Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Strange that other than the big hitters, uicy and Big poppa, this didn’t move me either way. A solid album but few highlights outside those two tracks. Largely forgettable and as a result slightly disappointing
Beyond standouts “Juicy” and “Big Poppa”, this was little to write home about.
I think I heard more n-words during this album listen than I've heard in the last year. And I was not expecting the extended Biggie having a shag skit. The rampant misogyny was less surprising. It's not like I automatically rule out sexist lyricism (Sublime were hardly angels and I love them) but the music has to be good and it was all a bit meh for me. This style of hip hop not my thing.
I can see why people enjoy this album. Good bars, too many sex interludes
Classic
Not a fan
Hiphop is definitely not my genre. it’s a good album, but form me is not an easy listening. however, my 15 yo son loves me even more when he realized that I was listening this album.
I know big papa cuz who doesn’t buy the rest if the songs were mid I wouldn’t listen to this again
Kinda boring never been the biggest fan of 80s-90s rap but Big Poppa still goes hard
83% Best: Gimme the Loot; The What; Juicy; Everyday Struggle; Big Poppa; Respect Must-Hear? Sure
This album reminds me why I hate rap music.
Some classics on here, but in light of everything going on with Diddy...maybe we let this one go by the wayside.
Dug it. Like a holding area between music eras, little bit of 70’s rock melding with what would become 80’s mid.
Biggie is my GOAT and this album is really good. Biggies vocals are one of a kind, raw power, and he can tell a story. Light years ahead of some of his peers (cough.. ICE T). Broken record but could have done without some of the skits, although some worked.
I find it all a little dour, repetitive and silly. How many times can you talk about killing people. Did you actually kill anybody? I guess I don’t really care.
God, this was tough because the music is easy to love, but its truly a horrific account of someone who has lost the ability to give a fuck. Especially on Suicidal Thoughts. Overall, im glad I listened all the way through and gave the album its deserved attention. That said, ill never look at this the same way again.
Caught between a 3 and a 4, went 4 bc of the historical value of the album. Obviously big was the first great storyteller in rap and deserves a ton of credit. This is simply a harder, more interesting, and more poetic form of rap than almost anything that’s come since. Some fun soul / R&B samples on the production too That being said, the album is a bit uneven for me. Super high highs, but a couple meh tracks in there, so not all aces
Listening to some backlog on the flight home for my 24 hour trip to Columbus Ohio. This has to be one of the horniest albums o this list. Every song is like some new description of mostly the same thing, over mostly the same beat. Friend of Mine was the first song that stood out for doing something a little different sample and beat wise.
Dude .....this was not good. Man's was huffing and puffing over the beats and I damn near thanked God when the hits came on. Saying you'll have sex with Raven Symone when she was like 10 at the time is actually insane by the way. Like I dont care what anyone says that line was nuts fjdhfhjfjf
This album is so long, but I like Biggie's flow on most of the songs. The interludes, and some of the lyrics, are real gross though. And Diddy in the background casts a very unfortunate shadow over everything. However, Juicy and Big Poppa are still absolute bangers!
Вроде и качает, но это фак фак фак надоедает.
Habe um ehrlich zu sein mehr erwartet. Fand es eher eintönig und lang, hat mich nicht überzeugen können.
A good rap album that is very of its time. You can clearly tell where and when it was recorded.
Great songs / Bad album. The story skits & audible sex / blowjob were awful to listen to.
Solid. Never given him much of a listen before. Good flow. I can see why he was a star.
Great beats and lyricism but the sex skits ruined it for me, I simply do not want to listen to that
Biggie, one of the OGs. If you are PC, skip this 😀 Favorite track: Gimme the loot other picks: things done changed, juicy, big poppa, respect, one more chance
2005 Remaster version. I'm not a fan of the skits. Still a good album nonetheless.
5/5. From the get go, Biggy lets us know his influences and why he's making this record. This man is 22 at the time of this album, growing up in New York, and with the help of a few established producers, basically wrote the whole album himself. He had full creative freedom and you can hear the naive young mind along with an experienced and traumatized person. There are jokes throughout, within his lyrical genius and his skits. Hearing the skits can be uncomfortable but actually listening to the words is hilarious, Biggy is displaying his hubris in this skit while also humbling himself in the deprecating words the woman says. He goes on to demean women but in a way that feels self aware, saying kind words and then calling her a B****. I think with enough time, Biggy could have been a progressive rapper and activist, or at least I like to imagine, once he finds his place and removes the toxic people from his life. The suicidal thoughts and even title itself is haunting in retrospect, especially considering the changes he was making to his mental health later on. This is a young man who needs therapy but instead found it in his music. It's a great album, samples, beats, and all. It deserves the recognition it gets. Best Song: Things Done Changed, Juicy, Gimme The Loot
Rap sure was different in 1994. Samples from real records, DJ scratches, sketches, credible threats of violence and an extraordinary flow. Some of it we don't miss, but Biggie was a rare talent. I'm not aware enough of what's going on in rap today to speak broadly about it, but I will say that it's rare for me to come across someone whose lyrical gifts and knack for delivery produce something so compelling. The tension that usually pulls me along in other music that I listen to is the resolution of a chord progression and sometimes the infectiousness of a groove. A flow like Biggie's is enough to pull me in -- comprehensible, stacked with various kinds of rhymes, often very clever and rhythmically diverse enough to keep the listener engaged. Recommended, if only so that you can listen to the Drakes of today and understand why people say, "it used to be different." I don't miss the sketches, though.
One of the greatest rap albums ever with some highly questionable lyrics
Oldschool Rap. Didn't hit my taste though.
megusto
Inspirationsloses Gestammel ohne musikalischen Wert.
I LOVED THISSS!! definitely id listen to it again because it was so much fun and interesting, i didnt want it to end :(( i knew Big Poppa but this reminded me how cool that song is. id say my favorite is Juicy but i really liked the whole album and i think its one of those that if you learn the lyrics, you can scream them in your car. thanks to this web i realized i like rap and hip-hop ahaha (as long as its not country....)
100% not my genre. Too me “me me me me me”
I see why it was popular at the time of release. Hasn’t aged well and a lot of the skits and lengthy song intros aren’t necessary
Kind of tired of albums with interludes of women having sex.
A few fun songs, not for me.
Heavy (but interesting) lyrics, however the skits take away from it and only a couple standout tracks.
I am really not a fan of this genre. I don't care for the vocal style or lyrical content, but this album does have some interesting instrumentation. I recognized the track Big Poppa so that got some cross-genre exposure. I wouldn't listen again.
Genius by the greatest of all time
I enjoyed this both less and more than I thought I would. Interestingly just listened to the second half coming back from rhy Navy Yard of Brooklyn next to where Biggie grew up. Suicidal Thoughts was a really interesting, honest song to end on.
A bunch of this sounds great, the beats are good, his voice is quite nice, I appreciate that he may have come up with a new approach to lyrics etc etc... but as soon as I concentrate enough to listen to what he's saying he just sounds like a bit of a knob. I'm sure it's a bit witty and introspective, but it's still fairly misogynistic and glamour uses a lifestyle which is pretty lame. At least 2 tracks have essentially sex recordings (I never really know why people like listening to that halfway through an album). I'm not really into skits, they come across as pretty naff and I spend most of them time imagining these gangster rappers in the studio doing stupid little skits and I can't take any of it seriously. Again, it all sounds great, if i just let it wash over me I quite like it. But when I actually listen I enjoy it a bit less.
It's good, and some really great songs, but full album not for me
Elements of soul. Stereotypical gangster rap. A bit boring with every second word being motherf...er or bi..h. Extensive use of the n-word. Maybe inspiring for 90's rappers, but has not stood up as well over time. Will I give ut another listen? Not the whole record (1h 16min are too much for me), but maybe a couple of tracks.
