Ready To Die

Slapping the meat, brotha

3.31

goddamn it's big, 19 tracks i listened to 7 of them and i feel i'm ready to die without listening to the others but i listened without skips and it means i liked it more than other rap albums. the lyrics still suck the big one but i like the sound here and i'll even give it three stars to distinguish it from the others.

Before listening I felt more pressure to like it than to not like it. Honestly I was struck by how dark it was, I'm familiar with Biggie but more as a funny rapper. I know about his story so it doesn't ultimately surprise me, but this is not easy listening. Could be a good one when I'm depressed and working out in the gym.

Wow. I used to live by Compton and Inglewood. Brought back many memories.

I've been stun locked on what I was going to rate this album all weekend. I may circle back to this one and update my review at a later date, but I don't think I know enough about biggie as an artist to rate this higher than a 3 atm. I feel like the album wants to say something and I'm too stupid and ignorant of the artists life to have any sort take away. Which is unfortunate because I like his flow and the tracks themselves. without any context it feels like a 50/50 split of fuckin and killing lot of men moaning on the mic on this list, but biggie took it to the next level with these interludes

Many of the best samples, flows, and lines in hip hop. Also, some of the straight up weirdest lines and moves in the genre. Plenty of verses here didn’t age well, but I don’t think that’s completely damning because being raw and provocative was kind of the point. I mean it’s 31 years old, it’s rap from the 1900s. Came out a month after I was born. It’s a testament to the early-ish days of hip hop, as MCs were earning celebrity status and escaping (or trying to escape) some nasty alternatives. Lmao I’m not going to keep writing like I can relate to 90% of Biggie’s story. The only looting I do is on Facebook Marketplace where I meet up at a local coffee shop’s parking lot to sell an old Nintendo DS game. The only guns I’ve owned are Nerf, airsoft, and soldering. Champagne is too carbonated for me; I can’t burp. I just listen to this and think “wow that’s crazy”

Det er igjen dette med at det er fett, men ensformg som album. Åpenbart stort for sin tid, men ikke like treffende og godt som helhet i dag. Jeg tror det primært dreier seg om at jeg personlig trenger mer variasjon

Listening to this album for the first time in 2025 makes me so sad for young Biggie. Overt sexual assault and violence are themes woven throughout the album. He was such a wildly talented artist and it's sad that he died so young. I was really excited to listen to this album, but I found myself cringing a lot due to the subject matter.... or maybe i just don't get it.

Some classic rap/hip hop.

an extra star is always awarded when there's a Curtis sample (not really) Obviously classic, extremely well constructed beats. Musically a 4/5, easily. Vocal flow is super clean. The power-struggling, violent, fragile male ego, misogynistic content of (all) of the lyrics is tired and ages pretty poorly. I like some gangsta rap, usually of the Wu-Tang ilk that acknowledges the darkness and has an element of self-reflection. Ready to Die is mostly just a celebration of small minded behavior and big egos (except for one or two tracks, not enough to convince you that there's really any regret or maturity there.) 1.5/5 on that front. (RIP, tho)

If you can get past the swearing, gun violence, misogyny, sexual references then you might enjoy the raps and beats of this album. Just a bit too much with the sexual references for my taste some of which were a bit gross. I don’t want to listen to that whilst eating my croissant. Best song Juicy.

The rapper is taking us through the life of an anonymous person. The actual story telling might be starting with the release of the protagonist from prison, where he reflects on his life. Starting with his childhood "back in the day". He doesn't recognize his own neighborhood as people lived their lives and grew up. This confusion and anger for this particular passing of time is very common for incarcerated individuals. He has to reintroduced to the society and to the streets where he makes the exact same mistakes that got him sentenced in the first placed. Hard beats, pleasant to listen to, consistent rhythm, a fair bit of screaming from the rapper. Perhaps a bit repetitive, the tracks melt into each other. There is nothing eccentric or special about any of them. No experimentation, which is a welcome feature but not necessary. Pleasant listening experience, but not anything really worth your listening time, but I do like the concept behind the album as successful writing is part of the success but without good tracks it is not enough.

some all time great songs in here but in between he just talks about his dick a bit too much

A classic. The skits and interludes wreck the flow of an otherwise pretty great album. Like many other reviews, those are gonna cost this album a full star. The misogyny (all over this album) doesn’t age well, but we’d go a long way towards cleaning that up if we just threw out those skits/interludes. I’d like to believe Biggie would have grown up and done better if he lived longer, but the recent Sean Combs (Puff Daddy, Puffy, P-Ditty, et al.) court case suggests he probably wouldn’t have. Subject matter aside, Biggie’s flow is silky smooth and the production is impeccable. This is on a similar level to Nas’s Illmatic in the pantheon of great hiphop debuts, but I only have one of them on vinyl (and I have two copies of that one).

