Ready To Die

Every song is a banger

This album has some bangers and is honestly really great.

This rules. A classic for a reason.

Pretty good, I liked Juicey, me and my bitch and big poppa

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I like Hip Hop as for me it has a massive cross over with metal and puck music and many fans have that common bond. This album when I heard it back in the day just blew my mind the heaviness musically and lyrically is just incendiary. I do wonder what he would have gone on to do if not killed at such a young age. Stand out tracks: - Gimmie the loot - one of my favourite tracks of all time The whole thing!!

Already rated this one as the 2nd album in the list, still a 5

Good comedy album

A CLASSIC comming from a non hip hop guy!

what a journey. Among the greatest hip-hop albums I've listened to. 5 stars.

This is weird because it's serious. If you put out a song like "One More Chance" in 2024 it would be assumed it was satirical. Is it weird that the main thing I notice is parallels with Hamilton? Obsession with death. It's not my thing (a lot of the like, beats are kind of samey) but content wise I think it is a very good album.

I am the whitest man I know and this album makes me feel like a straight up G, like don't fuck wit' me 'less you want tha heater. Feel me? just kidding but this is what rap is supposed to sound like to me, but I am also old. The beats and samples are so distinct to this era of East Coast rap that you know it immediately, then BIG's raps are so clear and clever you can't help but move your body and feel like a G.

classic hip hop album. One of my favorites from when I was younger. Still holds up after all these years.

Too good. 6/5

A killer debut with great lines and wonderful production and sonics.

I absolutely loved the Intro, it actually told us a story unlike what the recent music I have been listening

Epic

What an album

Absolute all time banger. Instant classic. It starts out slow, but then the pacing of the album is really great and it stays entertaining all the way through which can be a complaint of mine for other hip hop albums from this era. Some are too long and drag on and can become monotonous.

10/10 quiero que Biggie me enseñe a rimar así de hpta que buenas lyrics, el flow increible y el productor tiene cara de que hace fiestas divertidas!! Me pregunto que pasará en esas fiestas... 10/10. One of the best AOAT.

Se llama a sí mismo "pussy crusher" 10/10

Scarily, almost inevitably prophetic. What comes across here is his colossal talent married with boyish vulnerability and self-deprecating humour. And sloppy sex noises. Was not expecting those.

Flowy, funny, bit outrageous and a cinematic feel to it. Just one of those albums that is top tier, every working on it completely at their creative peaks. Love the skits, not sure why they get so much hate!

It's an excellent album. Could do with less wet-sex noises being pumped directly into my ears, but everything else is great. Obviously it's violent and misogynistic, but that's a window into the scene at the time. You can't judge everything with a modern lens, basically. Musically, it's fire.

While not as good as Nas' Illmatic, still an excellent album. Favs include the narrative "The Warning," "Juicy," "Big Poppa," and the titular track. He helped reclaim hip hop as a New York/east-coast form when the tides shifted to California in the early nineties.

The greatest to ever do it

Very nice

Still a good one.

Performance: 5 Writing: 5 Production: 5 Fav tracks: The What, Respect, Suicidal Thoughts

Ready To Buy what he’s selling (this album).

His dick sound amazing

I’m giving it a 5 but damn, some of the outros were nasty man. Don’t wanna hear all that

Some of the filler grates, which is probably why I don't listen to this album more than I do. However, the core tracks are just so good that it elevates this to an easy 5 stars. The first side is close to perfection, amazing lyrics and delivery with great beats and production. The second side eases off the gas a little, but it's still a stone cold classic.

um álbum bom e clássico é o que dá pra ouvir e sentir a originalidade e ver quem se inspirou nele. esse tem muito do que os racionais iriam fazer, dá pra ver a influencia. e não tem como não ligar alguns flows a hamilton, da pra ver onde o linn-manuel se inspirou. terminei de ouvir esse e fui ouvir mais rap porque fui inspirada. arte. top 3: ready to die, respect, suicidal thoughts

usual music preference towards metal, classical, electronic, and rap. 3. The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die: Heard this first in grade school in the 90s along with other rappers like Tupac, ICP, Wu Tang, etc. My fav Biggie album, 10/10 no notes. 'The What' is unreal.

Not into hip hop at all, but somehow I got hooked on this as a teenager and it became a big part of my life. I can still remember every single lyric to Gimme The Loot after all these years. If only you could see me - there’s something about a greying, middle aged white man rapping that song from start to finish that really has to be seen to be appreciated. I feel like Ive been giving too many 5 star ratings recently, but this one is non-negotiable.

Hot stuff, super gangsta.

vivid, vulgar, visual

Absolute hip hop classic. Gimme the loooot gimme the loooot.

alreddy listened :)

A classic and deservedly so. The rapping is excellent. Biggie has one of the most distinct voices in rap and he has a great flow. He switches up his style and emphasizes certain phrases and lines so that you don’t miss a word of what he’s saying. And I love how he’ll rhyme a few words back to back. The beats are fantastic. The drums hit hard in that 90s New York style but the music is pretty eclectic. A lot of funk and soul samples mixed in with everything else. I started listening to this in college after I’d been listening to hip-hop for a few years and I remember having a bunch of a-ha moments when I recognized lines and references from more modern rap songs. I love that about hip-hop. There’s always a dialogue between present and past and you can jump in at any point. Sometimes I hear a new song and a few years later I’ll realize that one of the lines in it was an homage to an old song. Then I’ll learn that that old song was actually a reference to an even older song. And on and on. So many rappers from this era take the mid-album detour to brag about their sexual prowess for a track or two. Did Biggie start that? Probably not but this was the first album I heard that did that and I started recognizing the move in so many albums after that. The lyrics are great. He has a good eye for detail. I like how a few of the crime stories have rapped dialogue in them. They feel like scenes from a Scorsese mob movie, where the gangsters are bickering in the heat of the moment. Excellent album front to back. That first stretch of songs in particular is killer. The drama of "Things Done Changed" sets the stage and "Gimme the Loot" and "Machine Gun Funk" keep the momentum going.