Gritty, dark with big beats. I really liked it
A lot of great songs, but not a great album. Of course there's too many skits. Every rap album of the era has too many skits. Back when we made mixtapes on actual tape that wasn't an issue. Too bad the digital versions didn't separate out the tracks, but oh well. The real problem is puffy being all over the place. I have always, always hated that guy. A talentless hack that glued himself to biggies ass and held on. I'm actually happy everyone else hates him too now. Give me a remaster with all of his vocals removed and I'll give the album 5 stars. Give puffy jail for a thousand years.
Classic!!!
Indulgent. In a word. Just my opinion, but there is a lot of fat that could be cut from this ambitious work. Front loaded excellence. The pacing and flow of the album starts off promising with the insane near perfect flow of Things Done Changed // Gimme The Loot // Machine Gun Funk (with its awesome LoTU sample). Sadly after this point much of the work's lyrical content becomes extremely repetitive in a way that dulls the album and drives home a handful of over-spoken points that are honestly just not that interesting to hear over and over again. These recurring lyrical themes—violence, hustling, paranoia—are quintessential 90s NY meditations, but they do repeat to the point of diminishing returns.The titular track is appropriate as I feel that it knows deep down what this album is trying to be - the epitome of the NY sound over a framework of west-coast influence which can be really interesting and delicately balanced at times, not so much at others Other highlights were 'Everyday Struggle' on which the snare-work is insane and 'Suicidal Thoughts' is a haunting and relentless finisher for this overindulgent and confused masterpiece. Cutting 30-40% of the tracks would create a more concise and meaningful work for me and raises an interesting "what if"—how would 'Ready to Die' feel as a 10 track, 40-minute LP? This would be my alternate running order: 1. Things Done Changed 2. Gimme The Loot 3. Machine Gun Funk 4. One More Chance 5. The What 6. Everyday Struggle 7. Respect 8. Unbelievable 9. Suicidal Thoughts 10. Who Shot Ya?
Love: Things Done Changed, Machine Gun Funk, One more chance "here to shatter your bladder", lmaoooo the Fuck Me interlude is something ELSE, Juicy obviously legendary, Everyday Struggle, Me and My Bitch (??romantic), Big Poppa (anthem), Respect (sick hook but the ending is unhinged lmao), Unbelievable
I don’t feel like I have the history or perspective enough to adequately review this album. I’m glad I listened.
Just too much for me and I couldn't get through it. Especially given Sean Comb's involvement and what happened to B.I.G. not long after this album. I'm not one who can objectively approach this album and speak of its merits. Grueling, torturous listen for me
Man, this is such a hard one to rate. Biggie Smalls was, or at least presented himself, as a misogynistic, violent bully, and that makes a lot of this a bleak and difficult listen. But, Ready To Die has top tier production and beats, and Biggie was fantastic at what he did. On a bunch of these songs, you're right there looking over his shoulder. He was a master of the craft, a storyteller, and his flow and technical skill is basically unmatched. Where Eminem is edgy for the sake of outrage, Biggie was at least honest, laying out his nihilistic and hateful worldview and seeming to mean every word. To be fair he grew up working class in 80s NYC, height of the crack epidemic, and that could darken anyone's perspective. As cringy as One More Chance and Me and my Bitch are, songs like Machine Gun Funk, Juicy, and Who Shot Ya are all time rap greats. He lived by the gun and died by it far too young, and I dont know how anyone could've been shocked if they'd heard this heavy, cold, cruel gangsta rap classic.
I liked this a whole lot more than I’d thought. Except for the skits, there are no bad tracks. The beats and rhymes are excellent and it’s quite catchy at times. Fav tracks: Everyday Struggle and Respect
I don't know if it is because I'm old or white--probably both, but I've always had a hard time getting into hip hop. Despite this, I found myself grooving at various points throughout the album. I'm bumping up the ranks a little higher than I normally would in case I end up making an intentional effort to get beyond my old man biases. If I'm going to really dive into hip hop, this would be among the better places to start.
Great album and probably now my second favourite hiphop album behind the low end theory. Like other hiphop albums though I feel like it suffers from being too long but that’s just me :/
Crispy Clean Beats. Flow always on Point. But for me it’s way to long.
Good Album , for the Rap Fans
I understand why this is on the list since it represents Gansta Rap. But this is not for me. Same tempo to each song, same drum track, lyrics are either about killing with guns or victimizing women.
No va
really enjoyed it, ill have to give more of his stuff a listen
so good
Misogynistic, antagonistic, criminal, catchy
Biggie is undisputedly one of the greatest rappers ever-- his voice, his flow, his presence. This album supposedly reflects "life to death", very ambitious. Where it suffers are the dated interludes like "Fuck Me" and the blowjob that ends "Respect". The 3+ minute "Intro" could be cut. It feels very 90's, of-it's-time. I don't think it's aged well. I also found the production lacking. Many of the beats were so similar, they blended together. Not so many hooks. These really put the spotlight on Biggie since they don't overshadow him, but they are also a bit boring. Ultimately, I can only take so much of the narcissism prominent in gangsta/mafioso rap. I cringe when Biggie talks about the size of his penis or is repeatedly misogynistic. Some of it is performance. But most of the lyrics and message are just not something I can relate to and find enjoyment in.
Quite good!
Might have been shocking and innovative in its time but comes across a bit try hard now
Listened
A great album that unfortunately needs to be docked an entire point because of the annoying ass skits. Biggie may very well deservingly be one of the best rappers of all time, and when he's dropping bars on this album, they absolutely hit each and every time. However, there are a LOT of skits here, and after the first listen (Or in some instances, during the first listen, looking at you "Fuck Me (Interlude)"), I have to end up skipping them. This wouldn't be that big of an issue if they didn't have skits at the beginning and ending of some good songs as well. If you've heard the album, you'll know what I'm talking about, so I won't elaborate, because they all have to do with one of three things; Getting shot, shooting someone, or having sex with someone. Picking a favorite song is easy at least, it's "Big Poppa", an absolute classic. The other songs that aren't skits are all bangers as well, but every single last one of them is about the 3 aforementioned skits and are pretty hard to distinguish from each other. This is an album I kind of want to give a 5, but there's a LOT, and I mean a LOT of annoying shit here that as a whole, brings my actual enjoyment down to a 3.
nie moje klimaty
2.5
This album wasn't for me. I'm sure there was a better context for listening to it but none of the tracks really stood out to me.
It's been a really long time since I first listened to Ready To Die, and I've been anxiously waiting for it to come up for me to review. Yesterday, I reviewed Liquid Swords, and today, I finally get The Notorious B.I.G. (still no 2Pac though). I remember being blown away by this album the first time I listened to it. It was one of the first rap albums I'd listened to from start to finish, and I remember being shocked by the sexual content in some of the skits. It's probably been about 16 years or so since then, so I'm really excited to fire this up today! I don't know if it's that I've been exposed to more hip-hop music over the last 16 years, or maybe being fresh off the heels of Liquid Swords, but listening to Ready To Die today did not live up to the expectations I had for it. Biggie still has one of the best voices in all of hip-hop, and his ability to spit rhymes is still incredibly impressive almost three decades after his death, but this was a bit of a chore to get through today. The biggest shock to my ears upon relistening to this album was just how bland I found most of the beats. Yes, "Juicy" and "Big Poppa" are great, but the rest of the album sounded pretty bland to me when it comes to the musical aspects. The album did get better as it went along, but after over half an hour of not being impressed, the last half of the album wasn’t enough to move it from good to great for me. As vulgar and crass as “One More Chance” is, I thought the lyrics were genius, and the rhyming and word play were outstanding. “I got the meanest, cleanest penis” is better than 75% of anything Shakespeare ever wrote. While we’re on the subject of the crude elements on this album, the blowjob foley work on “Fuck Me” was excellent. While this album wasn’t completely my jam, it still has some great songs, and it’s a showcase of some of the best rhyming and flow I’ve ever heard on a hip-hop album.
