Ready To Die

Genre defining tbh. Could use maybe one less skit of biggie nutting in my ear tho maybe

Definitly feels like a classic rap album. I like when there are voicemails in a rap album. Classic gangsta rap. I felt like I had the idea of Biggie, but wouldn't have gone deep into him without this list. Juicy is a hit for sure.

The most Biggie I've listened to. I knew a couple of the classics but it was cool to hear some more of his stuff. A lot more sexual interludes than I expected lol

No es mi estilo

Fun for a change and interesting after reading “When Crack was King”. Won’t be in regular rotation, however.

not my cup of tea

Quick thoughts: absolutely love the beats and the flow. But the content of the lyrics got so repetitive I zoned out. He was a master at rapping and the style of writing is exceptional. But there is only so much repetitive talk of violence and sex I can listen to until it becomes sonic wallpaper. Bumped up to four stars because of the exceptional hits on the album.

one day i will find the energy to write a proper review--but for now i'll say simply that biggie was a complex man who (metaphorically) poured himself onto his page. i know he didn't really write raps and is a freak that was able to work out his poetry in his head, but this album goes to many dark places and is beautifully and masterfully performed. rip

I recognized 1 song on this album, but I liked a bunch of these songs.

Nobody flows like Biggie. Some societal messages and imagery are just as relevant and vivid as life today as they were then. It's awesome to see how far we've come and sad to see how far we still have to go.

Found most of this album offensive

I can see why it is a solid entry for the top albums of all time. Its so easy to listen to and pick apart all the elements of the work, it has stages and chapters, flow and content. Its listenable. Its also rap, not really my thing. I could easily, however, go and listen to it more. I think I will give it a go later on. (later on - I have listened to it again, it is listenable) Going an unusual 4 stars here. I think its got something. It surprises me that I found it so good.

Awesomely fat 90s hip hop beats. Big Poppa is an anthem.

Classic album for it's time.

This album made me feel uncomfortable due to content and language. I like some rap but can’t relate to this. I listen to music for enjoyment and didn’t not experience that with this album

Verbal porn

I liked it more than I expected to. But that isn’t saying much. I quite like most of the production, solid old school hip hop vibes. It’s very bleak. Any album that has a track where the artist records themselves enacting their own suicide is in a very dark place.

Some solid and classic songs on here. Personally the album is a bit long I prefer shorter albums and I feel like there’s a lot fat that could be trimmed. Such as the F*** me interlude lmao as well as the coughing in gimme the loot not fond of that and the intro was weird af LOL. I’m also not too big on rap especially older rap so some of these were a lil dated for me. Nevertheless there were some really good songs on here I’ll def add to my liked songs just don’t see myself going back to the whole album. Not a bad listen!

Juicy is a classic but otherwise this album is a bit dated and not totally my taste for rap from this era.

Into - already got me semi stressed I don't do well with hearing arguing lmao Gimmie The Loot goes so hard and kinda makes me laugh a bit but idk why he felt the need to keep the coughing in at the end. did not love that :)

Some classic tunes but a little dated. Just wanted to listen to Nas through most of it.

Haunting at times. I was in college when this came out and the whole Biggie situation played out. I never got into the whole story. I just liked the album. A solid listen.

Muy interesante, es como un corrido mas detallado con la duración de un album. Musicalmente me impresionan las melodías que se generan con las voz. Al no haber escuchado Rap me parece un poco denso de información y se potencia con la duración del album.

Great to finally sit down and fully absorb Biggie's art. Nostalgic, yet hard hitting and powerful.

One of the most influential rap albums of all time and still holds up great. Great rapper that is wonderful at telling stories with great delivery.

Definitive work in the golden age of hip hop. Autobiographical, graphic, and lyrical. Personal preference is to skip all the woman degradation and sexual sound effects. Prophetic lyrics in many ways from foreseeing his own early death to the World Trade Center bombing. What else can be mined from these lyrics that could serve as a warning? Plus, I believe that one song helped that one kid be good at baseball in that one movie. And if you don’t know, now you know!

Near perfect album. The beats and flows completely slap. A couple of songs on the album seem to slack off compared to the rest. The repetitive content across the tracks keep this album stuck in its own time, even though the beats and lyrical delivery have aged wonderfully.

Not really my interest - but the stories in the lyrics are very compelling.

Biggie's flow and timbre are truly otherworldly. I'm blown away every time I hear "Gimme the Loot". I respect some people's reservations about this one, and it's certainly not my place to determine what is or isn't misogynistic, but in my opinion I don't hear some of the more "questionable" lyrics on as glorifications of said behavior. And regardless of whatever passages haven't aged well, so many other themes of this record still resonate deeply today. I can do without some of the skits and it runs a bit long for me, but I'm pretty good with it overall. 3.5/5

Some nice songs on here but it’s too long and the lyrics aren’t very interesting

a couple times a year a try like hell to make it through a couple rap songs. there's people I like and respect who listen to rap. to me, the only thing different in each song is the lyrics. and I think there's some really cool and interesting lyrics. but it's "rapping ".. music is different. Creativity is in melody too

don't like the sex interlude

Explicit. But the beats hit and Biggie flows the way my mind wants to go.

Really good. But depressing and now I know where all the good beats came from.

kinda fun record, still not really my thing tho

nah not listening to all of them songs

One of the earliest progressors of hip-hop

No comment

Some amazing talent on display here, dragged down by your standard rap misogyny.

Cryptically accurate album title and I guess it's ok. But then I'm a west coast guy so don't tell anybody I said so.

I loved the samples on this more than I thought, which is saying something.

This has to be a 5. Just has to be. It's a 5 because Biggie Smalls is a 5, as an artist. Has nothing to do with the production, the artistic ideas behind the album (which are still pretty early-days for hip hop albums). Biggie is just timeless. And sooooo influential. His flow is authoritative. Never bad, always pristine quality. Yes, the sex scenes are awful. But. Have you heard 90's hip hop?? They're all like that! They're not meant to be serious. I get if it's a massive turnoff. It is for me. But you can't throw out this album for the skits. There are 5, 6, TIMELESS records on here. In my top 10 hip hop albums for sure. 5/5

Skills

Way more theatrical than expected

Ikkje så egna til å hørra på på jobb

Not a big rap fan but that shit is dope.

This album is wild. Enjoyed it more than I expected

Decent

Biggie is one of those rappers that I know of because everybody does. I’m not sure I actually know any of his music though. Maybe I’ll know things when I hear them, but if you were to just tell me to name a Biggie song without warning, I’d be clueless. Let’s finally listen! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Big Poppa For the most part, this was really good. The big dampener for me (pun not intended), which I know is something that other people don’t seem to mind, is the overly sexual stuff. I can deal with subtle stuff, but there are some really wet sounds happening on this album that turned my stomach. If that wasn’t there, I’d probably rate this higher, but I’m very unlikely to come back and listen to this again because it made me feel ill.