Certified classic. The Story telling on this is so vivd.

Greatest flow in rap ever, always smooth with it. Juicy is my favorite but the whole album is good. The grapefruit method at the end of respect was shocking but in character.

So many hip-hop classics on this one: "Gimme the Loot", "Machine Gun Funk", "Juicy", "Everyday Struggle", "Big Poppa" This was probably the defining sound of NYC and the East Coast back then, after Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg starting blowing up out West. Even now, it's still one of the most significant hip-hop releases of the 90s and all time. It's also the peak of hip-hop machismo, which is starting to take its toll on me after listening to so many rappers talk about the same "tough" stuff. But I imagine the lyrical content was more fresh when it originally came out. And honestly, this is pretty emotionally raw for a gangsta rap album, which I respect. I could've done without the sex interludes as well lol. He was only 22 when this came out, which is unfathomable. He grew up in Brooklyn not too far from where I live, it's a very different borough these days.

Incredible album, creativity and flow is 10/10 of course, hard hitting lyrics for the most part, solid beats and hooks. I could listen to biggie rap all day and I'm sure he could do it without a breath. Also "blowin up like world trade" is a CRAZY 1994 lyric 9/10

Easy 5 stars. A classic

As a suburban white kid who had a big rap phase in high school, Ready To Die was an album heavy in my rotation. Listen, I’ll be the first to admit there is a lot about this album that is a little goofy. I mean there are just so so many skits that include simulated acts of violence, sex (like Biggie getting sucked off at the end of Respect), and even a live birth among other things. But if you dig past those, even just a little, this album is actually really dark thematically. It is clear that Biggie went through a lot of trauma growing up in poverty and that through line weaves the entire track list. For every triumphant and braggadocios moment of making it big like on Juicy, there are tracks like Suicidal Thoughts, which cover the anxiety and depression, bubbling just under the surface, that comes with clawing and struggling to make it. Even the album title “Ready To Die” reads prophetic as Biggie knew that this life was always destined to get the best of him. Musically, the beats all go hard and when it comes to rapping, there is no one with a smoother flow than Biggie. Fav Bar: “You look so good, huh, I’d suck on ya daddy’s dick” Fav Tracks: Things Done Changed Gimme The Loot Machine Gun Funk Warning Ready To Die Juicy Big Poppa Suicidal Thoughts

posiblement el culpable de que els raperos de ara es posen "lil" o "big" al principi del apodo. Vine a por gangsta rap, recibí gangsta rap. "From the Beretta, putting all the holes in ya sweater" I felt that. En totes les cançons es dispara o es parla de disparar, este tio es un genio 5/5 Acabe de vore que 3 anys despues de este disco li van donar balasera. Live fast die faster.

BIG is a nihilist. I have had this album for years and don’t revisit often because of that. But it is a stone cold classic, the beats are amazing, the rhymes are excellent.

This album is tied for my favorite Hip-Hop album of all time with Enter the Wu Tang(36 Chambers). From top to bottom, there are no skips on this album(minus that one interlude). Biggie does an outstanding job of painting a vivid picture of his early life in Marcy Projects and of the lavish life he is now living in this album. Favorite Tracks: Unbelievable, The What, Who Shot Ya

Biggie is one of the greatest rappers ever, and this is his best work. Essential east coast hip hop. 9/10

FUCK YES!!!

Juicyyyy

Masterpiece

suboptimal skits, top tier talent

Another quick 5. This is about as good as it gets for formative hip-hop. Intro track is a bit goofy, but from that point on it is hit after hit with little down time; just straight flow from start to finish with classic instrumentals. What I love about Biggie is that his lyrics are so smooth that you can't help but sing along. And yet, there are a lot of technical elements on display -- he just makes it seem so natural. On top of that, he wrote great songs with solid hooks and had amazing production / beat selection behind him. Things Done Changed: going over how much things have changed in his world since he was a kid and how out of control the environment has gotten. Gimme the Loot: a story about Biggie and his alter-ego making a living by robbing the well-off. Warning: a story about others seeking him out after he has made it. Oddly, I feel like I've never heard this version of One More Chance. Not sure how that is possible other than the rip I had from pre-Spotify days didn't have the right track in there.

Hell yeah best flow in the game. Not gonna leave a long review just gotta say this album is chock full o classics. Easy ass 5. One of the best hip hop albums out there. Obligatory fuck Puff. Shoutout to Method Man for being the only feature on it. The What fuckin rules.

One of the best albums of all-time

5/5 Chyba nie słuchałem nigdy w całości, ale każdy kawałek jest wart zapamiętania i nie zlewa się z innymi w jedną masę.

Biggie melded the gangster style of NWA with the grimy NYC style of KRS-ONE and put that on top of some of the slickest production to date (F*ck Puffy though) He brought a real life feel to gangster rap and a sincerity that a lot of the OG west coast rappers never seemed to capture until 2Pac came along. I never really got into the whole Beef thing and its a sad state of affairs that only brought sorrow, but who cares wtf a stupid white boy from the midwest thinks. This is Biggies best record. I feel like after he blew up, and puffy got his god complex, they turned into more Hip-pop.

Jesus. To think my parents (who never would have listened to this, and while I know most of it deeply, probably a first full listen for me now) would only think this is glorifying the violence and misogyny. How long before The Wire, before this week and the week before. Glorious funky tracks.

This has always been one of my favorite albums. The lyrics hit me differently this time around. I'm grateful to hear Biggie's story, as it is an important very American story about poverty and violence.

This is album is universally apraised as THE quintessential hip hop album. If you don't like it, it probably means old school hip hop is not your style. I'm pretty biaised because im a big fan but this is an easy 5/5

A classic. Biggie is a realist. And being a realist means having equal amounts of humor, sarcasm, intent and wrapping all this up in a delivery second to none.