Not my favorite type of music
First off, fuck Puffy. If you can ignore the misogyny, this is very good. If you can’t, it’s still pretty good, but super uncomfortable.
Some classics, some good deep cuts, and a lot of biting reality of the rougher side of life. The skits bring it down a bit, and the songs haven't all aged that well.
Monument
Not bad for a rap album. I like the music and the rhythms. I would give it a higher rating if it was something I could play in public.
I mean ... The intro was hard to get through.
This wasn’t as hard going as I expected and some of the tracks with more developed background beats were okay to listen to. However, I am just not a fan of the genre and all that comes with it. Some of the intro/outtro’s with the sex stuff were just a bit gross to listen to rather than funny.
This rap is undeniably excellent—it's incredibly well-crafted and executed. However, I find myself struggling to connect with it. My appreciation for the intricacies of rap just isn't there. I’d be intrigued to discover if there’s even better rapping out there. Perhaps if someone took this brilliance and created a pop version that simplified and diluted it, I might find enjoyment in it. Unfortunately, my listening of rap are closer to 'Girls Aloud' level as a comparison. BIG I am sorry I am too musically weak to appreciate this. The only respect I can give is listening to your album in full!
An undisputable classic of the genre. I listened to this album semi-ironically at uni and it definitely has some decent tunes. I think my tastes have changed with age and maybe also this type of toxic misogyny is now less entertaining and a bit of a relic. Still a couple of points that made me smile but actually found I was a bit tired of the hyper violent, hyper sexualised lyrics and repetitive beats by the end. One to relegated to the archive and not for active listening as far as I'm concerned.
i love this album, 10/10
Es hesch halt huere de Rage-Rap. Wenni halt Hip-Hop lose de lieber öppis fredlechs. Gwössi lieder hend zwar scho öppis, aber anderi frogt mer sech was sech dä Typ bi dene dänkt hed dass är sie is Albom do hed.
10/10 Ready to Die holds a special place in my heart. Biggie was a huge inspiration for the hip hop scene and inspired so many more great artists that I love listening to. He flows effortlessly throughout this album. Although some may not agree with his lyrics and the interludes are too much at times even for me. You can’t deny the wordsmith that Biggie was. No song sounds the same on this magnum opus. It’s such a shame we lost him so early. There’s something to be said about this culture that does so much to young impressionable teens with violence and drug abuse. Talking about the highs and lows of the gangster life is so real and that’s another thing I appreciate with this album. One of the greatest albums I’ve heard. Favorite Tracks *Things Done Changed*, *Gimme The Loot*, *Juicy*, *Everyday Struggle*, *Suicidal Thoughts*
I don't see what's supposed to be so valuable about this. from the intro, I though it might be an interesting concept album but it really isn't. it's just like every other gangsta rap album out there, bragging about the loot, fucking bitches, and dropping motherfuckers. the beats are boring too. the flow is ok, but overall, nah
Not my cup of tea but I did listen throughout!
intro- did not expect the intro to be a birth 💀 5 things done changed- 6 gimme the loot- 5 machine gun funk- 6 warning- 5 ready to die- 5 one more chance- 3 fuck me- racist dirty talk is crazy. 4 the what- 5 juicy- 5 or 6 everyday struggle- 6 me and my bitch- HUH? crazy bar big poppa- 7 respect- 7 friend of mine- 3 unbelievable- 5 suicidal thoughts- 8 who shot ya- 5 just playing- 3
Some iconic hits on here but overall as far as an album goes some of the interludes didn’t feel necessary lol. 3.5 rounded to 4
I'm biased when it comes to evaluating albums like this, I find it a bit tiring when it comes to beats and rap.
Ok, og east coast juicy
Pretty great album. Ironic that he talked so much about being killed throughout the album. Fun listen, dragged a bit toward the end and had some... interesting sound scapes.
All the rappers I like love BIG but I just didn’t enjoy it
Good, but the skits are horribly dated which does drag it down a bit 4*
Not seriously listened to B.I.G. before and know only really the commercially successful hits from his second album. This first album I really liked (surprisingly) and would add to my collection of good solid rap/hip hop 'go to' albums, take out the interlude shite and it would be very good, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
https://rateyourmusic.com/music-review/JesseOverPessi/the-notorious-b_i_g/ready-to-die/256692009
Owned this as a teen, but haven't listened to the whole album in years. Great stuff. I sometimes wonder what Rap music would have been like if P diddy were shot and Biggy lived to today.
nice concept albun
More aggressive obscenity laced rap, I miss the point, not a thing of beauty.
2.5
The beats sound good, relaxed and uses plenty of '70s samples. Probably my favourite part of this because I don't care for the lyrics, rap choruses and the uncomfortable interlude things. Biggie has as good flow though, Method Man sounded good too. Of course, they filled the CD with 17 songs.
3.5
3.5
3.5
It seems to me the biggest grip about this album is the skits, which for the most part fit the theme of the album. Usually when I don't like skits are when there needless (often humorous) bumpers between song. The only two sketches I really could gripa about was the sex moan one and the slurpy smooch one. Most of the rest fit the theme of hyper violence and street life. Which brings me to what I didn't like about this album, and that is the message and overall tone of the album. I get that this album is not for me it's not for my demographics or my personal outlook on life. Taking that in consideration this is actually a better album than probably the rating I'm going to give it just because I do not enjoy the feeling it gives me. And my and mine comfortableness listening to this is probably kind of the point because it's not written for people like me. I am actually glad I gave it a good listen over and ingested what it had to say, but I can't find myself revisiting this as something I would want to rehash over and over. Must hear before I die? Sure... I'll give it that. Is it something I like or enjoy that I do not. 4.7 ★★
Too long, too repetitive. 3 stars
I think this is a pretty good album. Biggie's flow is one of the best of all time, and the production is generally solid from Easy Mo Bee, Bluez Brothers, P. Diddy and others. I think what probably keeps it from a higher score is: 1) the skits/interludes are pretty terrible, and much like Eminem, I don't care for a lot of the lyrical content. But, still pretty enjoyable overall. 3.5 stars.
Good prime bit of rough raunchy 90s hippity hop. Biggie is a moet et chandon poet and spits out better rhymes, commits more crimes and snorts more lines than a billion Busta Rhymes. His flow and storytelling definitely make this a captivating listen even if the only main magic poppy moments could not have been done without Isley Brothers and Mtume. Not chunked with classic hits plus a few dodge skits but still a strong listen for the genre nonetheless.
Rhythmically interesting and good for running! I only really enjoyed a couple of songs though - Juicy and Respect. Won’t be coming back to this one.
This was good. Some of the beats and lyrics were hard hitting and real in regards to how it was growing up for Biggy. I enjoyed it
It’s his flow. He sounds like an overweight dude mixed with some amazingly detailed rhyming that illustrate scenarios that float from deadly graphic to comical seamlessly. A shame how he was shot down in his prime. At least he gave us this classic.
As I make my way through this list I’m consistently proven right that hip hop just isn’t my thing. That being said there are some rhymes in this that are excellent. Witty and perfect. But as always it goes on far too long. The genre prefers beats over melodies and I’m just wired to enjoy the inverse. But I can’t deny the talent. 3/5
Tuff
No, musically, it works sometimes but some of the lyrics are just unacceptable... Won't come back here...