Yeah pretty much

BL: Biggie is a character I’m mostly aware of by name alone. Aware of the hits and aware of his influence, but don’t really know much about him beyond being imperative to the 90s hip hop scene AL: A good album. Definitely a bit too long in my eyes for the scope it’s trying to encompass (I suppose people revel in it’s length knowing it’s the only album he’d produce whilst alive) and the lyrical cuts definitely vary in value. There are some very powerful and insightful mentions of classism, poverty and the cycle of oppression that affects African-Americans, however a lot of this was overshadowed by derogatory talk of women. While this is often a cornerstone of 90s rap, as it was part of the culture of that scene at the time, to include these things in the lyrical content it has led to it aging rather poorly. However I believe Biggie is trying to highlight the grime and the underbelly of that life and the world in that project, he’s often speaking in a way which narrates both his stories but the stories of those around him. Which does come off genuine, you truly believe everything he’s saying and he is an amazing storyteller - so while it is certainly dated it is indisputably authentic. FT: “Things Done Changed”, “Ready To Die”, “Juicy”, “Big Poppa” 4/5

Quase escutei inteiro. Nada de envolvente para prestar mais atenção em rap, nem o interlude pornô.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Mr. Biggie in the house with tha best 90’s rap music.

long and bad

One of the best rap albums of all time. It falls off slightly after Respect but it gets a 4.75 rounded up for me.

One of the greatest Hip Hop Rap Albums! Even without juicy and big poppa it has a lot of bangers and would still be an all time great album in my books! Suicidal Thoughts is one of the greatest fucking tracks that exist in this world. Important Album! Its easier to point out what i dont like so; -machine gun funk - (idk i never clicked with it) -one more chance - (seems weak compared to the album) -Fuck Me (Interlude) - should be self explaining... on streaming its not a problem cuz its an easy skip but on wax its exhausting to listen to it or to skip. Its just unnecessary -Friend of mine - (seems weak compared to the album)

Some great tracks but also some stupid-ass fucking skits. The remaster is bollocks too.

Interessant!

Very good, too many sex interludes

It's a classic for a reason, yes the themes are a little tired and the sex skits are...a bit much but the beats and the rapping are amazing. A really strong 8/10

Man wippt automatisch mit, nix dolles.

Look. There are definitely some positives to "Ready To Die". However, there are also some very obvious things about this album that make my enjoyment of it lower that it probably should be. I should start with the positives. Obviously, The Notorious B.I.G. is arguably one of the greatest rappers of all time. His voice makes his rapping stand out in a great way. His flow is absolutely impeccable, and I do think that he is a great rapper. The sound of the album is also quite good, and there are some great songs on here. Unfortunately, this album has some major missteps. The writing, for one, falters at points. Sometimes, the "gangsta rap" lends itself to some thought-provoking tracks like "Things Done Changed" and "Juicy". Other times it just kind of ends up feeling edgy and unnecessarily vulgar. I'm fine with songs have controversial lyrics if they have a point to them. However, not all of these songs feel like they have a point to make beyond being about Biggie's history with crime. Finally, I have to talk about the skits. Sometimes they work to further tell a story, like at the end of "Warning". However, a lot of the times are just kind of gross. I have to admit; this was the first time I ever had to skip a song on an album. The interlude was just... no. On top of that, the ending skit of "Respect" was similar in that they are both just sex sounds. That's not music, and it kind of ruins the listening experience of the album. I'm sorry, but that's just how I feel. I understand the value of this album. It serves as a harrowing tale about the dangers of inner city crime, and Biggie himself is a phenomenal rapper. However, the skits and lyrical matter drag this album down to being one that I just don't personally enjoy listening to as a whole. 3/5.

The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ready to Die," released in 1994, is a seminal work in hip-hop that reflects the harsh realities of life in Brooklyn. Biggie's intricate storytelling and masterful flow are evident in tracks like "Juicy" and "Big Poppa." However, the album's explicit and often violent themes make it somewhat inaccessible to certain audiences. Yet, its importance in the evolution of rap cannot be overstated. "Ready to Die" is a gritty, unflinching portrayal of street life, providing crucial insights into the struggles of its time. While challenging, its significance in hip-hop's history earns it a solid 4/5 for its impact and storytelling prowess.

The overall sound of the music is decent. And not really my thing though.

Iconic, amazing rapping and production, synonymous with hip hop. Crazy how already good and established Big was when considering how young he was, RIP to a great artist with so much potential left on the table. So I docked De La for their obligatory 90’s sex skit and ima do the same for Big even though it’s a smaller offense. (4.5/5)

Really enjoyed this album. Haven’t cover to covered this album before but I really enjoyed it! Had a bunch of songs that I had not heard before and really enjoyed them. Will work a few of them into standard rotation. Machine Gun Funk, Juicy and Things Done Changed were faves.

Høydepunktene er høye, men er så slitsomt med de ekstremt Harry knullegreiene, så det trekker en del.

All-time classic

Probably a 4.5... this is a classic, with great hits, great production, love his flow. Probably one of the top rap albums of the 90's. Iconic.

Christopher Wallace (the least threatening name imaginable- no wonder he went with "The Notorious B.I.G") released "Ready to Die" aged 22, neatly summarising his life-story and setting out his stall as one of the major players in the East-Coast hip-hop scene. We begin by chronicling B.I.G's birth, rise, fall and return up to the present-day with a sound collage and a series of samples from the last twenty-five years of hip-hop's heritage, from "Superfly" to "Rapper's Delight" to "Tha Shiznit". Bold, cinematic, and audacious… then we go straight into "Things Done Changed", with its bleak outlook on ghetto life as it worsens with the passage of time.    It's an appropriate opening to such an ambitious and reflective work. Wallace set out to chronicle his whole life and thoughts, and ensured it was all packed into this debut album. We explore his burgeoning career, his struggles with violence and crime, his relationships with women. The sweeping scope is given appropriate treatment by the production and music, which is regularly top-notch. B.I.G’s vocals are superb throughout: effortlessly speak-sung in "Machine Gun Funk", rapid and clear in “Everyday Struggle” and “Gimme the Loot”, imperious and powerful in “Big Poppa”. All around him, the soundscapes are dense and involved: some elements to jump out at me include the harp in "Things Done Changed", the wobbly synths in "Friend of Mine", the iconic bassline and funk guitar in "Juicy". It's rich and illustrious, and frequently irrepressibly catchy.   There are some great guest spots too, including a feature from Method Man in “The What”. While women have some of the best guest features on the album (Total in “One More Chance” and “Juicy”, Diana King in “Respect”, Lil Kim’s ear-grabbing “Fuck Me” skit), we also have numerous uncomfortable and jarring lyrics from Biggie to contend with: "beating motherfuckers like Ike beat Tina"; “bitches get strangled for their earrings and bangles”; "fuck the bitches, fuck all the stank-ass hoes"… etc. The closing track, "Just Playing (Dreams)", is one of the most queasy tracks I've ever heard in hip-hop, with unbearable fantasies about various women artists. It cheapens the record and leaves an aftertaste which is, presumably, even sourer than B.I.G's "cleanest, meanest penis".  While there are some stand-out tracks on this record, to be truly invested in it is to root for character redemption that's tragically never going to come. Three years after "Ready to Die"'s release, Wallace was killed in a drive-by shooting, meaning this stands as his sole statement in music bar posthumous releases. The title track, with its ominous lyrical tone against a long sustained string backing, is haunting in retrospect. Thirty years on, the mythologising is complete: B.I.G’s story becomes that of a man locked in a cycle he was ultimately unable to escape.