The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album, "Ready to Die," released in 1994, stands as a cornerstone of East Coast hip-hop and remains a timeless classic in the genre. From its gripping narratives to its impeccable production, the album solidified Biggie Smalls as one of the greatest rappers of all time. In this review, we'll delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and highlight its pros and cons. Lyrics: Biggie's lyricism on "Ready to Die" is raw, vivid, and brutally honest. He paints vivid pictures of street life, crime, and the struggle for survival in Brooklyn. Tracks like "Gimme the Loot" and "Warning" showcase his storytelling prowess, while "Juicy" and "Big Poppa" reveal his ability to seamlessly blend braggadocio with introspection. His wordplay, clever metaphors, and smooth flow captivate listeners, keeping them engaged throughout the album. Music: The musicality of "Ready to Die" is diverse, drawing from various influences including funk, soul, and jazz. Tracks like "Machine Gun Funk" and "Unbelievable" feature infectious grooves and catchy hooks, while songs like "Suicidal Thoughts" and "Everyday Struggle" utilize melancholic melodies to underscore Biggie's introspective verses. The album's beats are expertly crafted, providing the perfect backdrop for Biggie's lyrical prowess. Production: The production on "Ready to Die" is top-notch, thanks in part to the legendary work of producers like Easy Mo Bee, DJ Premier, and The Trackmasters. The beats are gritty, yet polished, with booming basslines, crisp drums, and soulful samples. The album's seamless transitions and cohesive sound contribute to its overall impact, creating a sonic landscape that perfectly complements Biggie's storytelling. Themes: "Ready to Die" explores a range of themes, from the struggles of inner-city life to the allure of wealth and success. Biggie delves into topics such as crime, violence, poverty, and the pursuit of the American Dream. The album also grapples with themes of mortality and self-reflection, as evidenced by tracks like "Suicidal Thoughts" and "Everyday Struggle." Ultimately, "Ready to Die" is a complex portrait of life in the streets, offering a gritty yet poignant glimpse into Biggie's world. Influence: The influence of "Ready to Die" on hip-hop cannot be overstated. It set a new standard for lyricism, storytelling, and production in the genre, inspiring countless rappers and producers in its wake. Biggie's unique style and larger-than-life persona helped to redefine the image of the rapper, paving the way for future artists to embrace their authenticity and vulnerability. The album's impact continues to be felt today, serving as a touchstone for hip-hop artists and fans alike. Pros: Lyrically captivating: Biggie's storytelling and wordplay are unparalleled, drawing listeners into his world with every verse. Stellar production: The album's beats are expertly crafted, featuring a diverse range of influences and impeccable sonic quality. Authenticity: Biggie's raw honesty and vulnerability make "Ready to Die" a deeply personal and relatable listening experience. Influence: The album's impact on hip-hop culture is undeniable, solidifying Biggie's status as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Cons: Misogynistic themes: Some tracks on the album contain misogynistic lyrics and objectification of women, reflecting the pervasive sexism present in much of hip-hop at the time. Glorification of violence: While Biggie's vivid storytelling sheds light on the harsh realities of street life, it also risks romanticizing and glorifying violence in certain tracks. Limited perspective: The album primarily focuses on Biggie's own experiences and worldview, potentially neglecting the broader social and political issues affecting his community. In conclusion, "Ready to Die" by The Notorious B.I.G. remains a landmark achievement in hip-hop history. From its compelling lyrics to its stellar production, the album continues to resonate with audiences nearly three decades after its release. While it grapples with its share of flaws and controversies, its impact on the genre is undeniable, solidifying Biggie's legacy as one of the greatest rappers of all time.

I had heard a lot of great things about this album, and my first listen definitely backed that hype. The beats are great, biggie's flow is iconic, and it all goes together very well. This album is on the long side, but it never feels boring. 10/10 Favorite Songs: Gimme the Loot, Juicy, Big Poppa, Respect No least favorite songs

Mojo - Rap!

Every rapper who dies early is contractually obligated to have songs like “I’m never gonna die!” Or “shoot me until I’m dead”

Classic

One of the G.O.A.T.

Pretty damn good

Undeniable talent. Gone too soon.

Biggie smalls baby

Best rap album of all time.

Wow. An inspired pick on the list. Possibly the most iconic hip hop album of all time.

Rolled my eyes when I saw the length, but ended up enjoying every minute of it. Something about the style and the flow is infectious, and a few of the tracks brought a genuine emotional response out of me

Goat

god

You cannot go wrong listening to Biggie. Truly a classic album from one of the O.G.s... literally. Fantastic album.

Why are there uncomfortable skits of fucking? 😭 Other than that, this album is amazing, albeit a bit outdated. The beats and lyricism is amazing. You’ve heard it before, but it’s true. This is a Hip Hop classic. It’s still a five because I don’t want another 4 Star album rating.

The impact and influence this had is so clear to see

One of the greatest MCs of all time. One of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. Incredible honesty. Biggie really wrestled with his street life and his guilt for living that life here. People saying it's just about fucking and killing aren't listening at all.

GOAT

I debating a 5/5. I'm doing it.

Top tier. Niet voor niets een van de grootste rappers aller tijden. De ene beat nog harder dan de andere. De ene line nog vuriger dan de andere. De manier waarop deze man op de beat springt, bars spit en speelt met woorden is ongekend. Je zou het kunst kunnen noemen.

Solid classic

I dont like hiphop and yet im still giving this album 5 stars. If you don't know, now you know.

Mans was only 22. Whack. Gritty, crass, and one of the best hip hop albums of all time.

Great tracks!

Such a great album. Not normally a huge fan of hip-hop. But could listen to this over and over again.

92/100 Slightly generous 5 but a 4 would be harsh

A monumental album which helped cement my lifelong love for hip-hop.

What's not to love about Biggy!!!

Ready to Die is just an absolute epic. I am somewhere between a 4 and 5 on this.. it could do really do with getting rid of the sex noises I lean towards a 5 though because his rapping is simply so much fucking fun to listen to, against the gritty backdrop of his NYC drug dealing backstory. The beats are great and Juicy might be the best hip hop song ever? Certainly one of my favourites Yeah this is a 5. If you don't know, now you know!