not bad, interesting relationship with women, there's definitely sexism, but also borderline sexual adoration? interesting

Too depressing but has juicy and big pappa

Fun listen. Certified hood classic

не впечатляюсь большими реп альбомами, видимо ностальгия / забавный голос / поп-продакшн максимально пересиливают всякие вот эти лирические путешееествия, противостояние берегоов

Better and much funnier than The Chrinic, but it’s still over an hour of “look at me, I got the biggest dick”. Diminishing returns.

I miss when you actually had to be able to rap to be a rapper

Big Poppa loses it luster when you hear Diddy chime in …. Anyone got a remix without him in it yet?

It was fine

Been a while since I listened to this one, but I was really feeling it overall. It was fine.

Skits are bad. His cadence is still one of the greatest even after all these years. The hit songs are great, but much of the album is overly misogynistic and crass. 3/5 Might listen again

Some good raps but honestly not something Id listen to all the time. Also heard a couple remixes that are way better than the originals on here.

Mostly the gangbanging, woman-banging stuff that is to be expected of the genre/era, but Suicidal Thoughts hits hard and seems like it's more of a real window into his head.

It was good, but after a while I just didn’t care that much.

3.4 2x fun and good tracks

Good raps good beats bad skits

Great beats and rapping. Not loving the gansta/misogyny stuff.

Too much penis

Also not my speed

Was kinda nodding off until Juicy hit and this long album picks up way more after that. Plenty of tracks I would cut, but overall it’s bumpin. Minus one star for making me hear head or an imitation of head. Don’t know which would be worse.

I love buggie's sense of rhythm in his line delivery. The beats he chooses and the way he interacts with them are awesome. Some of the lyrics are witty too. I want so much to put rank it higher. The skits and the flow of this album are painful though. Over an hour and it feels like half of it is cartoonish sex or violence things.

A classic to many, I didn’t vibe with it as much

ok, a classic one.

enjoyed it more than I thought I would

Good but rap doesn't sit right with me - I'll never be able to sing along!

This album is probably great for someone who is really into rap, but for me it's just OK. It's definitely iconic though. 3/5

14-year-old boys would love this album

First time listen. Enjoyed although a bit long and feels dated at times. Not my vibe but might have loved it back when it was first released.

A couple of bangers, but too long and of course misogynistic, in my opinion.

East coast 90’s hip hop.

3.5

Pretty good rap album. I expect it to grow on me potentially but i'm usually a greatest hits guy with biggie.

Mér finnst ég vera töff að hlusta á þetta.

I do not fuck enough for this

too many sex sounds lol

I’m blushing ……

he’s too cool for me tbh

Quite long

I do not like literal fucking in my fucking ear when I'm listening to music. Why do I have to hear this big fat nigga fucking and getting sucked off just to also hear "You look so good I'd suck on your daddy dick?" BIG NIGGA PAAAAUUUUUSSSSEEEEEE GODDAMN! Anyway other than that this album is good, I definitely hear, feel, and understand the influence it holds.

13/09/2025 Didn't really blow my mind, but better than we have in today's standards. Spotify listeners: 22.6 million

Der er nogle enkelte kæmpe bangers på den her, men generelt lidt overrated imo. Meget god rapper

For lang men Biggie er en fed rapper og der er mange gode beats!

A bit much sucking of the dick, otherwise fine!

Idk not my thing

Highlights: Things Done Changed, Warning. In a nutshell: a softer kind of gangsta. On Ready To Die, Biggie proved that a rappers don't need to be brash on a hip-hop album. You can still connect with listeners by the songwriting, the flow and the beat. Lines like "There's gonna be some slow-singing and flower-bringing if my burglar start ringing" (Warning) are genius! Tracks could have used some trimming (cringed at the intro of One More Chance). But that's my only complaint. Overall: 5/10

Can appreciate what a rapping talent B.I.G. was although couldn’t necessarily resonate with the subject matter. And could have done with a few less of the ‘interludes’. Might not be sticking this one on for the fam!

Not a big fan of the content. Catchy tunes.

Good but all the songs sound the same to me

Wanted to rate this higher, as I like a lot of Biggie Smalls, including several tracks on this album, but almost all of the lyrics are about having sex (including a gross soundbite of a BJ), killing people, and finally, killing yourself.