I am probably missing something and hopefully someone will fill me in. Seemed like gun culture, fear and misogyny were the main themes

December 11, 2023 One is the top 10 greatest hip hop albums.

The skits were horrific. I didn't really enjoy it at all, but a few tracks were kinda cool

Not much can be said that hasn’t already been said. One of the greatest albums of all time. Even the uncomfortable skits and diddy’s annoying contributions can’t take away from how damn good Biggie is on this one. Easy 5 stars.

I really enjoyed this album it was very nice and relaxing

"Ready to Die" by the Notorious B.I.G. is a classic album that has stood the test of time. While I'm not typically a fan of rap music, I can appreciate the artistry and creativity that went into this album. The beats are catchy and the lyrics are clever, and I can see why it's considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time. One thing that stands out to me about "Ready to Die" is the honesty and authenticity of the lyrics. The album tells a story of life on the streets, and it doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of that life. The songs are raw and emotional, and they paint a vivid picture of the struggles and triumphs of the people who live in that world. Overall, "Ready to Die" is an album that I can respect and admire, even if it's not my usual cup of tea.

If there were any entries in the Mount Rushmore of East Coast hip-hop albums, there would be absolutely no argument for Ready to Die's inclusion. Of course, with it being the only solo album released in the lifetime of the Black Frank White, there can really be no arguments in general if it is often discussed in the greatest hip-hop albums of all time lists. Now, when it comes to the back-to-back classic songs displayed throughout, there are occasions where there has to be a reckoning of sorts with some of the material; the referencing of Ike Turner abusing of Tina Turner and the glorification of it induce nothing but eye rolling and groaning and nobody would consider the sex skits (especially the Fuck Me interlude) to be a monumental piece of music. But that reckoning is outweighed by the sheer magnetism that The Notorious B.I.G. possessed throughout this album and the flow that coupled his lyricism was often imitated but never duplicated. He may have been sick of talking at the end of it, but his legend would do it all for him and it has very effectively. It's the Brooklyn way.

Not my kind of music. A bit to raw for me.

#54/1001. Ok - I get the significance of this album in music history, and totally respect it. However, it just doesn't do it for me

The more chill beats are the best parts, eg Machine Gun Funk and Warning. One More Chance goes hard, raunchy lyrics but the beat is smooth. Effortless flow but too much filler to be ***** and lose the skits.

Your standard 90s rap with shooting skits etc I assume lyrics are Not OK but beat funky

This is by far the best rap album I've been presented with so far. I'm not a massive rap fan but it's clear to see that Biggie really had talent. Class, maybe not so much, but talent for sure. I enjoyed this album, and would not be upset to hear it again. I still don't get the skits, though.

Ja dit is BIG!

Nice, old school rap. Tof om te horen dat hij in dit album aan het reflecteren is over zn voorgaande leven in armoede. Neuk geluiden tussendoor waren ff wennen

He be fuckingggg

Een van de beste oldschool rap albums wat mij betreft

hes a big boy he is bonified

Just another rap album to me 🤷‍♀️ lots of cussing and gunshots

Perfect.

Couldn't listen to most of the album due to blacked out on spotify. Most available songs were the radio songs

Nice flow and objectively good rap but wouldnt listen to again. Also weird sex "bits"

He was really good at this on a mechanical level, I just don’t like or relate to the lyrics.

Kind of a big deal in the rap community. Essential rap listening

stop having sex

он не идеален, но безупречен

база

Ну... и? С Big Poppa я ВОООООБЩЕ не протащился. Я не понимаю, как это работает, объясните... у меня не тот цвет кожи? Вот трек Respect - вот это тема; остальное куда-то мимо...

I like the beats, but I don't think I would listen to it again.

I know Biggie is supposed to be one of the greatest, but he’s too misogynistic and derivative to me. Didn’t compare well with Public Enemy either who preceded this choice.

4.5

I do enjoy classic hiphop.

I had no idea this would be a concept album and so autobiographical! While the subject matter was quite graphic and there was profuse swearing and sexual themes, Biggie painted a vivid picture of his life through clever rhymes, beats, and bass lines. It was executed flawlessly and it gets a 4 even though I wouldn't necessarily listen to it again.

Here we go again, probably a bit too soon after snoop. As much as I enjoy Doggystyle, this is much better, seems a bit more focused and serious. I’m tired of the misogyny and the constant use of language that is not acceptable these days. I enjoyed this album but I’m happy to have a rest from hip hop !

Unfortunately probably too soon after a Snoop album to hear this one for me - more of the same glorification of gang violence, drugs and misogyny which I totally get is an album its time, but a hard listen with 2023 ears when I have no nostalgia for any of these tracks. I can appreciate his skill, his rap had an incredible flow, but I'd rather not hear him getting blown thanks. Biggest track: Just playing (Dreams)

Gimme the Loot // One More Chance // Juicy // Big Poppa // Suicidal Thoughts

Well the skits… but the flow and delivery will remain for ages. OG.

Dude sounds depressed, recognized most of the songs from how popular they are.

Non mi dice molto...

Sadder than I thought it would be. The background of the album is even sadder.

Rap and hip hop rarely appeal to me and this was no exception, although I do appreciate Biggie’s flow. The interludes of conversation, sloppy oral sex, rough sex, gunshots, etc tended to jar me out of the groove/beat of the last song, which I didn’t appreciate but I think was probably the point as all the interludes emphasized the content of the previous or upcoming song.