One of my favorites. Bought this album and lost it like three times. Finally bought it on vinyl a year ago hopefully for the last time.

This album shines despite its gaping flaws. The skits are atrociously uncomfortable and heavy handed. The lyrical content is misogynistic and braggadocios. But the execution of the songs themselves is flawless. Buttery smooth vocals paired with catchy rhymes and bubbly boom bap beats. Lovely background vocals lift a lot of the songs up as well. Every single song on this album is a hip hop classic with good reason. That's very difficult to pull off. The strengths are so strong that it gets 5 from me even despite its blemishes.

a hip hop album hasn't floored me this much in so long. its 5 just for gimme the loot

ES EL ALBUM QUE MAS ME HE ESCUCHADO EN MI CONSCIENTE VIDA AMOR ETERNO BIGGIE

Great Album.

Incredible album, that drags very slightly in a few spots. Still a 5 star banger.

One of my favorite hip hop albums of all time

10/10

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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)

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)

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.

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

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.

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.

Ja dit is BIG!

Een van de beste oldschool rap albums wat mij betreft

Perfect.

он не идеален, но безупречен

база

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

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

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

5 stars are inadequate.

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.

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

Classic

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.

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

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

Tremendous

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.

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.

His masterpiece

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.

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!

its Biggy Smalls

Naughty naughty bad bad boys

Always been one of my favorites.

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

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

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

Very good

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

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

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

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

One of the best hip hop albums of all time

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.

Biggie’s lyrics and flow were amazing. Almost rated 4 stars as the beats were a little same-y to start, but enough variety shown through to keep it strong through the length of the album.

Better than I remember

Yeah, like this was going to get rated anything else

👍

Duh

Absolute 5-star classic album

No idea why I find the same language acceptable that I objected to elsewhere. This is amazing.

Absolute classic. Why no samples though?

Biggie’s flow was that of a black belt martial artist. Smooth and beautiful but percussive, crisp, and potentially damaging. There haven’t been many like him since him. This album is on the Mt Rushmore of gangsta rap.

Classic. Top 5 rapper for me. Great production and slick delivery and rhymes. Rip biggie

I don't understand putting orgasms on an album and releasing it as part of a track. Talk about self-indulgent nonsense that adds nothing to an otherwise superb album. While the album is good overall, women are so objectified, I don't think I would go out of my way to listen to it again.

one of my favourite albums ever. the keyboards the bass the beats the storytelling and THAT VOICE!!! so incredibly distinct and timeless. if you don’t think this album is a masterpiece you’re fuckin dumb.

Great for that era of rap, which was the last real one.

There's a reason BIG is one of the tentpole legendary figures of the Hip-Hop genre. An excellent debut album that still holds up to this day.

ma ovo je klasik, jedino bi skit izbacio, to definitivno - inače petarda.

Amazing.

INCREDIBLE ALBUM!!! One of the best hip hop albums of all time for sure! Juicy, Big Poppa, Suicidal Thought, Ready to Die??? Biggie is one of the greats, absolute bangers on this album and loved listening to this again!

A perfect album - cinematic, grimey city criminality - with perfect rhymes and perfect beats - it’s timeless even though it’s a 90s staple. One the best records ever released - while being the perfect length. Maybe the sexual noises that pepper the record and the heavy violence in the themes prevent it from.l being a Beatles-level of ubiquity - which is why it is also such a great and important record.

"Ready to Die" is the debut album by American rapper The Notorius B.I.G (Biggie) and the only album released while he was alive. There were a host of producers including Sean "Puffy" Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chuck Thompson, DJ Premier and Lord Finesse. The album was autobiographical following Biggie's experience as a young criminal and drug dealer. It was recorded in two stages with the first stage and album half dark and the second half more commercial. It was also attributed as revitalizing East Coast hip hop, a commercial success and critically acclaimed. City noises and sort of a string background begin the Puffy produced "Intro." A bunch of hip hop and soul samples including "Pusher Man." Gun Shots. Biggie saying he's out while an older guy says "you'll be back." Biggie starts the rap in "Things Done Change." High production. Scratching. Dramatic. About how his neighborhood has changed. "Gimme The Loot" continues the beat. Police. Gun fire. He's robbing, stealing, dealing drugs. Biggie stresses his sexual prowess in the album's third single "One More Chance." A sample of DeBarge's "Stay with Me." Hypnotic beat. Easy flow. Great rhyming. How can you not appreciate when he easily rhymes genius and penus. The big single "Juicy" has soul with the backing vocals and funky with the bass. It's a rags to riches story. "If you don't know, now you know." A great song. The second single "Big Poppa" has a laid back smooth groove and the melody reminds of the West Coast hip hop at that time. An Isley Brothers' sample. He's got the girls. He's smoking the chronic. "Throw your hands in the air if you're a true player." The album comes to a shocking end in "Suicidal Thoughts" as Biggie raps to a half asleep friend how he's a piece of shit, can't change and doesn't deserve to live. The music is dreamy. A gun shot ends the song. Unfortunately prophetic. Biggie's rhymes are just fantastic. His lyrics are clever, graphic and funny. You get the sense of excitement and paranoia with the story telling. The music is smooth, laid back and has a groove. As with the top hip hop albums at this time, the production is great. No doubt Biggie is up there with the top rappers of all time. A classic album.

Reflection of the harsh realities of life in urban America. Despite the album's critical and commercial success, it was not without controversy. Some critics accused The Notorious B.I.G. of glorifying violence and criminal behavior, and the album's frank depictions of drug use and sexual promiscuity were also criticized. I say nah son. Bottom line, "Ready to Die" is a seminal work in the history of hip hop music, and a testament to The Notorious B.I.G.'s skill as a rapper and storyteller. Its honest and unflinching portrayal of life in the streets of Brooklyn has earned it a place in the canon of classic albums, and its influence can be heard in the work of countless other artists who have followed in The Notorious B.I.G.'s footsteps.