Not a genre that I can listen to at work
Hip-Hop isn't really my style, and this album doesn't change my opinion of it. It wasn't as bad as I had expected, but it still isn't my thing. I definitely could have gone without the slurpy blowjob in the middle of the album.
Fav song: Gimme the Loot I feel like Biggie deserved better than Diddy. I have never found his production interesting. This album is over long and to pack on an additional juvenile skits is baffling. And they have not aged well. I'm sure it was hilarious at 21y or 22y old but it's embarrassing now. Biggie was a clear talent. He deserved better.
peak
way, way, way, way too long, but also has some really good bits, and there's a lot of things on here I realize have been referenced a whole lot. I feel like it deserves a relisten from me but I simply do not have the patience.
Bloated song lengths, oversexualised, obsessed with violence and pointless intro and interlude skits; as per usual I find east coast hip hop and gangsta rap to suffer the same ills. When I find a track I like, I can enjoy it very well, but most stuff on here that just washed over me. Flow is great as is the rhyming around vowel sounds, just the lyrical content turns me off so badly.
My Rating: 5/5 Black Timbs and Truth Bombs This album is the cornerstone of gritty, honest hip-hop. Biggie didn’t just rap—he narrated the psychology of growing up where hope was the rarest currency. Every line hits like a memory wrapped in gunpowder.
17 songs, two topics. Rhymes are great though. Imagine what could have been if puffy didn’t kill him.
Couldn’t get through the first song. Repetition expletives.
Never listened to Biggie Smalls, but I understand why he is one of the greats. I don't typically like rap, but this goes hard.
Brilliant, one of the best rap albums of all time, also if you’re listening to “Me and My Bitch” the first line had me in stitches….”you look so good I’d suck your daddys dick” was certainly creative 😂 Best songs - Gimme me the loot, ready to die, the what, Juicy and big poppa
Some of the beats sound aged, probably because they influenced the next generation. But biggies rapping cadence is still unique and punchy to this day
Misogynistic, juvenile, and a slog to sit through. And, of course, there is Diddy. Fuck that guy!
Great beats and funny lyrics (though the second might not be intentional).
really 3.5 but rounding up since some of it's so good. but man could I do without the interstitial nonsense.
Заслуженный 1 из 10 за антикультурную недо музыку.
Absolutely essential.
I do like Big Poppa. 3.5 Stars
This is iconic stuff from the last days of the golden era of hip hop. This is iconic stuff. It's too bad the dipshit had to continue to play gangster after becoming successful.
Bright as a summers day with lyrics that bring take all the cheer away. Good stuff
Sexnoises.mp3
Spectacular.
My brother had this album in the 90s and I still blast 'Gimme The Loot' all the time.
For some reason the link on the generator goes to a version of this album with a different track listing which completely omits GIMME THE LOOT. Luckily, I knew something was horribly wrong right away and was able to sleuth out the correct version. Yes, the skits are unfortunate but I just love Biggie.
No thank you.
While contemporaries were rapping about social issues and racism, Biggie goes a very different direction.
Great rapping skills and production. The misogyny and skits make it so juvenile. Some songs were saved. But this is mostly not for me
glad bro was ready i wish he would stop playing audio of him getting his biggie wet.
No shit.
Don't really care for stuff that is all about sex, drugs, & murder.
Never actually listened to this album in full and there’s a lot of tracks I don’t know. Unfortunately not many are on the level of the hits off this album - and some follow the exact same themes of some of the others and it can get a bit same-y, especially the tracks towards the beginning of the album. Some questionable topics from today’s viewpoint and some of the seedier songs and skits feel even seedier now in retrospect. Some incredible rap flow from Biggie though and the lyrics and storytelling are amazing for the most part, as well as having a concept, that is mightily impressive for a debut album. The samples used are great too, Mtume, Diana King and Isaac Hayes to name a few. No doubt a huge album for the hip hop scene and warrants its inclusion on this list. I would’ve given this a 5 back in the day - now though i think it’s about a 3.5. I’ll probably mark it down as a 3 as I can’t see too many times when I would think its a good time to play this one in modern times, maybe through headphones down the gym, but I’ll probably just stick to the hits. Standout tracks; Things Done Changed Juicy (obviously) Big Poppa
Top 20 rap album ever. The flow is perfect the transitions are amazing, studio recording clear as day. Gimme the loot is his best song ever.
Of course ‘Ready to Die’ is a fatalistic title for a pantomime tough man performance, but I was struck by how pinched and unhealthy Mr Smalls’ voice is. He raps at the top of his register, through what sounds like a narrow windpipe, with a desperate little gasp for air between every line. He does sound like he’s ready to die. And there’s the faint gurgle of saliva, somewhere between a death rattle and vestigial lisp. If his flow is preternaturally good, as I read it is - GOAT standard - I’m completely lost. His voice isn’t pleasant to listen to, his delivery isn’t clear - neither is a lot of Gilbert and Sullivan patter, for that matter, so it’s not about genre particularly or vernacular; it’s just hard to clatter out a bunch of words and be heard. You really have to enunciate. What I did hear were the obvious clangers: birthdays were the worst days; the bizarre stresses of Genesis in Juicy; the convoluted “cancer in the breast” instead of breast cancer. Their clumsiness makes them standout of course and I’m sure the things I couldn’t decipher were top class. “I’ve been robbing since the slave ships” was pretty funny actually. I liked that he was born to the sound of Superfly, but the rest of the skits are unpleasant and there’s a low-volume babble panned to the side of each track. I think it’s Diddy. Even if Diddy wasn’t a monster, his artless slabbering does nothing to help. 1 We are less than a hundred albums in and we have done at least half a dozen rap albums and I have run out of ways to express my puzzlement that a large number of people in western society regard two bars of elevator music on a loop with someone talking over the top to be the music that they prefer. Here is, apparently, the greatest rapper there has ever been. Really? Is the trip in this sticky little elevator really better than, or even much distinct from, Eminem’s or 50 cent’s? This is sad. None of the aficionados of this genre come here for musical edification; no one really wants to hear those two bars over and over again. They pretend there is a substantive technical element called ‘flow’ that dresses up rapping as if it is akin to the way Hendrix plays the guitar or the way Stravinsky uses woodwinds. It’s all bullshit. What they show up to hear is the bubbling of the open sewer of some poor creature’s mind. They won’t have been disappointed with ‘Ready to Die’. This bubbles horribly for over an hour. 0/5
This is a difficult one, the singles stand out and BIG’s flow is really engaging to listen to but I don’t want to listen to him getting dirty. Would be 5 but bc I can’t listen to this in any setting other than the privacy of my headphones, it’s a 4.
One 1 star because no stars is not an option. Makes Mariah’s album look like a 5!
not really my thing but if i were into hip-hop i think i'd love this - it's really good
Killer! BIG’s flow is not just a complex mechanism for delivering lyrics (and it would be legendary, even if it were only that), it is his message. That flow, that voice — it’s his instrument. The music here would get a 5. The skits in between the tunes are really important and tell a story, but they won’t improve on repeated listens. Not to disrespect the spoken parts— they are epic (though I could have done without the one with the sound effects of BIG getting down with his lady). But, those kinds of non-musical pieces are things i would skip if I put the album on repeat. It’s a solid 4, though.
could i write poetry to this? yes
Dude had charisma enough to make all the gangsta rap tropes palatable.
Pretty good, not overhyped which is pretty impressive. Some of the interlude bits got a little annoying after a while though.