He's a really good rapper, but unfortunately rap just isn't really my thing

Great rap, amazing skills, untouchable flow from Biggie. And that's it, that's true power of this album. Have to agree that skits are sometimes awful and production in nowadays album is far more sophisticated but I can imagine that back to the 90's that was out of this world.

I can respect the rhyming, and the flow, and the beats, BUT... it's basically the same song over and over with a slightly different sound each time. Every song is "I'm awesome and I'm going to kill everyone". I couldn't get through the whole album because I felt like I was listening to a skipping record.

The beginning started a little slow - I'm not a big fan of the phone calls/news stories/whatever. I also could do without "Fuck Me (Interlude)". "Juicy" and "Everyday Struggle" have been good vibes with good music. The rap is good too, and not overly explicit - it IS pretty explicit, especially the songs which are literally sex noises.

Explicit. didnt enjoy 1star

Explicit, but good

One of the best rappers of his time, that was ended way too early. The King of 90’s gangsta rap.

On a technical level it's probably the greatest hip hop album of all time. That flow, those rhymes, the story telling. It's all incredible. But this is a hard listen. Gangster rap is so bleak and the rough edges are rough indeed. Not something I can listen to frequently anymore. The skits are also gross and cringe inducing. Glad that trend has mostly died (finally) on new albums.

sounds neat. I don't really listen to older rap but I kinda like its sound

5 stars are inadequate.

Still not into the lyrical "genius" of most rap.

Kinda surprised I'm only giving this a 3. Having so many compilation albums released after his death kinda spoils the point of his actual albums. Like if you wanna listen to Biggie, it just kinda makes sense to pull up Life After Death.

I really enjoyed this. A cornerstone of rap.

Just holds up. Very good rap about hard living. Can see how it inspired generations

It was pretty good. Would have been a 4 but way too many multiminute intros of Biggie making out with chicks

I enjoy Biggie for sure, but to be honest there are so many similar flows on this album that a lot of songs feel a bit repetitive. The singles very much stand out, but even listening to the full album they blend in more than I feel they should. Also, not really trying to listen to Biggie fuck someone or get the sloppiest bj outside of that one lady that showed how to do the grapefruit method on YouTube.

Biggie paints a full picture, each verse and song a brush stroke of a masterpiece. And what is revealed by the end? The visage of a man’s stunning ascent to musical royalty. Shit was so cool, my ears are suffering frostbite.

Whole album not on Spotify. I love hip-hop....but not this style usually so here goes Everyday Struggle is by far the best track. More complex/detailed lyrics Getting bored of gangsta subjects and wording. Not my style of hip-hop/rap. Don't understand how this type of hip-hop/rap had got more popular than the likes of Jurassic 5 or Dilated Peoples, native tongues etc I give up, just don't like subject matter or rather the wording chosen to rap about it. Beats good on the album but lyrics not for me. 2 stars for beats

Overwhelming. A textbook of the foundations of hip hop and all the historical structural inequalities and hard realities of modern life. It demands your full attention to such a degree I can't do anything else when it's on but just listen. It's almost too much. Like having a brick dropped on your ear of emotion, style, and straight power. RIP BIG

Ik twijfel zwaar tussen 3 en 4 sterren. Hij is natuurlijk super invloedrijk geweest, en misschien dat het met nog een paar keer luisteren op me groeit, maar na 1x heb ik nou niet direct zoiets van: dit moet ik vaker horen. En toch is het wel gewoon goed. Dus. Doe maar 3.

It's not really for me

GOAT

Pretty good

It's a badass album and one I really enjoy listening to because it basically never gets old. I like the humorous interludes particularly on the skit where the red dots are on the dudes heads and on "Fuck Me" which is pretty hilarious. The huge hits like Big Poppa are the closest to being worn out as they have been played so much. It's an original sounds that manages to be enjoyable because the samples on tracks like "respect" (informer) and the overall sprinkles of humor offsets some of the brutal language. The album slips on Friend of Mine and Unbelievable and really trails off for the remainder of the album..But the beginning 14 tracks are solid. Always will be a classic.

The rock I've lived under has been comfortable, but this is is a really good album. I hear this rapper is dead and everyone is really broken up about it.

We listened to 50 Cent a week before “Ready to Die.” They were released just over 8 years apart. But the genre fell so far in those 8 years. Biggie and 50 have similar legit bonafides to make them legit “gangsta” rappers. But somehow the comparison to Biggie makes 50 sound like a poseur. Too much effort was made to make 50 seem hard. Especially since at the point in his life when he “made” it, his life had settled down. But Biggie felt like he went straight from the streets to stardom, and his music feels real and lived. It feels natural and honest. Biggie, Tupac, and Snoop launched rap to new heights, but their success also turned it into a commercial machine cranking out subpar lyricists with subpar flows just chasing a payday. There are still problematic glorifications of violence and objectification of women (“Me & My B****” is my least favorite track), but overall “Ready to Die” is one of the best mainstream gangsta rap albums of all time. It’s too bad that the classic sampling and scratching and horns found here would soon give way to some pretty bland production, annoying trap beats made on a laptop, and obnoxious auto-tuning.

3.5 stars. I am bumping this up to a 4 because I gave Tupac a 4 and I don't want to further this east-west rivalry. Both artists were very talented and came across as genuine, often brutally so.

Dude’s got talent. No doubt about it. His street life lyrics paint a colorful canvas. It’s too bad there is so much truth in them. However, when he brags about being good at the sex (see One More Chance) or essentially viewing women as possessions, he sounds like a giant, insecure, overcompensating loser. That’s not a fat joke.

suicidal thoughts > other hip hop

GOOD STUDF

The rap is dated, lyrics are really dated. Some tracks are good musically. I like the skit format usually but these seems a little try hard and fake but I should do my research

Good, considered a classic by many however the vulgarity was a little too much. Overall a well made album

Great album, I wish that there was a cut of it without any skits.

Classic

Great song writer, fun listen. 3/5

Yeah this is a very good hip-hop album IMO. You can see why he's one of the GOATs, dude could rap, a lot of bangers on here.

There are some good beats and his lyrics/flow is easy to follow. I remember when "Big Poppa" came out, but it sounds different to me now. Dated, I guess. Not my thing, but overall good. 3.6

Never was into Biggie.

Sketches that show glimpses of the brilliance to come. Great, but not perfect. A little overlong and outros tended to run on in a repetitive way. 3.5/5

Solid album. Not really my style of music, but I enjoy his delivery. I was told that music would be different if Biggie was still around. It was a bit long. I don't need an hour of anything. Trim it down. Less, more impactful songs is better to me.