This is all on one album. Unbelievable. A Classic. So many of the sleeper songs are bangers too.

One knows something's pretty good stuff when it's not our genre or wouldn't listen to it a priori but still wonders us. This is fucking good shit!

An all-time great. This isn't just a hip hop staple, it's a historical document.

Setting aside Biggie’s contribution to the nature of rap and what it was, this is an amazing album in terms of what makes an album interesting regardless of the specific content. It plays like a prog rock concept album in that regard. No one’s pulled it off as well since.

Classic. Biggie.

Favorite biggie album

More like "Ready To Have Sex". Great album though.

I forgot how fucked up some of these songs can be. Real shit.

fajne

Incredible album. The beats are bombastic and catchy, the samples are expertly used, and Biggie has absolutely impeccable flow. I love how narrative his lyrics are too. RIP king.

SO GOOD

I still know all the words to a few of these songs, front to back classic

Phenomenal rap album front to back. Gimme the Loot, Juicy, Big Poppa are all classics.

9/10 first time i have ever enjoyed a rap album this much

The GOAT

Fucking great. Never heard the whole album together before.

Awesome, classic. Only complaint was the length. Besides Big Poppa my favorite was Respect

The best rap album ever. Maybe. A little misogynistic at points, especially at the end, but damn if it doesn’t sound as good as ever, and if Biggie didn’t deserve all the roses he could get. A

Really glad rappers stopped putting skits in their albums. That being said great album, really shows BIGs potential, who knows where he could have gone. 4.6

Undisputed classic

Biggie

Love the intro track that illustrates Biggie's musical upbringing. His voice hits so hard, it's an instrument unto itself. The rhymes soar. The title is so prophetic, and it's depressing how much of this album is about street violence in light of what ultimately happened to BIG. Warning, Ready to Die, Juicy, Who Shot Ya and Big Poppa on ONE album? C'MON. 5 stars, easily. Long live the king.

Legendarisk, verdensklasse rap, vanvittige beats, bars, rim

Listened on the 12th of November happy to listen again, already heard most of the songs just never the album all the way through, some bangers, some sus, overall very good, I’ll give a light to decent 8.

An old favorite, my true introduction to the world of 1990s rap, and the reason I will always prefer NY to LA. It really hit home on this listen through that Biggie was NINETEEN YEARS OLD when he wrote and recorded all of this stuff. He packed a lot of living in his short life. How tragic. Listen, I don't really care for skits or interludes, and I find these ones particularly.... gross. But that just comes with the genre I guess, and it doesn't takeaway from the historical impact or the frankly excellent listening of the actual tracks.

Ready to Die is a heavy chunk of music, and the first time I heard it was a kind of wash, around me one moment and gone the next; Not repeated this time, thankfully. I was listening to newer underground East Coast stuff recently and thought about the similarities of the form to straight-ahead jazz: Head, solos, something to cap it. If you follow the time trail back to jazz and scoot a little to the side, I find this album now. The beats are more abstract than those on Low End Theory, but still low in the mix. The missing samples leave holes, but Biggie was always there to fill them. The oft-maligned skits even have a sense of rhythm. The ingredients the rapper is playing with here are simple ones, but he understands their limits and pushes just beyond them, until the story crashes in on itself. After any death, there's plenty of work left to do for the living.

Stonecold classic

Lol, like I was going to give this anything less than a 5. Favorite track: Gimme The Loot

I love true school hip hop but I was never really a biggy fan of Notorious B.I.G He is good though. Lovely laidback flow and interesting rhyme structures. Nice beats. I dunno, maybe a bit too R&B for me, while also out there shooting homies? I just done rate him as one of the all time greats. I’d have liked this over a weekend to dig into the rhymes. 4 or 5… let’s give him a break, he is pretty dead and phat, I go full marks.

Really just doesn't get much better than this, when it comes to gansta rap. I'm biased, because my youth was spent running around shouting the lyrics to "Gimme the Loot". But the beats are still incredibly fresh, and Big's rhyming and flow are still unmatched. Favorite tracks: "Gimme the Loot", "Machine Gun Funk", "Juicy", "Suicidal Thoughts"

2nd behind pac

The sheer honesty in this album is incredibly eye-opening. A glimpse into the life of someone who pushed forward with a deck stacked against him. Friend of Mine and Suicidal Thoughts are standouts here. Lighter tracks like Big Poppa and Juicy are juxtaposed by periods of deep introspection that was almost never seen in 80's rap. Maybe the most definitive rap album of the 90's, though I'd like to say that title belongs to Enter the Wu-Tang.

There’s a reason many consider this one of hip hops greatest albums. There are absolutely classics strewn throughout.

100% classic B.I.G.

So many bangers on this one

Classic

BANGER. a hip hop/rap classic

Ready to die is a weird fever dream of a man with a nostalgic eye past and a nihilistic look to the future. As the biggest hits and the sex raps suggest, it's all the more fascinating that this is the work of an artist living an extravagant, juicy, life. Also incredibly produced holy cow

Very catchy and intense

He’s so charismatic and even whimsical. I also like that this album really covers his origin stuff. Lots of him being good at sex. Good for him. The interludes must have been cool when it came out but I couldn’t gut a lot of them at this point in my life, especially the gun sounds.

A sensational album from one of the best rappers. Biggie is able to put out some amazing lyrics and flows that were unmatched during his time. Lyrically he may be top 3. This album has several hits and even some of the less popular songs are still fantastic. The drawback on this album may be the over sexualized nature of it and a couple of the skits are worthless. Other than that this is a fantastic album and can be replayed all the time. 9.3/10

Loved it

will forever live on as one of the best rap albums of all time.

Love it I'm a fan of big already

At its best this album is untouchable, but the skirts are just so cringe now it’s really hard not to skip them(but dated skirts are just expected on 90’s rap albums). And I don’t think they are enough not to give this album 5 stars as it really is hip hop masterpiece. Up there with the greatest rap albums of all time, from the greatest rapper of all time.

