Respect it, not emotionally attached.
I get nothing from lyrics but I suspect a bit of misoginy
Cooooool!
I’m definitely not the target demographic for this album, but it just wasn’t for me. Can appreciate it as a classic for rap music, but I would not revisit. The famous songs are great and famous for a reason, otherwise very bloated album with unnecessary interludes. Top Songs: Big Poppa, Juicy, Respect, Just Playing (Dreams)
Respect to the art and the genre! Diddy producing this makes me feel icky about the sex and blowjob interludes.
Man, if I want to be yelled at I’ll call my ex.
I can appreciate that this is a landmark record, but it's lacking musically. A hooky chorus would have been nice; even Juicy's isn't great. Some great story telling despite all the sexual objectification.
Musically good, awful skits and lyrics
not for me
eu já gostei mais de big, mas acho que nunca tinha escutado o álbum completo, só músicas soltas. entendo a importância do álbum pra cena, mas acho que não sou o público alvo.
I can recognize the impact of this. I feel like he would’ve been a fan of Doechii today. That said, it’s not for me. My favorite track was Juicy, and the back half of the album was more interesting to me than the front.
Just not my cup of tea. I’m sure it’s someone’s.
Niet voor mij
Too much rated
Voor mij veel te grof en heftig. Snap dat dit echt een ding kan zijn. Maar niet voor mij. Al zijn sommige beats wel vet.
The hits are fun, but rest of the album was meh
I liked the sampling but there was very little else I liked about this album. I only managed one listen and didn't feel inclined to listen too closely to the lyrics. Macho and quite possibly misogynistic. Musically this is not my thing at all but if it's made it to this list perhaps it is a very good example of this type of stuff.
not that bad
Muy sin mas, tiene canciones chulas y concoidas, pero que una cancion sola sea una escena de sexo no me incita mucho la verdad. Alguna se salva, pero no tiene pinta de ser el album que escucharia completo otra vez
Je trippe pas trop, ça sonne quand même cool, mais that's it.
this is on me because i go to music for the instrumentals more than the lyrics which is way less of the focus here. big poppa still hits tho
Like the fact there is a story line, but this is still not to my taste.
Ok. Not my thing
An accessible East Coast debut. Decent story-telling, but I found the beats repetitive and I don't feel that it was breaking new ground considering Dre's The Chronic and Wu Tang's 36 Chambers preceded this.
not my vibe.
The definitive collection of East Coast Gansta Rap cliches.
GOING IN: No strong feelings LISTENED WHILE: While working FAMILIARITY: Know the artist, not the album SKIP RATE: Played it straight through REPLAY VALUE: Once was plenty DISCOVERY CURVE: Still waiting ALBUM ARC: Solid all the way VERDICT: Fair enough BODY'S VERDICT: Toe tapping situation FAVOURITE TRACK: -- My Rating: 2 APPRECIATE: Beats. The brutal honesty and vulnerability of his lyrics about gang life and growing up poor. Some lyrics I applaud, and the way he delivered them was another level. PROBLEMATIC: The graphic depictions of violence, drug dealing, and casual misogyny. Sean Combs.
Ugh
He has a smooth style, but too repetitive and lyrically limited for my enjoyment.
OK, got the message: you're a tough guy and gots bitches. Anything else? Not really. I can empathize with the tragic life story, and there's some talent but this just feels like the same message over and over. This is rage and fear and misogyny and uncomfortable. Big Poppa wasn't bad and made me hopeful that the album was taking a turn for the better, and it was followed by Respect which was different and interesting... until the gratuitous ending when the album descended back into the original message.
I'm ready to die too, Biggie.
Overall Rating - 2.30/5 (4.61/10). One of the things I rate on, in genera that I don't usually listen to, is "How relatable or accessible is the album?" Much of this album is not relatable, but the tracks that are are superb. Biggie has taken the time and effort to master his craft, and I respect that.
There’s one or two good songs here. I feel like it’s massively overhyped. Also, we get it, he gets laid, no need to make a porno in between several songs.
Andre 3000 says the art of storytelling is to tell it like it is, then tell it how it could be. Biggie and his beats producer do a bang-up job at telling it how it is, but they don't never tell it how it could be which means this album is dinged down. Also, the interludes are terrible and the album is too long. Now we are down to a 2.5 and might as well round down at this point.