Ett till rapalbum från tidigt 90-tal. Ok, det är sköna beats och BIG har en skön röst/flow. En del låtar riktigt najs. Men fy fan vad tröttsamt det är med "skitarna" och tyvärr omöjligt att inte höra de sunkiga texterna. Det sexuella innehållet är så satans cringe.

to be fair he was in his early 20s

GTA Momento

lots of swearing...

didnt listen, have heard before

I wasn't much of a fan of the content of the songs, or the parts of the songs that weren't rap. However, the music was good, and more often than not a bop.

Great to follow along with the story of a recovery from prison but back into the criminal world. Then the rest of the album comes and it's tough lyrically. The flow is top tier.

This album is honestly mind-blowing. I’ve always loved rap, but the 90s weren’t my cup of tea — maybe because I grew up in Serbia during a time when NATO was bombing the country, and that era just felt heavy in a very different way. Still, listening to Ready to Die feels like stepping into the peak of hip-hop. Biggie isn’t just a name — he’s a legend who left an impossible footprint in only 24 years of life. What really strikes me is his presence. The way he breathes through verses, how the words roll off his tongue with perfect clarity — smooth, but sharp. Most fans would call him one of the greatest lyricists, and while “lyricist” can mean different things to different people, I think Biggie’s power was in how real he sounded. He wasn’t ahead of his time; he was right on time for the 90s, embodying the voice of that generation. But as an individual, he was an old soul — someone with weight and wisdom beyond his years. He had two kids, two women, a marriage, a reputation as a straight-A student, still fearful of his mom, yet carrying the complexity of an entire era. And then there’s the title: Ready to Die. His most iconic album, named almost prophetically, because he died so young. You can’t separate the music from the tragedy — it makes his legacy echo even louder. Biggie didn’t just shape 90s rap; he made it timeless, leaving behind something raw, human, and unforgettable.

Neat

I found this difficult to listen to at times. Too much mysogony for my liking. Although musically and the cadence of rapping was quality. Mixed thoughts about this so 3 stars.

Good authentic stories, but a little self-indulgent.

Not my personal taste but i like the mix of funk/disco backing added into certain tracks

The talent is evident, the flow and beats impeccable. Less enthused by the stereotypical 90s lyrics and skits, but still a good album.

Pretty good, but definitely feels dated now. Understood how this is foundational for a lot of rap that followed

Super Nintendo

Great

Not really my vibe, but I still enjoyed it a little. Some vocals were disturbing though, I really didn't need to hear a blowjob.

Not my favorite genre, but a good example of it

Good

I was quite excited to give this a spin again. Things done changed and Gimme the loot are absolutely superb. But man, the album is way too long and extremely, uncomfortably sexist. Tricky innit: a legendary flow and inimitable voice - but a lot of fairly wack productions and some very questionable material.

Had some trouble getting into this one and it's hard to pin down why. I'm hoping I can get another change with Biggie.

yet another iconic song that i was not ready to hear bc i never knew the name omg “i said a hip hop a hippy…” maybe that was just a sample lol… some cool flows and samples/interpolation, definitely feels like the blueprint for a lot of later hip hop really like The What ft. Method Man and Juicy Respect is good too Album is dragging a little for me. usually i like longer songs/albums but i feel like i’m reaching my limit for one sitting/hip hop album some VERY questionable (read: misogynistic) lyrics and some skits didn’t hit

I really enjoyed this album, but the skits brought the rating down by 1 star- they were gross and did not age well.

I can see this being more shocking for the time when it was released. Some of the transitions/interludes took me out of it, but I think they were added to make the tracks a story about life? Maybe it was a Diddy addition... I thought it was a decent old school rap album.

bla

Wayyyyy more sounds of sex than I expected. Great rap. Good beats, funny lyrics, really bigs himself up a lot. Lol, get it. Very good, except for the really specific sounds of sex. Felt a bit much. Yo but the track Suicidal Thoughts is really good. And Big Poppa is famous for a reason. Juicy is great, too.

Me gustó pero las letras mhhh mucho lo mismo, mucho putear, etc. Nota: 2.8

B I G

Mmmhmmm juice! 🧃 Me and my brother grew up listening to hiphop together, but I’ve always been more of a west coast girlie while he’s all about east coast rappers. Maybe I just can’t handle the cold?!