What’s most striking about ‘Ready To Die’ is how polished, fully formed and complete it is for a debut album (even taking into consideration the pointless skits). 2pac wasn’t anywhere near as good as this until ‘Me Against The World’, three albums in.

A classic

This album might be the pinnacle of New York rap and is a solid 5. Biggie’s beats are jazz inspired and his laconic flow enables him to deliver lines of violence and self loathing in an incredibly nonchalant way. Biggie’s mental struggles were really striking to me and I think his ability to bring those to the forefront complicates his image. I am left with a sense of not knowing what to believe about him and that only adds to his legend. I found the simulated sex gratuitous, but overall, this is an essential album.

Damn Biggie's flow and storytelling is just something else, he is on a whole other level. Not to mention fucking hilarious. There is a reason he is GOAT.

It is the most iconic East Coast Rapper on his most iconic album. Not much more needs to be said.

Classic!

This is GOAT tier level for the genre. An amazing talent that the world lost too soon.

R.I.P.

Forgot how clever a lyricist Biggie was, even if vulgar. Case in point, Me and My B - "You looked so good I'd suck on your daddy's d..." Priceless. That song is a perfect example of Biggie's work - great beats, some real deep lyrics but also some real depraved lyrics. Also a bit of the rap opera here with Intro and Suicidal Thoughts opening and closing the album, although it's not a straight line in between. Like many of the 90s rappers I wish he wasn't such a misogynist, but he is damn good when he's not being so sleazy (and even when he is). Things Done Changed and Gimme the Loot are awesome; really the first 6 tracks are, before he goes to the cheap sex stuff for a few tracks. Juicy brings it back and like his other big single Big Poppa, it is rightfully beloved. Respect might be my favorite track though - great funky beat and the vocal assist from Diana King is electric. Not sure how much respect I have for him as a human being, but this is a great album.

The Real Deal

This record is iconic, a true piece of history. Sociologists and musicians will be studying this for generations.

Classic!

I think the highs on this are both good and frequent enough to warrant a 5 and offset the odd filler track and the godawful skits

Masterpiece. Chefs kiss

I don't know much about rap, so The Notorious BIG is a name I had heard of, but didn't anything about him other than that he is a rapper. Though he has this tough attitude, his lyrics are actually quite sensitive. It takes a lot for someone to admit suicidal thoughts, even more so for someone to wonder if their mother would have preferred an abortion. The album is really well produced too, kind of a loose "rap opera".

East Coast royalty. When Biggie wants to go hard, it's hardcore as hell. When he wants to reel it back, it's incredibly smooth. Biggie is, without exaggeration, a master of his craft. Side note: My gf loves the song Juicy. She thinks it's so sweet hearing Biggie's rags-to-riches story. Easily the best song for radioplay, but also the best song on here for the sample flip and pacing. As frontloaded as this album is, the whole thing is a great piece of work. This is THE Notorious B.I.G. coming in hot with the debut, already at the top of his game. He rightfully deserves a lot of credit for being a legend.

Great hip hop album. Some of biggies top hits. I really enjoyed!

🎤 🎤 🎤 🎤 🎤

One of the best rap/hip hop albums of all time, maybe the best. My personal favorite. Every song is just incredible - one of the rare perfect albums and that can be appreciated even if you do not like rap/hip hop. Easy 10/10.

PUTA INTROOOOO Me senti ouvindo um filme dos bons com os trechos finais de algumas músicas que mais parecem interlúdios. Percebi também vááários trechinho que depois foram sampleados por diversos artistas. A faixa título é um primor, fui levada direto para o início dos anos noventa.

awesome

Compellingly good stuff.

Wow! A pure, solid punch of hip hop! Gangsta at its best, only play this to your granny if she’s hard of hearing as the expletives roll out every few seconds. Classic!

Legendary

5.0 + Love Biggie. RIP, King.

A great, great album.

Incredibly honest, personal and well-written. Heartbreaking and has me absolutely floored. Perfect use of sampling. This album was really the blueprint.

EAST COAST!

Classic

The King, the Legend. Although I was thrown off by the full on sex sounds - I guess I always skipped that lol

Goat

A rap album like no other. Biggie earns his place as a member of GOAT. His raps are among the best out there. Rhymes are impressive. Flow keeps audiences interested and engaged. Techniques like his voice changes contribute to the stories. He takes full advantage of modern production sounds and skills to invoke emotional responses from listeners. Biggie contrasts with other gangster rappers of his era, who glorified the lifestyle full of wealth, sex, and power. Here, you can feel the pain and mental turmoil that he was forced onto. Biggie takes us on a journey in this album, starting with his birth. Yet from the start death looms over him, and most of the tracks either have a theme of death, or dangerous situations that expose Biggie's vulnerability, living on the edge of life and death. And of course, the album ends on a shocking conclusion of his suicide. Truly heartbreaking to hear Biggie confessing his sins, his regrets, hearing the mental destruction that gangster life had to lead him to this point. Despite being a double album, there's very little filler, and I feel the length was necessary for Biggie to express the whole story. The intro is one of the best found on rap albums, establishing the central themes that are frequently referenced in the album. But the album really starts with "Things Done Changed" which is one of the easiest tracks for people to understand, creating the setting that life is truly awful and dangerous out there. These first few tracks are funky and groovy, with several pop hits spread later in the album ("Juicy" and "Big Poppa"), appealing to all sorts of audiences from start to finish, and why I feel this is one of the best albums to get someone into rap. His storytelling is what makes these songs so special. The way he brings in all these characters, some of them played by just voice changes (cause you can't trust anyone else to spit perfect raps with such precison), brings a natural flow to these songs from setting up the scene to memorable conclusions that make each track distinctive. Hard for me to pick out my favorite tracks - there's something I love about most of the tracks - but I can pick out a few songs I wasn't crazy about. Biggest complaint is that the "Fuck Me" and oral sex interludes weren't necessary; there were already plenty of instances that displayed the theme of lust (e.g. "One More Chance"). But whatever they can be skipped. There were a few weak tracks, but the only ones that I felt could have been left out were "Respect" and "Friend of Mine." Other weaknesses were Puffy's overcontribution which distracts from Biggie's raps, and a repetitive beat, but the samples make up for it. Also, huge coincidence that there were several references to Tina Turner, and even her signature song "What's Love Got to Do With It" when Private Dancer just so happened to be my album yesterday.