This was pretty timely. I just finished a book that mentioned him. Not my thing though. Seems to have a pretty limited vocabulary
Not my cup of tea at all, but I can see how it's lauded by fans of the genre...
Seems the hip hop albums always hit me back to back. I had a stretch of like 2 weeks in the summer where every other album was a hip hop album and now this is the third hip hop album I've had in the past week. For the first half of Ready to Die, I was actually enjoying it a lot more than expected. Still full of tired gangsta rap tropes I can't stand and can't relate to (questionable views on women, violence, overuse of the n-word, absolutely terrible interludes, etc.), but it sure is smooth and the Notorious BIG was a great rapper. Unfortunately, it really wore out its welcome for me. By the time "Me and My Bitch" came on I was so tired of this album and I just wanted it to end.
Gangster rap is not for me.
Hackneyed
A lot of swearing doesn't make a good album unless you are 12. While done of the beats are good the rapping is just ok. Maybe gangsta rap isn't my thing but no idea why this is considered a classic.
I know this is listed as one of the top 100 albums of all time, but just not for me. The rhyming is good, as are the beats but I just can't get past the misogyny, violence and general vulgarity.
2.5 stars. I would easily give it three if it wasn’t for those horrible skits in between, the pornography really affected the flow of the music and his flow is great as were his samples and beats.
Not a big rap fan anyway, I see why this is popular and I like the beats but all the talk of drugs bitches and guns it’s just not for me. I don’t want to hear a coerced sloppy beej on an album. Big Poppa do be a jam though.
The beats and flow are really good and album's production is also great. The lyrics, however is very dated and revolves around violence, misogyny, drugs, it's horrible to listen to it especially as a woman. I give this two stars for the music itself, but if I consider the lyrics this really should get only one star.
I want it to be that I don't like hip-hop, but as great as the catchy pop tunes are, the misogyny, the lack of humanity and baloney sandwich rags-to-riches stuff is a bore. "aspirational" hip hop I've been told is the term, but yawn.
Meh. I don't know. Something about this. I really didn't care for it.
Day 5: Best tracks: Everyday Struggle, Big Poppa, Juicy, Suicidal Thoughts A few permanent skips for me (One More Chance, Fuck Me (Interlude), Respect). The skits are beyond intrusive. Biggie had flow, but Diddy's vocals in the background appear on too many tracks for me to give anything greater than a 5/10.
Really hated the skits in this. I usually tolerate them in rap albums but I skipped or fast forwarded through most of the ones on this album.
Una vez más, como casi siempre me pasa con los álbums de rap de la vieja escuela: Los beats me aburren. No considero que suene mal, o que los beats sean malos. Simplemente me resulta demasiado monotono. El foco termina estando en el rap en lugar de la producción musical de manera íntegra. Considerando además que las letras en este caso resultan misóginas y recaen los muchos clichés de competencias machistas. Además los temas y el álbum en su totalidad son largos. Si acaso el tiempo de escucha fuese más corto tal vez se apreciaría mejor. "Juicy" y "Big Poppa" son dos canciones a resaltar positivamente, con mucho groove y samples memorables.
A lot of the songs were generic and similar.
The beats are thumping and the bars have flow. But the misogyny is overboard and the subject matter is dark, depressing and borderline frightening. He had talent but this was unpleasant. Doesn't help that Diddy played a huge role in this album and well, he's a rather unsavoury character.
Biggie has amazing rap skills, just not a fan of the genre (and the content) Tracks to Track: Big Poppa
Ikke min favoritt av 90-talls-klassikerne.