Not the worst thing I’ve ever had to listen to, but it was much too long and definitely not my cup of tea. I can kind of understand the appeal, but it just doesn’t do it for me. 2/5

Classic

1994, рэп. На 200% слышал gimmie the loot в каких-то сэмплах раньше, но не сам трек. И как будто бы минус из Big Poppa мне знаком. В остальном альбом слушал впервые. Забавно, но флоу и лирика очень напоминают мне кровосток. И это справедливо! Та же гангстерская тема и бредовые фантазии успешных бандитов. Только если кровосток читает в рамках "шальных девяностых" то BIG в реалиях комптона и чёрных районов. Эдакий GTA:SA. Кстати, этих треков там точно не было? Наверное, не было, гта чуть раньше происходит И я уверен, что альбом хорош, но из-за того что это рэп -- плотный поток слов, рифм, сленга -- это мало того что продукт своего времени, так ещё и имеет довольно сильный языковой барьер. Конечно, чекнул genius lyrics, да, текст прикольный. Но тут я поставлю 2/5 -- прослушал и никаких эмоций нет. Едем дальше.

Wow. Intense and thought provoking. A masterpiece of hip-hop and rap.

Ok. Ik kende alleen de single Old Thing Back van Biggie. Blijkt dus dat One More Chance (deels) het origineel is? Geen idee, maar die vond ik leuk. Juicy ook leuk. Deze soort rap(?) past me beter, in combinatie met de zang. Leuk om dit album geluisterd te hebben.

3.5, great beats

It’s a great album and at the forefront of it is biggie’s vocals. His flow and delivery. The beats tbh leave a bit to be desired as a whole but it’s a ‘94 album, so I guess the production was at par with the landscape at that time. Biggie sounds unapologetic and raw on most of the tracks here. He shows bravado and ambition but also the struggle and stress of a gangsters life. I love everyday struggle and suicidal thoughts. The openers things done changed and gimme the loot are fantastic as well. Who shot ya is another favourite. Juicy is not clicking with me for some reason. Overall, it’s a great album.

Nope. Not a fan at all.

Classic

For the ten minutes or so the subject matter is not limited to robbery, murder, being good at sex and being rich, its pretty good. He was obviously a talented rapper, but I wish he had expanded what he was writing songs about somewhat. "Suicidal Thoughts" is good.

Strong album from a legend of his time. I will not this is the pinnacle of music but what this album brings is gangbanging real-world vibes that you can't replicate without real-world experience. Biggie captures a time and place with his music that feels authentic and does it with class through his lyrical wordplay.

对于那个稍显远离当下的年代、地区以及特别的音乐类型，我的印象主要来自2 Pac，对外界普遍评价的作为其“敌对者”、实际也有着复杂关系的the Notorious B. I. G. 反而没什么了解。 头一次听到这种形式的intro。虽然可能只是无心之举或技术限制下的产物，但很显然，这样的形式在今天听起来非常独特。One More Chance第二段主歌的女声采样使用另一种调性，与原曲调性并置的做法在流行音乐中并不多见，有新意。据说Juicy的歌词是BIG听过音乐几遍后就即兴出的，对后来说唱音乐的发展也具有巨大影响。 这几乎是一张愤怒的专辑，无论唱词、腔调，还是穿插其中的枪声、呕吐声，都勾起一种本不存在于我脑海中的记忆。这种记忆燥热、潮湿，还脏兮兮的，但其中传达的精神则不同，那是萦绕在大多数人心中的焦虑、迷茫：“All the niggas‘ in the struggle”, all the humanbeing‘s in the struggle.

My first real exposure to Biggie. Need to give it a deeper listen at some point but I see why he's regarded as highly as he is. He's incredibly talented and it's clear that the messages on his tracks came from a very real place.

the intro is good， unfortunately im not a fan of rap

Always thought this was a little too long, but an undeniable classic either way. RIP BIG. *Heard before

4.25

Somewhat enjoyed. Suicidal thoughts his hard but that’s about it

Cool.

Udara jako. Čovjek poželi popucati ljude u ljubičastom u svome susjedstvu sa Mac-10om. Odlične rime, odličan flow. Jako kreativno. Album malo predugo traje. Zvukovi seksa su malo previše, ASMR koji nisam tražio. 3,5/5

it's not my vibe

Nearly everything I hate about Rap.

Yeah good stuff

Fuck me (interlude) luisteren op kantoor is niet iets wat ik zou aanraden.

Never really cared for Biggie, even back when I was teenager in the 90’s. I got about 7 songs through this record and put on De La Soul’s “Buhloone Mindstate”. Someone add that to the list.

Classic album introducing Biggie to the world. What’s not to like? Hooks, lyrics and questionable content.

Finnst þetta mun betri plata en Chronic (sem var í gær). Feitara beat, betra flæði í rímunum. Fíla lögin sum og uppsetningin eins og sjálfsævisaga er skemmtileg. En ríðingar, totthljóð og sama kvenfyrirlitningin og þetta gangster dæmi er svo leiðinlegt til lengdar. klukkutími og korter af því er bara of mikið. Því miður. Big Poppa, Juicy og Who shot ya? eru feit lög.

East coast vinnur West coast í þessari umferð. BIG geggjaður rappari og rímari. Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade Born sinner, the opposite of a winner Remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner. En líkt og Chronic verður þetta dáldið leiðigjarnt til lengdar og þessu fáranlegu innslögum á milli algjörlega ofaukið.

Quite notorious.

Biggie poured his pain from the past and joy of the future onto these tracks and it shows

Bit of a slog to get through. Blatant explicit material just really doesn't do it for me

Pretty dope,

Some of the greatest hip hop songs of all time. Biggie has incredible flow, and some of the best biographicial lyrics. It has some great hooks, and beats. However as an album, it's difficult to listen through from start to finish because of the awful skits and misogynistic lyrics. I'd rather make a playlist of the better tracks of this record and cut the crap.

rapman rap good! His lyrics are all very interesting even if he's rapping about the usual gansta rap stuff! His flows are probably the best part of this album!

Some bangers for sure. Beats are pretty wacky in a good way. Lyrics are something

Fantastic album. Really tight production. Biggie has a ton of charisma that makes you engaged the whole time. HIs lyrics paint a vivid picture in your mind's eye. Fav song: Suicidal Thoughts.