2.7
Solid album
i miss hip hop. certified bangers. stylistic choices here with the interludes... mariah carey's kinda scary what did he mean by that
Whew, this is a hard one for me. His relationship with Puff Daddy (who is currently in jail for allegedly raping women) plus the lyrics about raping women...it's always been hard for me to stomach. Even back in the 90's when the boys had this blaring out their windows in the suburban streets of Ohio. But beneath it all that there is a an artistry that is top notch, some great beats and poetic lyrics that expose the dark side of growing up in the projects of New York.
Tried, failed. Couldn't listen to it
Eventually the brag, swagger and chatter gets exhausting, but the record sounds tasty and B.I.G. holds my attention even with the mundane, lascivious and humdrum-morbid life detail, more so than I remember Tupac’s broadly contemporaneous record did, though who knows how I’d feel tomorrow. Many blunts are mentioned and I wonder about the title, “ready to die”, and how intoxicated was the average murderer and victim of the period, thinking about the poor guy himself, and a vision of murderers and victims carrying this constant blurriness into their experiences, whether there was any sharpening in the moment, and what kind of sharpening awaits me. What can I say? It’s Monday.
I really don't get why people rate this - just some more mediocre '90s rap tedium full of irritating arrogance, dumb skits and limited range; the involvement of P. Fiddler pushes it far into the *hell nah* category. The two brief samples at the beginning are the absolute highlights. Will Ferrell's-Robert Goulet's-Big Poppa is likely the best thing to stem from this crap.
Toliko monotono da sam zaboravila da slušam album u nekoliko navrata. Očekivala sam više. Ovo je baš loše.
It's good, but most of it doesn't stick out to me. Top listen 'Gimme the Loot'.
cool
Finally! First real hip hop album of the list, and what a way to start! For many, this album is the GOAT from the GOAT. It's definitely a top5 in my (sort of uneducated) personal list of hip hop albums. The album is packed with hits. Now that i'm old, I don't find the sex noises skits funny or edgy anymore so i could live w/o them =) but all in all, this is an easy 5
lots of sex noises in this album which i wasn’t really expecting… biggie had a wonderful way of storytelling when he’s rapping. RIP
The worst skits and the best rapping — the latter outweighs the former
Absolutely classic one of the best in hip hop only reason it's not a 5 star is it doesn't have the personal connection with me
Rap isn’t my vibe but I liked this
Got some classics on here but not an album I would normally reach for
Skits are crude. Lyrics are extreme, but still set the tone for a generation to follow. Production is truly unique for each song.
Really surprised me how much I enjoyed this album overall. Some fabulous storytelling In this album, paints quite the picture. A lot of albums I've listened too over the years have referenced this one, so it was cool to listen. Quite a bit of derogatory language but that kind of comes with the genre.
good album, not sure about repeatability for me
“I… don’t like that”- Annika, regarding “Fuck me (interlude).” Really good but the messaging sure didn’t age well
We're going to look back if we're not doing it already and compare some of these 90s NYC rappers with the all-time singer-songwriters of the 60s and 70s. Biggie has to be one of our most evocative songwriters and the delivery and phrasing is on par with Sinatra and Dylan. Calling Ready to Die cinematic is probably a tired cliche but it's there for a reason.
God damn. While this was the only studio album that Notorious saw released, it might be the only thing bigger than the B.I.G. himself. The man spits bars better than a Snickers conveyor belt. While the album is often dark and dangerous, there is a range of emotions, including joy and humor. There's authenticity in what he's saying (something severely lacking in lots of later rap lyrics), and it might give the most honest representation of being a drug dealer in the 80's and 90's. He makes you feel what he felt, experience his life, which can be difficult as a white dude from rural Pennsylvania. There's so many great references and samples in here (lots of rap history here), this is truly one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.
Wow this is such a magical brake from the majority of the list being classic rock. I have never listened to this before but loved it from start to finish just a shame I never found it when I was younger.
GIMME THE LOOT GIMME THE LOOT
Didn't need the graphic audio of Biggie getting some sloppy toppy, but still an excellent album.
Would have loved to give it a 5, except for the random sex noises
Very good, but I can't really do anything else while it's playing (as with most rap). The violence that turned me off back in high school is quite prominent, but his skill is undeniable.
Sorry, I Just don't see the appeal
I genuinely, sincerely cannot tolerate the hip hop genre: I am not a racist, nor am I a music snob. In all honesty, the album is so absurd I cannot listen to it without shaking my head and scowling ("You look so good / I'll suck on your daddy's dick"). However, as a women, I find the misogynist lyrics incredibly nauseating (i.e. "Me and My Bitch"), and I'm surprised my generation bops their head up-and-down albums that glorify sexual violence. I love provocative music but I'm going to have to draw the line at Big Black's "Songs About Fucking" 😛 Oh, and, there are more slurs in the album than times Steven Patrick Morrissey made the headlines for something controversial he said.
Classic, iconic stuff. No one else was like Biggie. But, to be fair, I'm not a big gangster rap guy, and if I was, I'm more a Tupac guy - Despite B.I.G. reppin' BK. Sorry, folks! But I am giving it three stars for its undeniable quality, star power, and influence.
The album is fantastic. BIG's wordplay is so good. You can hear hip hop genre changing on this album. He begins with reference to old school MCs like Grand Master Flash, and BIG wraps over a beat suitable for Flash on the first song Tings Done Changed. As the album progresses, the beats become more complex, and BIG's voice shines when it's contrasted with sweeter accompanying music like the female voice on Juicy. You can tell he's finding his style on this record.
Could have done without the explicit sexual recording parts. Overall great sounding album that serves as an example for hiphop for years to come.
Never heard any of the songs before, but at the same time I've heard a great portion of it sampled/quoted Not for me. The best parts were Fuck Me (Interlude) (Hilarious) and the chorus in Respect
Guess west coast is just better
distracting noise
Krasnej gangsta rep
Ok I listened to it all. Not my fave album ever but it was interesting to listen to it all. Overall it was hard to work and listen bc I kept wanting to read the lyrics. Thought provoking, good beats. occasionally I can hear Puff Daddy's voice on it and I hate that lol
A lot of swearing and sex noises. Would never listen to this in public.
Please no more skits i beg you 1001albums challenge
19/1001 This album has some of the highest highs on any hip hop album, period. The five best songs on this record can go toe to toe with any five songs from any hip hop album and will probably be victorious against them all. Biggie really changed the game. There were plenty of rappers who had good/great flows and strong lyrical content: Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Q-Tip - just to name a few. But when Big hit the scene with a flow that could ride any beat and lyrical content that could paint a picture so crisp in your mind, it changed how every rapper (mostly on the East Coast) would approach their songs for at least the next decade. When Big was at his best, no one could come close. All that to say, Big wasn’t always at his best on this album (or his sophomore follow up, Life After Death). A lot of this album is Biggie a step or two down from his peak abilities. This album is a classic in the hip hop world, as it should be. But this one gets put on a pedestal where it doesn’t belong. If this were boiled down to the 12 best tracks, it might be the greatest hip hop record of all time, but there’s just a few too many songs that never did it for me; Ready to Die (the title track), One More Chance, Respect, Friend of Mine, Unbelievable, are all mediocre songs at best. Mostly with poor production, but also not the best version of Biggie either (could be argued that it is hard to flow on such crap beats). Gimme the Loot is one of my favorite tracks from any artist, in any genre. Big rides the beat with genius level expertise while telling a story from 2 different personas, using different voices for each character. It is as much of a joy to listen to it today as it was even I first heard it 30+ years ago. I blew my 12 year old brain away (the 90s were wild, I bought this album with the PA sticker on it from the record store as a 12 y/o in 1995 and played it in my Walkman with my headphones so my dad wouldn’t know what I was listening to.) I didn’t even realize the first couple times that it was Big as the two voices. I can’t give this album a 5 though, just too many songs that hold it back. A lot of folks complain about the skits holding it back. I understand that point of view, but skits are just part of hip hop records. They rarely, if ever, are enjoyable, but they’re almost always there. They are a peek into the artist’s mind to see what they are trying to convey on that particular record.