While acknowledging its status as a highly regarded historical and cultural touchstone for hip-hop, I found "Ready to Die" difficult to engage with. Its' seventeen tracks, and nearly 70-minute runtime, felt excessive, and the overall musical experience, while competent, became monotonous. Ultimately, the album's vocal delivery, grim subject matter and lyrical content were simply not to my taste. Two stars. 1 "Intro" (2/5) 2 "Things Done Changed" (2/5) 3 "Gimme the Loot" (2/5) 4 "Machine Gun Funk" (3/5) 5 "Warning" (3/5) 6 "Ready to Die" (2/5) 7 "One More Chance" (2/5) 8 "#!*@ Me (Interlude)" (1/5) 9 "The What" (featuring Method Man) (2/5) 10 "Juicy" (2/5) 11 "Everyday Struggle" (2/5) 12 "Me & My Bitch" (1/5) 13 "Big Poppa" (3/5) 14 "Respect" (1/5) 15 "Friend of Mine" (2/5) 16 "Unbelievable" (2/5) 17 "Suicidal Thoughts" (2/5) Total - 34 Average - 2.00 127/1001 68/127 albums reviewed were new to me.
The best thing this challenge has done for me is get me into liking rap and hip hop, and I understand that this is one of those rap albums you have to like but I found it largely boring. It was ok I guess but not what I like to hear in rap. It does things right it just isn’t for me
Biggie is so damn convincing and charismatic, if I have one qualm it’s having met impressionable young men who took this as license to be thugs. They were gonna find that green light somewhere, that ain’t Biggie’s fault, but much like Scorsese’s gangsterland films, there’s the trade-off of depicting the highs as SO HIGH and the lows kinda tucked away - the parts you come back for over and over are not the lows. Somehow Biggie’s fate makes this even more appealing for a certain sort. Anyhow I’d kinda been done with the gangsta rap several years before Ready to Die hit the zeitgeist, so I’ve always appreciated Biggie from a remove. Undeniable storytelling chops, delivery, flow, timing, etc. But wow, what a long album! I get the financial incentive here probably demanded packing this to the 70+ minute max CDs could afford but daaaamn. So many skips! And that jackass Combs popping up here and there to do what, guest vocal? Miss me with that shit. Cut this down to a 35 minute collection and it’s a classic 5 stars, but with the bloat and Combs, I just can’t get there.
OK. 2/5
Meh. While I’m sure this was significant for some it did nothing for me. It was too long, and nothing stood out that I would want to replay again.
Rap/Hip-Hop is not usually my area but... I enjoyed the beats and sample choices, there was a smooth groove to each track and the vocal delivery was deliberate, confident and purposeful. Not really directed solely at this album but I do find continuous swearing becomes a little tiresome. The lyrical themes are also limited; at one point there is a line about being stereotyped, which is buried in an album that constantly talks about drugs, guns and treating women poorly. This lost the album a couple of stars. And who wants to listen to slurping sex noises? Yes, I know, I don't understand the genre, but this stuff drags down the album.
Really misogynistic and creepy. Talented rapper but I felt very uncomfortable with a lot of the songs.
Bleh. It's gray and rainy today and I was hoping for music to match the weather. Oh well.....off to work I go. It's fine for mid-90s rap; I've just heard too much of it lately. 2.5/5
Ahhh more songs about committing crimes and dicking chicks down. Biggie's probably my favorite of the rappers of the era, but Jesus Christ some of these tracks are so stupid. The album is ok, not my type of thing. I dont hate it but I don't love it. Although I like Biggies style, I really didnt click with any of this album. Maybe one or two of the songs really drew me in, but I lot of it didn't hit. Standouts are "Big Poppa" and "Respect." Gotta give this one a 2, it was below average for me. I don't really want to revisit any of it.
1. Intro - 1.5 2. Things -1.5 3. Loot - 2 4.funk-1 5. Warning - 1.5 6. Ready - 1.5 7. Chance - 1 8. Fuck - 0 9. What - 1 10. Juicy -2 11. Struggle -1 12. Bitch -0 13. Poppa - 2.5 14. Respect -1 15. Friend -1.5 16. Unbelievable -1 17. Suicidal - 0 18. Shot - 1 19. Playing - 1.5
3.5/10
Porn CD with a few musical interludes. At least it was entertaining
I'm just accepting of the fact that rap/hip-hop by and large isn't my thing. But. This has some truly great production. There's so many sounds and samples and bits and bobs to discover while I'm trying to ignore the spoken word part.
Could never get into biggie. Not my thing. Hilarious BJ cutscene, though.
This one didn’t really change my mind. I appreciate the sampling and his style, but East Coast and gangsta rap just aren’t my thing.
Nope, sorry. Not my genre.
Ok for what I listened too, but couldn’t get through it all. Wouldn’t listen again.