Realmente se agradece cuando alguien rapea fluidamente como biggie. Con rimas fluidas, no necesariamente lento pero con la velocidad necesitaría para entender todo lo que se dice. Excelente flow, directo y simple, raps que dan gusto. Aunque sobrecargado de canciones, tiene un buen arsenal este disco, con tracks como gimme the loot, ready to die y respect que llevan un feeling lento pero potente. Más allá de los dos hits del disco (juicy y big poppa) the what es un temazo especialmente como se conjugan tan bien vivir con method man. Aunque polémico se agradece también un poco de ruido como who shot ya?. Hitazo: Big poppa Canción favorita: The what

This album was huge when I was younger. Everyone had it. "Juicy", "Big Poppa" and "One More Chance" were big singles. Overall, great beats, Biggy was one of the best rappers there's ever been. As for the lyrics, they haven't aged well. Gangsta rap has fallen put of favor. Much of this album is gang violence and drug dealing, as well as the misogyny throughout many of the songs. The track "who shot ya" may have been about Tupac Shakur, and could have ultimately lead to Biggy's murder. Also none of the skits are necessary, and are really explicit. As a rap album, none match this but the content doesn't hold up.

Tremendous

I liked the beats and it was very entertaining listening to the lyrics. He’s a good story teller and I’m sure the songs get better every time you listen. The intro/sound bites were too much for me. I would prefer a version without them. They help to tell the story overall and definitely have a place, but can be jarring when just listening to a playlist.

Rating: 10/10 The first rap album I ever heard back in 2017, absolutely fell in love with Biggie and hip-hop because of this album. Amazing flows, lyrics, cadences and beats. Love every song but two. Worst songs: Me and My Bitch and Friend of Mine.

I can see why this album is a classic, and there's no denying of the talent behind it. But most of the songs felt too similiar to each other, and many sexual bits to an exaggerated point for an album. What's the deal with all the sex sounds?

Relaxed flow but heavy lyrics A lot more gangsta than I thought.

Some classics on here, but the album is bloated. The What is one of my favorites 3/5

Pretty aggressive. Not many times or places I’d listen to this. The hits are good but, for several reasons, I don’t think this album aged well

Urgs

Who Shot Ya? definitely plays different now. The various sex skits plays like a middle schooler with unrestrained access to youtube.

I can only listen to so many swear words in one day, but I can see the appeal.

Would rate it higher, but the beats are overall pretty boring and the skits are godawful. When I was in middle school, a kid would routinely wear a shirt featuring this album cover, but instead of the baby it had Elmo on it.

Biggie Smalls should take the marshmallows out of his mouth before rapping. Basically, anyone that brags about chauffeurs and accountants and hos can’t be my friend.

Great album almost every song a hit

Before listening to this album today I had only listened to this album one time and that must have been a couple years ago now. I completely forgot how immaculate this album is. It is one of the most perfect albums ever created. From start to finish there is not one bad track. Not only does it not have any bad tracks it has some of the most important tracks in rap history like "Juicy", "Who Shot Ya?" and "Big Poppa". It also has some tracks that are some of the most well written of all time like "Suicidal Thoughts" and "Things Done Changed". I think though the best part of this album is even the tracks in between the big hits are sometimes just as good as the hits like "Me And My Bitch", "Everyday Struggle", "The What" and "One More Chance". I think that this album is undeniable one of the top 3 rap albums of all time (for me it is 2) and is probably in my top 10-20 albums of all time but I am heavily biased toward rap music. It features one of my favorite songs of all time "Suicidal Thoughts" and it is one of the albums that got me into rap/hip hop (though I never listened to the album just the songs on it). If I did have to make one criticism it is I personally hate sex sounds in music and skits and this album features it a couple times. Personally it doesn't take away from the experience that much I just would prefer it not being there. I think this is an easy 10/10 and if you have not listened to it stop what you are doing immediately and pick it up cause honestly the 80 minutes just fly by.

C'mon. Biggie has, like, the best flow and feel out of any of the early 90s rappers. It's just on display here, despite the album not being a perfect one.

didn't quite finish it so need to give it another listen. it was pretty listenable, not really my genre but needs a second chance from me. 3.5/5

Pretty good all around! Never made time to listen to Biggie before but I was hype from recognizing a few of the songs that popped up on the album. Loved the laid-back vibes but when you listened close, the lyrics get hella dark. Also that INTERLUDE LOL. Overall I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Respect is a bop but man don't love the ending.

Not my thing

His masterpiece

Biz nervig. Aber auch ein paar krasse Bangers

My absolute favorite Biggie album. He had a natural way of telling stories that seemed to just happen to rhyme. This was the first album I ever heard of his before every really being introduced to rap and I was blown away. It's no wonder he's considered one of the greats. My only complaint, as with anything Puff Daddy gets his hands on, is that there is no need for him to insert himself into most of these songs. Just produce the album and shut the hell up. You are not adding anything to the track by whispering "It's all good" twenty times. Other than that, it's a masterpiece.

Solid listen. Memorable bars. Can be slightly one dimensional in theme if not in the mood. Times where it's reflective of where he has been and where he is now. Otherwise focuses on lifestyle.

Time capsule back to the 90s

About two years ago, I had a Tupac album through this, and it was a mediocre disappointment. Honestly, listening to this, I don't know how the two were even compared to each other. Biggie is frequently hilarious with his wordplay, he keeps the whole album up with just one guest (and that guest is Method Man, as long as you don't count the occasional pointless Puff Daddy cameo) and the beats are brilliant. As long as you can ignore the fact it's the 90s, and by law you were obliged to have at least three unfunny skits on every album, it's a five star album!

I really tried with this album. But I just don't get this "music" - I use that term loosely.

its Biggy Smalls

on me and my bitch

Classic, excellent, wow

I appreciate it being influential, but Od rather listen to Busta Rhymes.

Naughty naughty bad bad boys

Heard it before?: Yes Enjoy it?: it’s hard not too, it’s not necessarily my go to listen for rap but biggie is just so effortless and so far ahead of his time, makes nearly everything he touches unique in its own way. Not my thing but I can understand why this gets the praise it does. Favourite song: Track 7 - One More Chance

Nobody does it quite like biggie. Love all the songs here but there’s too many interludes to be a full 5. Favorite songs: Warning Juicy Big Poppa Suicidal thoughts Who shot ya

Always been one of my favorites.

Awesome

Can appreciate the album for is informed on modern music but hated the way he described women.

Fav: Big Poppa LF: Fuck Me (Interlude) It's a classic for sure, not amqzing imo and a little too long, but amazing nonetheless. Mid 8

I do love this album. But didn’t listen, felt like too much violence with everything happening in the world right now.

It had some really good songs about the struggle the narrator went through. The album was a little long and could have been cut down a bit

This was a relisten. Still great lyrically and production-wise, but man the skits are a lot.

Classic album, no skips (except the sex cutscenes)

Some nice production but everything else is just cliche. The usual ‘ive had it tough but now im loaded’, ‘I’ll kick ya da in’, ‘i think im the shit’ vibes. Along with the repeated use of a word Ill not say. It almost becomes filler on this record. Same pace throughout and doesnt seem to go anywhere at all. Really bland. Pointless.