Fucken banger damn. Why did I never listen to this before?
Did not age well at all.
Most of this was just uncomfortable to listen to.
Again no idea what is going on.
Excellent album, almost every track hits hard. The flow, story telling, and production were great. You can tell he was still hungry and giving 100% effort, later albums weren't as consistent. The vibe of the album pumps up my testosterone levels and makes me feel like I would fight someone for looking at me wrong. Skits and intro/outros were obnoxious. I read that there were real recordings of fellatio on it... could have definitely gone without hearing that. I also felt like it was too long. 9/10
I love individual Biggie tracks, but I've never listened to the entire album. I immediately love "Intro". Hip-hop albums have a unique sense of theater to them with the skits. The bars are immense on "Things Done Changed". 'Either you're slingin' crack rock or you got a wicked jump shot' is one of many hard-hitting lines. "Gimme the Loot" is amazing. The individual songs got away from me a little as I listened, but I love this album. The beats are classic, the bars are amazing, and biggie's flows/voice are so enjoyable to listen to. The lyrics are bleak. They paint a picture of a brutal survival-of-the-toughest world happening in the background of the America I live in. My favorite songs are "Juicy" and "Big Poppa". My only complaint is that the album is too long. Even when I love what I'm hearing, it gets old after an hour and fifteen minutes. 9/10
All MCing aside just check out the range of production on this, the samples, the tracks flipped. So many iconic grooves and soaring hooks that make these tracks instantly palatable. Then you add in one of the most compelling storytellers in hip hop history and it's classic after classic. Yes there are a lot of annoying skits, but that was just a thing in 90's hip hop and it's almost unavoidable during this era.
Diddy was the main reason i was hesitant to listen to this record today. not because of his crimes -- numerous and horrid as they are -- but simply because i didn't think he was going to be a good producer. everything i'd heard from him beforehand as a solo artist was inoffensive, horrible interpolate'n'b that you hear in a shopping mall. so color me surprised that despite his legacy as a solo artists being that, he's a fairly competent boom bapper. of course, the production plays second fiddle to Biggie here. he's the biggest personality, and damn near the only personality in the loose narrative of the album. of course it doesn't do any good gushing over "Juicy", "Big Poppa", and "Suicidal Thoughts". rather, i'd like to highlight how strong the first stretch of the album is and how great of a job it does building Biggie's character so you have greater context for the more emotionally open and positive hits later on and the inevitable, tragic ending. at first it seems like he's about nothing but crime and death, but reveals himself as a more sensitive and honest character over time. i mean, he robs a train in the opening skit. who robs a train if they aren't a bit of an old timey goofball at heart? (recording your wife giving you head on the album is gross, still.) "Suicidal Thoughts", man. Scarface is ostensibly a movie about a man's rise and fall, but his fall is a glorious blaze of glory, with yayo, grenade launchers, and grand foyers. imagine if Scarface ended with Al Pacino morosely muttering to a friend on the phone before blowing his brains out over the iconic mountain of coke. shit's dire.
Peak mid
fav song one more chance juicy
All the hits, rap at its best.
The OG. Very long but all the jams.
Puerile. Utterly crap.
I really liked a lot of this despite it being well outside my normal taste But loses an entire ⭐️ for the sex stuff being so laughable I laughed out loud
Love Biggie. I grew up on Biggie and Pac. Can't go wrong listening to one of the greatest rap albums of all time.
One More Chance, Juicy, Big Poppa, this album, which celebrates 30 years this year, is a certified banger.
with rhymes like this who wouldn't like this When it comes to sex, I'm similar to the thriller in Manila Honeys call me Bigga, the condom filler
I am definitely Team Tupac in the Tupac vs. Biggie feud. The giving birth sketch is not a good start. Things Done Changed has a very chill beat. Machine Funk might be my favorite Notorious B.I.G. song now. Warning is a good song too. Maybe I never gave Biggie a fair shake. With everything going on right now with him, it's strange to hear Diddy's voice on the album. How many Diddy parties do you think Biggie went to and how much lube do you think he used? I think I just chose sides and never really listened to this album. The album cuts are better than the singles. Another simulated sex interlude on a rap album, so stupid, although I can get behind the Jodeci on in the background. Meth>Biggie Smalls. Juicy might be my problem with Notorious B.I.G. I think his album is better than his singles. And Puffy's voice in the background is really annoying. He's the worst hype man in the history of rap. This is a long album. Why is Puffy on every...single...song...doing nothing but saying "right" or "yeah"? This is the start of all these stupid producers saying their catch phrase on every song they produce. And now he's doing the intro sketches. It's so distracting it's hard to focus on anything else. The sample from Break Ups 2 Make Ups! The word bitch was thrown around a lot in the 90s....I never would have even thought about it until now. Big Poppa is the other hit and it is much better than Juicy, although another instance of Puffy inserting himself into the song ad nauseam. The 90s was also the era of the simulated blow job audio on rap albums...so stupid. The album tracks are getting worse...or maybe this album is just going on for too long. Too much Puffy, stupid skits, too long....I'm ready for this to be over. Obligatory simulated shooting...gangsta rap seems very dated. And he closes it out my name dropping famous women he wants to have sex with...this album got worse as it went along and definitely feels like it was of its time and place.
I didn’t like this album. Some of the “sound effects” were a bit much 1001 album worthy: no - 64/120
Just NO
I am not in a mood to rationalize misogyny today, so I just listened to a couple of tracks so I can confidently agree that his rapping is indeed deft and I don't need to hear the rest.
I managed 1/2 a song. I certainly have been known to swear, but, wow...
two bangers in there
I'm not a fan of gangsta rap, or hip hop in general, but I have to admit, I had plenty of fun listening to this album. I think thaf might have been first album pre-2000s, where the lyrics were just seamlessly flowing in the foreground, making the beat quite obsolete. Usually, at least in my uneducated case, I have to get into the song through the beat, and only later listen to the lyrics, but Notorious Big was too good of a rapper and writer to do that. Ready to Die is especially good song, because it's not often that I remember any lines from a track afterwards. But "Your face, my feet, thay meet" is stuck in my head since then. Really good album, I think it's worth trying, even if you're not a fan of gangsta rap like me.
This is the 88th album I’m rating. I still can’t believe that kid isn’t him. I wonder if Lana Del Rey was inspired by this album title. Adding to my Playlist - Things Done Changed, Gimme the Lot, Machine Gun Fuck, Warning, Ready to Die, One More Chance, The What, Juicy, Everyday Struggle, Me & my Bitch, Big Poppa, Respect, Friend of Mine, Unbelievable, and Suicidal Thoughts. Not Adding to my Playlist - Intro, Fuck Me (Interlude) All in all I liked 15/17 songs. This was really good might even be better than To Pimp a Butterfly.
4.5/5
Favorite songs: Big Poppa, Respect, Everyday Struggle, Juicy, Things Done Changed, Unbelievable Least favorite songs: Intro, F*** Me (fuck skits) 5/5
Awesome album. Never listened to it entirely before
Loved the album, 5/5 stars. Made me remember some of my favorite hits
Classic. I've never listened to the whole thing, track after track and the man was a genuine storyteller. RIP.
Always knew this was a classic, but I love how cinematic this feels. Tells a story in a way that I can visualize a movie in my head. Masterful storytelling for a debut especially.