Very cool album! Great lyrics, amazing flow. A true legend.

Great from start to finish

Half of the album is filler noise and shit. But the other half is still way too legendary to give anything other than 5*

He ain't Pac but he's pretty good.

One of the all time great hip-hop records. Very difficult to match this one as his flow, lyrics and production are top notch. Special mention goes out to Suicidal Thoughts.

Amazing album, biggies best, all time great rap album, love the theme,

Only listened to 2 songs but great album.

I have to admit, I was ready to just skip this album. But this album is really really good fun.

5 Deze moet ik op vinyl gaan halen. Biggie heeft de swag, zijn cadence is zo smooth, gotta love it. Tuurlijk ook tijdloze dikke hits juicy, Big Poppa, Gimme the Loot. (ja, er moet echt 1 van deze in de tijdloze komen smh) Ook zeker een album waar de zwarte gemeenschap zeer trots op is , en terecht. If you don't know, now you know! Hier een paar lijnen die mij een stanky face geven: -The Moët and Alizé keep me pissy, girls used to diss me. Now they write letters 'cause they miss me. -We used to fuss when the landlord dissed us. No heat, wonder why Christmas missed us. Birthdays was the worst days. Now we sip Champagne when we thirsty! -When it comes to sex, I'm similar to the Thrilla in Manila. Honeys call me "Bigga the Condom Filler". -There's gonna be a lot of slow singin' and flower-bringin'. If my burglar alarm starts ringin'. -Catch me if you can like the Gingerbread Man. You better have your gat in hand, 'cause man. -That's why you drink Tanqueray, so you can reminisce. And wish you wasn't livin' so devilish. En natuurlijk deze prachtige mee zinger (rapper). Als dees passeert in de club gaan we loco. TE FUCKING SMOOTH! real player shit; To all the ladies in the place with style and grace Allow me to lace these lyrical douches in your bushes Who rock grooves and make moves with all the mamis? The back of the club, sippin' Moët is where you'll find me. The back of the club, mackin' hoes, my crew's behind me. Mad question askin', blunt passin' Music blastin', but I just can't quit Because one of these honeys Biggie got to creep with Sleep with, keep the ep a secret, why not? Why blow up my spot 'cause we both got hot? Now check it: I got more mack than Craig, and in the bed Believe me, sweetie, I got enough to feed the needy No need to be greedy, I got mad friends with Benzes C-notes by the layers, true fuckin' players Jump in the Rover and come over, tell your friends jump in the GS3. I got the chronic by the tree cuz. Oké deze is niet van het album, maar hoe kan je hier niet goed op gaan? I got seven Mac-11's, about eight .38's Nine 9's, ten Mac-10's the shits never end You can't touch my riches Even if you had MC Hammer and them 357 bitches

GIMME THE LOOT Grote meneer, ik geef het hem gewoon hoor

5/5 - Dope.

Juicy = best

Became a gangster

אחד האלבומי היפהופ הכי טובים ששמעתי

One of my favorite albums of the era, I can’t not move my head or tap my feet with these tracks

Classic hip hop album.

Sexism, violence and glorification of illegal activities aside, this is a banger

great

De las cosas que me gustan del hip hop es que es un género muy “unapologetic”. Las canciones abordan diversos problemas que van desde las drogas y la violencia hasta las relaciones familiares y la misma música como medio de trascendencia. Y los raperos hacen todo eso sin “romantizar” sus contextos ni esconder tampoco sus realidades. En este disco queda claro desde el inicio que B.I.G. tiene una historia que contar: desde su nacimiento, su relación con pandillas, drogas, violencia, mujeres y hasta con la muerte y todo amalgamado gracias a un muy buen trabajo de producción. Queda claro por qué Notorious B.I.G., a pesar de haber tenido una trayectoria desafortunadamente corta, es a la fecha un referente de este género.

Good

One of the greatest Hip Hop records of all time in my opinion. I was blown away by this masterpiece.

Este pedo es conceptual. Nacimiento, niñez, juventud, vida y muerte de un hombre negro en Estados Unidos. Puede que no te guste lo que dice, que te ofenda y te parezca, no sé, grotesco, banalizando la misoginia, exaltando la delincuencia, cosas así por el estilo que diría un calvinista de closet cualquiera (de derecha o de izquierda). Tampoco es como si estuviéramos ante porno de miseria (Biggie no es Fernanda Melchor aunque es igual de bueno escribiendo, tiene buen oído diría un inmamable de letras). La diferencia con el porno de miseria es, además de que Biggie es testigo y partícipe y no turista de clase media como, por decir, yo, que escucho y escribo esto, que acá hay empatía, hay complejidad en los personajes y una honestidad decapitante. Además, los beats son impecables, oscuros, violentos, lujuriosos y brillantes como la sonrisa que te nace cuando tienes chingos de billetes de alta denominación en la mano. Otro punto a favor es que Biggie es uno de los mejores raperos de la historia. Su habilidad para crear rimas es solo comparable a 2Pac, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane o André. Es realmente una maravilla del lenguaje. Y el disco funciona a distintos niveles. Como cautionary tale, como uno lleno de bangers, como soundtrack para aspirantes a la calle, como educación sentimental, como ejercicio extremo de empatía. El nivel de nihilismo de este pedo ha sido pocas veces superado. Y fue pop. Increíble. Nada nunca ha sido tan brutal, tan suicida líricamente como Suicidal Thoughts.

I loved this album. I thought the lyrics were great in the way they told unique a unique story.