Never really listened to Biggie before. He's a great rapper, much better than the others in his era, and I think if he mixed up the content a bit id be a fan. Unfortunately this album is gats/drugs/bitches from start to finish and the songs veer from tedious to uncomfortable listening. Think the blowjob skit might have the been worst section of audio on the list so far. Won't come back, it's definitely better than the chronic and when it the flow is on point you can tune out the content for a bit but ultimately I'm not a fan.

I have a fair amount of time for Biggie, leaning more to the East Coast on the divide. One More Chance is good, I like his flow and beat choice.

The Intro starts the album off with a bang. It was a really cool idea to have sampled songs that influenced Biggie starting the album. There are some great tracks here but the overall package is lesser because it has far too many skits. It's a shame Puffy Daddy/Puffy/P Diddy/Diddy couldn't shut the fuck up and just let the rapping shine. Like previous rap albums of this era it suffers from the same gansta rap problems I had with "The Chronic" and "Doggystyle". The long duration of this album also doesn't help.

Not sure I've ever properly listened to Biggie before.... Firstly, we get it, you've had sex. Secondly, as I've said before, the misogyny and violence is generally tiring in rap. The stuff in-between tracks detracts from it.... Now that's out of the way... His flow is something else, not sure I can think of better. It's not that it's lyrically complex, it isn't mostly, he just makes telling a story sound so good and effortless. The beats are great too. Highlights: Things done changed Ready to die Everyday struggle Suicidal thoughts Unfortunately, I don't think it's aged well and it's just a bit too gangsta for my liking, but some of it is so good regardless. Probably would've given it a 5 without the gangsta tropes. Evidently, he was rapping about his life, but I can't relate Still a high 3.5, I never need to hear a lot of it again, but will definitely be adding the above tracks to my playlist. Was just looking who the other rapper was on gimme the loot, and it's also Biggie, which is impressive.

a bit long and slow, but good

Quite liked. Not really my thing, prefer Jay-Z.

Really good. Great beats. Big Poppa’s iconic rap style. Lyrics on point. 5 stars

Not my thing

Musically, this album is great. The production is slick, the beats are tight, and the respect for old school hip hop and funk shines through. Lyrically though, this does nothing to dispel the stereotypes of the genre, particularly from this era. With some exceptions, all songs are about glorified violence and constant misgony. I guess it's reflective of Biggie's reality as he saw it, but it doesn't age well. This is to say nothing about the painfully tedious and unlistenable skits of sex noises. What I wouldn't give for an instrumental version of this album (minus skits). It would definitely be a 5. Best track: "Things Done Changed".

Undeniably C.R.A.P.

a long overdue listen, amazing as i expected it to be!

I tried, for 3 tracks, but life's too short to be listening to this sub nursery school rhyming gangsta crap. Next album please...

Too in-your-face crude for my taste.

the flow is good and it sounds good for rap the only thing is, i dont like rap or hip hop so im not really a fan

Did not make it all the way through Will say when they sang was bit bad it’s all the other stuff that mad it unlistenable 0/5

Rap/hip hop is not my thing. This started out bearable, but I got really sick of it. Of course it had to have the usual rap album sounds of sex song... 1/5

Again, not a fan of rap. Definitely not a fan of of his nasaly speech. Sounds like me trying to talk after eating 10 lbs of BBQ.

Me gustan mucho las bases de este disco y la melodía en general, porque de las letras es mejor no hablar

It was okay I can see why some people would like it but it’s not my favourite

Classic.

The skits ruin it, and it's a bit one note. It just hasn't aged well and in less time than done other albums on this list.

Not my taste.

i expected so much more from this album considering how 'notorious' he is. i mean for starters i fucking hate this kind of skit on an album. what the fuck are they for? does it set the scene? is it performance art? or is it just some teenage mentality way of trying to make yourself look cool? so points off for that and also for the amount of time talking about bitches. he talks that much about bitches and shagging that it sounds like a cover up from someone who is bitchless. couple of decent tracks but the whole thing is forgettable apart from claiming he'll blow up like world trade. defo something Q anon could get on board with. biggy isn't dead and he did 11/9.

Scott Kelly will be getting out his N word pass

Did not enjoy

Was not nearly as good as I expected. Surprising as I like Biggie, but more as a song artist than an album artist. 5/10.

Oh my virgin ears! While I found some of the lyrics to be unnecessarily descriptive I found the beats and flow to be delightful. I imagine this is a good window into the world Notorious experienced around him. Overall an excellent album

Wow, I learned so much from this album! ;) One More Chance - Epistaxis is apparently a normal response to sexual stimulation. Also, “cleanest, meanest, penis” is a brilliant linguistic accomplishment, a textbook example of slant rhyming if ever I heard one. Kudos for encouraging sexual hygiene—no one wants a UTI, especially when they're clearly dealing with several renal issues already. My understanding of “meanest” here is like that of an engine running really well—healthy—so clearly Mr. Biggie had a cutting-edge, quality health class in the NYC public school system. It's only within the last 15-20 years that we've begun to realize how much sexual dysfunction can serve as an early warning system of other health issues like: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, poor circulation, poor nutrition, and waning mental health. Extra kudos to him for celebrating a healthy lifestyle! Fuck Me - Forget oysters and chocolate—fried chicken and V8 juice are the real aphrodisiacs! Me and My Bitch - In some subcultures, performing fellatio on your friend's father is one subtle way of expressing a blossoming romantic interest in said friend. You can further endear yourself to them by equating the importance of your relationship to that of the longest-running symbiotic bond humans have ever known: Canids. Dating is so confusing these days! Respect - Naomie Harris rapping as Tia Dalia is amazing, and I would listen to more of it! (Seriously... I'll have to track down some Diana King albums.) Also, don't scarf down watermelon when you have a sinus infection. First, you might asphyxiate. Second, you are going to trigger everyone around you with misophonia. Also, no means no. Just Playing (Dreams) - With enough practice, the vasa deferentia may be controlled independently. This guy was a musician, philosopher, health advocate, relationship expert, and Tantric guru! Incredible. Okay now, more seriously, the beats here are good, and it's hard not to get down to that. It's also well produced, but unconventionally paced. Transitions and skits between tracks are often jarring and layered. Also, headphones provide a superior experience, because there are several times there are concurrent vocals, and the clear stereo separation makes it easier to decipher. The lyrics present such a vastly different life circumstance than my own that it's impossible for me to truly understand this album. From what I've read, this album, and this generation of East Coast rap, was in part a response to west coast rappers' tendency to celebrate a life of crime. Biggie wanted to lament the conditions and challenges he'd seen in his own life and those around him. A few tracks paint that picture very clearly. It's difficult for me to sustain empathy though when the very next track—perhaps even an outro to the current one—shifts the tone drastically from remorse or lament to participation and perhaps celebration of some abuse, assault, or other ill-conceived activities. Then again, maybe that is his point—just when you start to awaken and break free of self-destructive patterns, life just pulls you right back in. Lyrically, this is rough content to listen to, full of f-bombs, n-bombs, violence, and sexually aggressive behavior. I can't tell if it really condemns the street crime lifestyle more than it celebrates it. This album is challenging to hear, but sometimes we need to be challenged. I don't know when, and it may not be soon, but I will probably revisit this album again.