The worst album I heard so far here. So, it wasn't terrible, it wasn't good either. Some instrumentals were enjoyable but I am not really into rap and hip hop so vocally it wasn't really my thing. And of course the super cheesy lyrics that can be really offputting at times. I still enjoyed some moments but overall, this album is too long for its level.
I'm just not a fan of Gangsta Rap. It felt like a regressive step after the big hiphop acts of the 80s/early 90s. You can hear he is incredibly smart with words but the subject matter gets old quickly. I don't think the production is up to much either.
I can see why they call him the biggest rapper of all time. His rhythm and style are much more to my liking than many other "big" rappers. But then there are the lyrics and the nonsensical interludes.
Hellllllllll yeah. Unbelievable is my favorite track, but this whole record slaps from top to bottom.
Considering the cult status I was kinda disappointed, I didn't expect there to be that much sex
I’d never listened to this whole album and liked it more than I expected, adding 4 songs to my faves playlist
Generally liked it. Not great songs, melody-wise, to my ears but better than most rap/hip-hop. I like Biggie’s flow and vibe. Most of the samples used I was unfamiliar with but they felt like I kinda knew them if that makes sense.
Going in, I already know this is between a 4 and a 5. The difficulty in rating this album is that about half of the songs are absolute classics, and the other half are okay or worse than okay. Upon listening, I enjoyed enough of the “bad” half that I feel comfortable elevating this to a 5. “Juicy,” “Warning,” and “Things Done Changed” deserve all their hype, but to this day I’ve never heard a song like “Suicidal Thoughts.” It’s so dark but at the end of an album filled with such bravado, it’s striking and intense. Tough to say I “love” it, exactly, but I love the creativity and vulnerability.
Клевая старая школа, чуть агрессивнее чем я люблю
Uneventful HipHop.
за записанные зауки секса - отдельный респект. хопчик 90-х. чувствуешь себя гангстером. биты оч аккуратные ввверенные при этом качающие, верхастые с умеренным басом
he died
Firmly 4. What a lyricist and great delivery. Some aspects haven't aged well
Сначала я хотел написать что это просто прикольный генста-рэп с интересным интро (типа жизнь черного чела от рождения до тюряги). Но потом я дослушал до конца. Если скипнуть пару треков про секс, то оказывается, что это очень экзистенциальный альбом, наполненный мыслями про тяжкую жизнь, раскаяние, попытки осознать вообще смысл и всё такое. Ну и биты тут мега кайфовые, да и в целом звучит он очень приятно. Однозначно рекомендую, плюс стоит вслушиваться в тексты.
Well, Biggie is one of my favorite rappers, and this album always makes me sad. I can’t help but think that if this legend had lived longer, he would’ve built one of the greatest discographies in hip-hop. Unfortunately, this is the only album he released before his death. It’s really a perfect hip-hop record except for that one skit we all know about. Biggie’s flow is still unmatched even after all these years. His rhyme schemes are top-tier, his writing is razor sharp, and his storytelling is so vivid that he paints whole movies with his words. What makes Ready to Die so special is Biggie’s versatility: he could make bangers, deep and emotional songs, gritty street tales, and even playful tracks all in one project. Of course, I have to mention “Juicy,” one of my favorite songs ever. To me, it represents hip-hop itself. That boom bap beat, that bassline, and the way Biggie unfolds his come-up story. it’s genius. The song carries every emotion: nostalgia, celebration, and love for the culture. Biggie was truly one of a kind, and even after all this time, no one has really matched him. This album is a reminder of how unique he was, and it always leaves me thinking, what if he was still alive?
I've never listened to much biggie. This is from a time in my life where I thought hip hop was shit. He's alright, though a lot of it didn't age well - like a lot of hip hop. The remastered version on spotify has all the tracks.
I’ll admit, some of the songs were really vibey and fun- However, and I sound like a conservative little bitch saying this, but I don’t particularly need porn in my ears when listening to my music- I can go elsewhere for that x
some of those rhymes are insane even if the lyrics are perhaps umm interesting
crazy lyrics here
Vissa bra, kan tänka mig att höra mer
Would absolutely listen again, but minus one for skits and slurs. And diddy. I’m always struck by how dark Biggie’s music is - he really was such a good storyteller
Classic , essential , rap album. Damn. This sound defined an era in the NY scene. Takes me back.
Ready to Die is a solid example of early '90s rap, and I get why it’s considered a classic. But personally, I’ve never been a huge Biggie fan. Some of the tracks hit hard, but the album as a whole just feels a little too long. The skits especially drag things down — they’re more distracting than entertaining. There are definitely some strong moments, but for me, it doesn’t quite live up to the hype from start to finish. Favorite song: Big Poppa
Ok. Never liked this when it came out. “Things done changed” is super monotonous. Meaning it’s just the same loop and no variation of pitch. I’m going to try, but not sure if I will make it through. Gimme the loot is better. More variance on pitch for me. I didn’t realize how simplified the looping was for this album at the time. Listening now I can articulate what I don’t like. “Machine gun funk” is my favorite so far. This album definitely gets better as it goes, but it’s still not for me.
Disgusting lyrics
the sex interludes drag it down, was gonna give it a 3 then the album ended with a suicide and suddenly 3 felt very disrespectful, absolutely classic hip hop.
Nope, just no.
While I have a deep appreciation for east coast rap from this era, Biggie Smalls has just never quite resonated with me. A lot of his tracks seem to lack the memorable hooks that made other artists’ albums from that time stand out. Plus, the lyrical content leans a bit too heavily into that “bitches come and bitches go” kind of vibe—which, honestly, just doesn’t do it for me. Of course there are few songs with deeper lyrics as well, but not enough.
Not a fan. Very 90's, very gangsta and very misogynist. The beats are general, the album doesn't have much musical aspects outside plain hip-hop stylings and Biggies style of _spittin' verses_ is not something l like. The verses are fine, albeit with a very narrow set of subjects they cover (violence, misogyny, ego tripping). Too much focus on the rapping and verses, which don't carry, while the backing stuff is too monotonous and uninteresting to keep the momentum going.
Another album that is incredibly important in my musical journey to attempt to define my ever-moving taste. I considered myself a fan of hip hop prior to listening to this album. But I was only scratching the surface of what it hip hop could be. I didn’t realize just how limited my understanding of hip hop was until I listened to Ready to Die. I was aware this album, Nas’s Illmatic and A Tribe Called Quest’s Low End Theory were often anointed the “greatest” hip hop albums of all time. But my teenage self found the production to be so boring compared to the and often maximalist approach of Kanye West’s MBDTF and 808s & Heartbreaks and the many producers and rappers heavily inspired by them that dominated my experience with hip hop to that point. As such, the minimal approach of loops, drums and bars was comparatively sleepy. But when I decided to give this album a shot in college, I found myself drawn to the dusty bass and punchy drums. It had a rawness that I really only associated with rock that sat just outside the mainstream. It allowed Biggie’s raps and rapping to take center stage. It was refreshing. Biggie might have my favorite voice in rap and is one of my favorite story tellers to boot. After this album, it was over for everything else. I was absolutely hooked on the east coast scene of hip hop’s Golden Era. While it may not be my favorite of the 90s east coast scene (Wu-Tang, Nas, and A Tribe Called Quest have something to say too), I cannot deny that it is because of this album that hip hop was able to entrench itself, in my mind, as one of the most interesting (and frankly important) forms of artistic expression, regardless of medium.