Eh
Good beat but this man had way too much drama in his short life.
a little too raunchy for my taste
# 563 : Ready To Die Ready to Die – Influential, Iconic, and Kind of a Chore Ranked #22 on Rolling Stone’s Greatest Albums of All Time? Sure. But for me, it was more like #22 on the “Glad That’s Over” list. I can appreciate the influence, the beats were solid, and Biggie’s flow is undeniable—but I still don’t get rap. The content didn’t connect, and after an hour of the same three words, it started to feel like a lyrical treadmill. Too much violence, too much swearing, and not enough musical variety. It’s edgy, but not in a way that feels artistically useful to me. The title track was the best of the bunch, but even that couldn’t save the rest from being a bit of a slog. Verdict: Two stars… maybe. Glad I listened. Won’t be listening again. If you have to listen to this, look out for: Ready To Die Listened: 08/09/2025
One of the all time greats of the hip hop world with a decidedly ok album. High points are one more chance, juicy and big poppa. However in-between there is a lot of weak production and stop start melodies. Biggie is always great but 2 thirds of the tunes here are dreck.
I get its significance but it does not hold up well. It has a lot of the bad 90s rap staples (unpleasant skits that make this awkward to listen to around others, too long, repetitive) and just doesn’t do it for me. I’ve never been a big biggie fan. Some of it is good, but isn’t a great overall listen and I’m not going back to it
There's no doubt that Biggie was incredibly talented, but the relentless misogyny wasn't cute in the '90s and grates even more now.
Some big hits on there but I can only handle the N word so many times. You know its a gangster rap album when 80% of the lyrics are the N word.
As not a fan of rap I could at least understand what he was saying. It is not that I dislike the concept of rap and this one was rather enjoyable, but I can't listen to things with that many bad words. So, for that reason... 2 stars.
No private session used for Spotify. As typical with this genre, I feel like a eavesdropper as the frequent use of the N word makes me feel uncomfortable that and the misogyny. Not my thang.
I've heard it before and this is a fairly solid album, but not so much to my taste that I'd really feel inclined to listen to it again. HOWEVER there's a couple moments on this album that makes it completely unlistenable... I remember one of them going into it and skipped before it ruined too much for me, but I forgot the second part and :--) jfc. Would've gotten another star but I don't wanna listen to a blow job Best song the one that goes Live for the funk Die for the funk
Misogynistic, violent, homophobic… look, the beats are good as hell and I love a 90s flow. Biggie can rhyme with the best of them, arguably is the best of them and will always be incredibly influential. But lyrically I simply cannot get behind him. I generally am not a fan of Interludes, and this album is no exception. They not only add nothing to the experience, they actively detract from it. If I’m being generous, the album is an interesting study in self-loathing.
not for me
The Notorious B.I.G.: Ready to Die: This shit is boring. Very samey, and frankly there are a lot of just sex sounds that are both uncomfortable and really out of place that take you out of the album. Like not mid song, the song will just be an interlude of sex sounds. The synths are pretty cool but they are very repetitive, and along with some solid samples they are the only thing saving this album from a 1. This just ain't it. Notorious M.I.D. 3/10
Not my thing. Yes, Biggie's rhymes are impressive, but as a woman, I struggle with too many of the lyrics.
Nope
Jeez i thought misogyny, violence but a nice beat. What is this all about and then there was a track anout suicide and it occured to me that this guy hated himself and it all made sense, hope he found some peace.
I Googled "Notorious B.I.G. Freud" and was surprised no-one has written a massive treatise about Biggie's phallic obsession. It sounded good, but the constant disrespect for women did my head in.
Well this is why the parents were up in arms!
I have to admit, this album was actually pretty cool to listen to. Back in the 90s, I never gave it a chance because it was so trendy and commercial, especially with suburban kids who thought they were gangsters. That audience always turned me off, and I was more into other styles of music back then. Revisiting it now, I realized it has really good production and is better than I expected, especially for its time. The album uses a lot of great old samples of funk, jazz, and R&B, which adds a lot of depth. Another pleasant surprise was seeing DJ Premier involved in the production, as I’ve always enjoyed him. Overall, it was a much better experience than I anticipated.
Sigh!