Not my jam, but I'm obviously not the targeted audience here. There are unequivocally some good beats on this album, though.

This is not something I need to revisit but I didn’t have a hard time seeing why it is considered great.

While this is not my favorite genre of hip-hot I really appreciate giving it a listen. I wish I remember who said it, probably RZA or Method Man, that the experiences in this style of album, while many are first hand they can also be an accumulation of the stories of several people and are not immediately autobiographical. It is a share that there are so few BIG records. The ASMR aural oral was a bit much for me, so heads (heh) for that.

It is a masterpiece of a particular era; g-funk with a distinct deep funk bass line and tinny guitar/70s soul sample. Biggie smalls is a lyrical master even if some of his portraits touch on the lowest of misogynistic tropes. It is still worth listening to even now as pure artefact of an era.

Hard offensive rap

Intro - 6/10 Things Done Changed - 7/10 Gimme the Loot - 7.5/10 Machine Gun Funk - 8/10 Warning - 7.5/10 Ready to Die - 7.5/10 One More Chane - 7.5/10 Fuck Me - 5/10 The What - 7/10 Juicy - 8/10 Everyday Struggle - 8/10 Me & My Bitch - 7.5/10 Big Poppa - 8.5/10 Respect - 8.5/10 Friend of Mine - 8/10 Unbelievable - 7.5/10 Suicidal Thoughts - 8/10 TOTAL - 118.5/150

It's Biggie....

wow who could’ve guessed: a bland 90s rap album! it was fine like most of the others but it was so long that i’m knocking it down a star

This guy loved fucking and shooting

Absolute garbage

mid 3 star

Very good

Not my style. Good rythmic flow, stereotypical ridiculous hip hop tough guy posturing. Mostly extremely uninteresting instrumentation.

Sadly enough in Belgium I couldn’t listen to al the songs. But he is an OG!

Not my genre of music

I like the story being explored throughout. I appreciate that every song sonically soundscapes different to each other and the lyrics and references are rlly good.

Great

Classic, amazing flow, funny lyrics, old school beats, big favorite.

3.5

Rating: 4.2

Bin kein großer Rap-Fan, das Album hat aber auch für mich einige wirklich gute Momente. Über die ganzen 76 Minuten überzeugt es mich trotzdem nicht ganz, demnach knappe 3 Sterne.

Very good. No song stood out to me a lot but overall enjoyed it

nothing but heat

its ok

Too much gangsta for me. Guns and violence.

Great samples

Reminds me of Mike Judge and Office Space :) The story about this album and the next one, and the names, are very interesting.

I wasn't able to finish this. Just felt like listening to an anxiety panic attack. Not fun

There was 1 - ONE - song I liked. The rest was tiring, boring, monotonous. Rap isn't for me.

I gather it's pretty meaningful music, but I just can't stand listening to it

Biggie's rapping is of the best. Always incredible flows, great backing tracks, and always a generally pretty focused theming throughout albums. Lots of stand out tracks here, but I personally think Life After Death holds up just a bit more. Big Poppa, Gimme the Loot, Juicy, Suicidal Thoughts, and bangers throughout definitely bring me back to this one, just not as often as others.

Gostei até pensava que nn ia gostar muito

Really close to being a 5 but respect is pants

Arguably the best hip-hop album of all time. Deserves points knocked off for the minging shagging skits though.

If you overlook the "dated" strong language, extreme misogyny, violence, sexist rants, idiotic skits and Biggie's weiner size, it's a typical gangsta rap record that lives up to his notorious reputation. It's a curious okay listen, but after a while it just gets tiresome to hear the repetition of motherf*cker, b*tch, n*ggar...it loses it's effect and gets annoying after a while. Also, it goes on way too long, now I'm ready to die!

One of the best hip hop albums of all time

Classic. Forgot how great Biggy’s rhymes and flow were. And Juicy is still a banger.

The album has a handful of above average hip hop tracks, but with 2/3 I wondered why anyone would even consider recording it. The man is full of contempt and obsessed with sex and violence. I'm pretty sure the world became a little better the day he died. Favorite song: things done changed.

got some classics but overall most of the content feels bloated and forgettable, including alot of poorly aging lyrics and skits, at its peaks its some of the hest hip hop of all time.

Wow. Some tunes made me blush, some made me laugh, some made me wince.

i dont really like his swagger and toxic machismo. not unlistenable but pretty close. 2 stars.

1994 was a pretty superb year for music. The Blue Album, Crooked Rain, The Downward Spiral, and Illmatic all in the same 12 month period is a gold mine. And Ready to Die is not exempt from that mine. I think in terms of East Coast based Hip Hop, this is about as refined as it can get. Biggie Smalls really was that dude. What he spoke about was very real at that time, and when he was trying to make something apparent, he meant it. This album is serious when it needs to be, and covers some darker topics, particularly on songs like Everyday Struggle or Suicidal Thoughts. But it also balances having a more lighthearted side. This creates an incredibly enjoyable and engaging first listen. He also pulls the whole thing off with only one feature, from fellow East Coast MC Method Man. Thankfully that song is a standout on the record because of the feature. Something I also really loved about this album was the little cinematic snippets in some songs that tell a story. Examples like the opening track, or how he changes his voice slightly to sound like two people talking to each other in Gimme the Loot, which itself ends in a shootout. Or how the closing track ends with Biggie literally taking his own life over the phone. Each song is like its own little TV show episode, narrated by Biggie rapping. I have to speak on one thing though. In an album that is excellent in basically everything it does, the ending of Respect is so out of place to me. For an otherwise amazing song, the last minute just isn't necessary. And knowing that the audio is supposedly real, it kind of ruins the song. Even the Fuck Me interlude is more tolerable than this, and that itself is a pretty weird song. But overall, there isn't much of an argument you can make towards this not being a fantastic rap album, which helped launch one of the 90's biggest icons into the stratosphere of pop culture.

This just doesn't carry like it used to.