I was excited to finally get this album after only listening to the hits. Sadly, it really didn't click for me. The frequency that he rhymed the same word with itself was actually surprising.
looked up and i was only halfway thru. jesus. i will say that a lot of these songs are really undeniably iconic, but i do agree that a lot of the lyrics in this are def misogynistic and stuff. i really wanted to rate this higher, but i still think it deserves a three for what it is
Pre-listening thoughts: I like a few of Biggie’s really popular songs so I’m hoping I’ll enjoy this 🙏 Post/during listening thoughts: hmm… so Biggie is really talented but I agree with some of the reviews where they say the skits and interludes really tank this. They are so gross most of the time 😭 And there’s quite a bit of misogyny here. Also this is so long. Idk man. Wanted to like this more than I did. 4/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Ready To Die, Everyday Struggle, Big Poppa Least fav tracks: One More Chance, Me and my Bitch, Respect
Not really my thing compounded with some of the album tracks not available on Spotify. The F*** Me (Interlude) was disturbing to me.
Doesn't get old
A classic! The sex sketches were awkward, and were definitely intended for shock value.
For some reason I didn't listen to their at the time. I would have loved it. The skill on show is phenomenal. Unfortunately it feels a bit creepy now
super classic, some really weird moments (blowjob sound)
Not super relatable
sex, money, drugs; fighting to survive
Coming into this already familiar with a lot of Biggie's work. First of all, shout out to the Doggystyle sampling. Secondly, this was a hilarious album choice to listen to while I do homework on a dry technical topic. Yes, the gunshots did make it harder to concentrate, so moment of gratitude that I normally have a quiet study zone. Classic beats that will be sampled til the end of time, smooth rhymes, absolutely unbeatable flow and character from Biggie. Special shout out to the creative freaky funkiness of the track in Machine Gun Funk. A bit of filler in songs like Warning, 1h 16min is a long album and it's impressive that so much of it is timeless quality. That said, the frequent skits, misogyny, violence, and gunshots overwhelm the album. Yes this is a classic but when this album gets listened to today, its with heavily censored and shortened versions, and for good reason. I don't normally like radio edits but it's the only way to cut through the production bullshit and see the genius of Biggie. I live for the funk ~
Old school rap, there’s a time and a place for it…but not often for me.
What a fascinating ‘passage of time’ skit to open an album. Telling a story without rapping about what’s happening. Then “Things Done Changed” drops with one of the coolest, snazziest instrumentals under Biggies iconic flow and it’s just chills! The string section coming in and out on loop, it’s all so lavish. Track after track here, it’s all about hitting licks, kicking back, and living in the afterglow of everything BIG did to come upon these riches. I’m so impressed with the sweet spot these beats find - full of character and texture, but never getting in the way of the rapping. Around “The What”, things start to get a little one-note, which is what makes “Juicy” even more refreshing. What a purely happy song. My problem with this album is just that it’s a little bloated, in a vacuum. Add to the context that biggie never got to put much more out after this, and I can give some lenience, but only some. Still, in so many ways this album is chalk-full of iconography. It forged an immediate legacy, I respect it for that
It’s really good, but somehow not as good as I remembered. I wanted it to be better.
Classic
Better than expected, would not listen with my mom
4/5
This one’s tough. While I really enjoyed some of the music and samples on the album, the lyrics are just dreadful — misogynistic, violent, and ultimately pointless. It makes for a difficult listen. The intro is a perfect example: the samples and musical flow are impressive, but the lyrics completely ruin it. Honestly, I’m not sure this album should even be played anymore. This is the easiest 1/5 I’ve ever given. There really should be an option to give no score at all. Favourite song: Juicy is a great track. Things Done Changed was okay — but even then, it’s about robbery, violence, and identifying a body. Lovely stuff. Out of 19 tracks, only two are really worth a listen. Least favourite: Fuck Me is particularly awful. Album artwork: He was innocent once!!
Decided to just skip a track at the first mention of "Mutha F'er". Album probably lasted <20mins! I know I'm not the target audience for this, but even at that, this is just utter dross!
legende
Big Poppa. Besser als erwartet, dachte ich wäre kein Fan von 90s HipHop. Die Skits dazwischen war eher lustig als nervig. Hat mich horny gemacht
Braggadocious, violent, misogynistic, arrogant, and groovy as shit. A little bloated, but so was Biggie.
Nice variety in the beats, nice lyrical flow, didn’t really care for the skits (but usually don’t). ‘Big Poppa’ is the big track of this album but I really liked ‘Everyday Struggle’ as well. I don’t know near enough about the timeline of rap/hiphop to know why this is great or not, or why it’s part of the 1001 project, but Biggie is an infamous artist and I’m not surprised to find this here. 3.25/5 I’d like to rate this higher but didn’t age well thematically and I could do without the sex noises throughout haha
It's a classic, one of the most important East Coast hip-hop albums. I'd have given it a 5 but it starts off strong, then oscillates, doesn't remain consistent throughout.
It doesn't seem bad, but it's certainly not my type of music, and I'm not sure if I want to hear about murder and sex for over an hour all the time. Let's... not glorify hood life all that much
Insane iconic flow. A couple hits that aren't going anywhere. And then there's the bad. The skits are corny, the content didn't age well. If I put myself back in time, it's still a 4/5.
The lyrics and flows on this from Biggie show the talent he had. My biggest gripes with the album are the skits and the fact it has too much filler. Also probably not the best look for Biggie that Method Man outperformed him on "The What". Regardless, "Juicy" is still a perfect song to me and "One More Chance", "Big Poppa", and "Suicidal Thoughts" are classics. I just wish Biggie had slimmed this down a bit.
Just not a great album really. Hip hop is tough in this form and gangsar rap is even more challenging to fill 45+min of run time. Skits are always bad, and Big's oratoric genius doesn't carry over. Also the one note criticism is valid here. Big didn't have much to say, and he said it often.
Из-за подобного люди и не любят ганста рэп, я в том числе
Classic
Would I listen again? No Some good tunes, but not for me overall
Listened to this album a lot growing up. Felt like revisiting childhood
A good rap album. Beats and pen game are super strong. My only complaint is the dated misogyny.
Classic stuff...
Probably one of the most iconic rap albums of the 90s--if not all time.
BIG sound with a lotta lyric shockas! Rippin my door knockers! BAKKA! BAKKA!
Quite good. Funky samples mixed with lofi East coast drums. I’ve got the cleanest, meanest penis made me lol
One of the GOATs for a reason. Really good album, some great tracks, could’ve done without the sex recording though
Dick and gun lyrics. Cool for 13-year-old boys. Lame and stupid for everyone else.
Man this is a bop.
There's no doubt that the guy could rap. In a technical sense it's a masterpiece of rhythm and flow over well selected samples. The subject matter, however, is not nice. Drugs, guns, sex, and murder. That, it's often autobiographical doesn't really help. I doubt very much that I'll ever feel the need to return to it in the future.
I didn't enjoy this at all. I can't pretend to relate. Horribly depressing.
From the start rap was competitive, bigging up as the best on the mic, just as reggae DJs and sound systems competed. But that was focussed on the music. Somehow the competiton, arrogance and egos turned to misogyny and gang culture. It all went wrong and ended up with stuff like this. If his aim was to reinforce negative stereotypes he succeeded. Maybe this was just aiming to reflect reality while making money, and maybe it did, but did it do anything to improve things? Or did it just glorify terrible attitudes and lifestyles, and perpetuate a bad situation? He died but does that give this any more value or significance? I think not.
There are some undoubtedly infectious grooves and boogie-able production on this album, but I struggle to listen to this album beyond the skin-deep perspective of the sonics alone. The violent themes is one thing, but what really leaves a sour taste for me is the fingerprints of Diddy/P Diddy/Puff Daddy (you get the point) being all over the album. Just hasn’t aged well at all in that regard, let alone with regards to some wider themes.
I don’t think I’ve ever related to music less.