Great old school bases

A titular 90s rap album that encompasses the sound and delivery of the time. With timeless verses that still stand up today.

Quiero abrir este comentario con dos curiosidades: muy feliz de llegar a este disco porque "Juicy" la habré escuchado por ahí de pequeño y una felicidad regresar a ella. Lo otro, qué cabrón que alguien que le puso a su disco debut "Ready To Die" y al siguiente "Life After Death" haya sido asesinado días antes de que saliera el segundo disco, con sólo 24 años... En fin, ahora sí, mi disclaimer es que sé bien poco de hip hop y rap. Dicho esto, disfruté mucho este disco. Ni siquiera podría diferenciar si es de 1994 o del 2001 o de 2019, pero eso debe ser mi ignorancia. A pesar de que no escuché con atención todas sus letras, hay mucho de cinismo, algo de biografía, supongo, muy buenas rimas y flow. The Notorious B.I.G. pinta como el ambiente del momento y su éxito, así directo, sin desparpajo, hasta dedicado a los maestros que le dijeron que no iba a lograr nada. El interlude "Fuck Me" muy explícito, así como ese final de "Respect" con el sonido de una mamada. Y los sonidos, esos beats, frescos, magnéticos, envolventes a veces. Canciones fav: "Ready To Die", "Juicy", "Everyday Struggle", "Big Poppa" y "Respecto". Igual, "Suicidal Thoughts" puede estar por ahí. De alguna forma, sentí que este disco se fue poniendo mejor conforme avanzaba. 9.5/10

Best album de rap du best rapper. Top 3 facile en tout cas. 5*

I never knew how much I loved this album. So many of these songs were lurking in my subconscious.

Arguably the best hip hop album of all time.

Beautiful and poignant

The finest of the genre

amazing. i love this album

Classic

Classics. Also just watched the netflix doc. Great rap album.

Absolute classic.

Great classic rap album. Biggie has the flow

Not sure if this is a nostalgia rating or if this is really one of the best rap albums I have ever heard, but I am going to give this a high rating. Great beats in east coast rap.

Classic album.

Classic hip hop

Been a while since I’ve visited this LP. Get the loot fucks harder than just about any song today, and ready to die made me very uncomfortable. Great shit

Biggie was and is my favourite rapper from this era. His flow was so effortlessly great “birthdays was the worst days, now we sip champaign when we thirsty”. Obviously, Diddy whispering in your eardrums aged very poorly. And the sex and blowjob tracks are unnecessary. Still, the album is one of the powerhouses of 90’s rap. I enjoyed it a lot.

Gran pendiente Biggie. Gran sonido Biggie

6.30.26 quite a long album but nonetheless an impressive work. incredible flow/tone from biggie, and i really loved the instrumentals and beats in basically every song. his voice is like butter fr Favorite Song: Who Shot Ya? Rating: 4/5

A GOAT for very good reason, not sure why I never tried to get into this when I love the first wutang album

Some absolute classic songs on here make this a classic for a reason Really not sure what he was thinking with fuvk me interlude though lmao 4.5

Gimme the loot man, so funky I can't even... and don't get me started on "Juicy", slaps so hard and the delivery is real tight. Little did I know that I would enjoy ready to die so much 32 years after its release, also as a super white male with barely any hip hop experience, thank you 1001 album generator for this surprise!

Dated, but brilliant. The best era of hip hop

When I was in college The Notorious B.I.G. was an enormous name is the rap world. However, for me back then it was more about the beats and overall sound. Listening to the whole album and paying attention to the lyrics brings new light to my experience and understanding of The Notorious B.I.G. and his music. From the very opening with "Intro" you get the idea this is a story about his life from the very violent beginning continuing to troubles of a lost yesterday in "Things Done Changed." Just like the chorus in "Gimme the Loot" and beats dropped in "Warning" most of his songs pulls you in bobbing your head. Lyrically, Biggie puts it all out there like a detailed journal giving intimate details to his life. On the surface, songs like "Juicy" and "Big Poppa" can lull a listener to thinking B.I.G.'s life is one to emulate. Taking in the album as a whole, it's wise to pay attention to the cautionary tales in "Everyday Struggle," "Respect," "Suicidal Thoughts," and many more of his songs reflecting the immense struggles in his life.

Thank you. After a day with Bob I do feel ready to die. Yeah. This album is such a roller coaster for me. I think the opening skit is BRILLIANT. People who criticize aren’t listening. He’s giving his autobiography in sounds AND music. The domestic violence from the start is super hard to hear, but I have witnessed such in front of children more times than I care to count. Listen to the tracks playing BEHIND all that. Many of the artists on this very list. Like Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly. Then the tracks that are straight hate. Yeah, I always want to skip. Just like the ones that are pure venom poured down a partner’s throat. But that opening skit set the stage. I remember the first time I heard the line in Machine gun Funk: That's why I pack a nina, fuck a misdeameanor Beatin' motherfuckers like Ike beat Tina What's love got to do Almost lost my mind. It’s just so… wrong. But he does it so… well. There’s a smooth, laid back quality to the whole feel of the album and the way Biggie flows that keeps me in the groove despite this album being way, WAY too long. Then there is Puff. The Devil. For real. You can’t get away from his touch on this album. I have seen people claim in their reviews that Christopher Wallace was likely “not a nice guy.” And from his lyrics and appearance you’d think not. But all indications are that, to the contrary, he was actually a very sweet, good natured person. I’m not going to get into his choice of thug life, which certainly was a choice. But he was an honors student prior. I believe he made a calculated decision, as one is want to do in youth. But the IMAGE of Biggie was a CONSTRUCT. And we know who constructed it. And that’s the thing. There is more going on here than a simple album. So… this gets a 4 on its own merit. It might be misogynistic and crazy cringy, it might glorify violence far beyond my usual tolerance, but the album has so many qualities that standout despite these serious detractions AND it had such a HUGE and lasting impact. 4 Boolean: TRUE- every once in awhile it’s good to listen to the whole album- not just the saved tracks