⭐️Juicy

Felt like a biography. Enjoyed a few of the songs. The intro was fun conceptually but not to listen to. The noises at the end of Respect were atrocious I hated that. Best song: Things Done Changed Notable(s): Me and My Bitch, Big Poppa

Amazing listen. Too much sex. To be played under very specific scenarios. 3/5

Pretty good, not my typical cup of tea but decent enough.

3 or maybe a 3.5? I already liked a lot of these before, but never listened all the way through. Not really a lyrical analyst kind of person so some of the stuff less tasteful stuff doesn’t bother me if the vibes are good enough. The last 4 or 5 really had me nodding my head.

Sick flow. Love the old school beats

I get it, I've just never vibed with it.

The record was surprisingly good!! While some of the interludes were ridiculously sexual and very uncomfortable, the rest of the songs held up very well. And I LOVE 90’s hip hop. This is a good record!

Not really my style; gunshots, babies crying, sex, etc. Important narratives on the state of society but wasn't especially enjoyable to listen to. It does include some iconic and great songs like Juicy and Big Poppa, which don't seem to align well with the rest of the album - which is perhaps why they're so great.

I can appreciate it, but this isn't really my kind of music

Cool

3 or maybe a 3.5? I already liked a lot of these before, but never listened all the way through. Not really a lyrical analyst kind of person so some of the stuff less tasteful stuff doesn’t bother me if the vibes are good enough. The last 4 or 5 really had me nodding my head.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

Great beats and lyricism but the sex skits ruined it for me, I simply do not want to listen to that

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.

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.

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?

I don’t feel like I have the history or perspective enough to adequately review this album. I’m glad I listened.

Crispy Clean Beats. Flow always on Point. But for me it’s way to long.

Good Album , for the Rap Fans

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

17 songs, two topics. Rhymes are great though. Imagine what could have been if puffy didn’t kill him.

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.

Great beats and funny lyrics (though the second might not be intentional).

I do like Big Poppa. 3.5 Stars

Sexnoises.mp3

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.

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

Pretty good, not overhyped which is pretty impressive. Some of the interlude bits got a little annoying after a while though.

Solid album

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.

It's good, but most of it doesn't stick out to me. Top listen 'Gimme the Loot'.

cool

Rap isn’t my vibe but I liked this

Got some classics on here but not an album I would normally reach for

good album, not sure about repeatability for me

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.

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.

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

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

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.

he died

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

Vissa bra, kan tänka mig att höra mer

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

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

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

Old school rap, there’s a time and a place for it…but not often for me.

Better than expected, would not listen with my mom

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 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

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.

Quite good. Funky samples mixed with lofi East coast drums. I’ve got the cleanest, meanest penis made me lol

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.

nothing super interesting, just some west coast rap. still pleasant to listen to.

It may be because I've never really been that into the 90s rap style, but I feel like this one is overrated. The name is also some unfortunate foreshadowing. RIP

Biggy is a legend, but this has not aged well. The skits really bring things down, but the songs are still good if you can put yourself in a 90s mindset.

Maybe 2,5-3? Too many slurpy noises

That cover hits stronger than the songs do, but I have a perspective with a hard time keeping up with the relentless lyrics. It probably gets better with repeat listening and a better grasp of those lyrics.

I know this is a seminal hip-hop record, and it's got a couple really good tracks, but overall I've never quite gotten the hype for it.

It was done well. There was just so much of it. I was tired of the whole thing by the end.

His flow is incredible. The subject matter is mind-numbly redundant. I look forward to the next remastered edition, where P Diddy's moaning hype man routine has been edited out of the back track.

Good old school East Coast rap. Not my favorite - I was more of a West Coast guy. And now the affiliation with Diddy sort of ruins Biggie’s rep a little more. But still a classic example of early 90s rap style.

The rhymes and flow are great. The content is not for me.

Good

Difficult to get past the misogynistic lyrics. Putting them (and the unnecessary sex noises) to one side this album does feature some tunes. Juicy stands out. Sent me looking again for the notorious xx project where he was remixed with the The xx album

Biggies delivery is buttery smooth whilst always slightly yelling. The sometimes soulful production I really enjoyed and there are a few gems that I'd pick out and listen to on occasion: "Juicy", "Everyday struggle", "Big poppa" were all highlights. Respect was good but the end was vile. In fact, a lot of it was vile; you don't have to listen too hard for the same misogynistic, vulgar, homophobic, violent message. I'm no prude but at times it was too much for me, it's also cringey as fuck. The skits don't hold up well. It was a letdown in light of all the other positives. But, eh can't have it all.

The fact it's so dated is both simultaneously the best and worst thing about it. I thought it started off well, but then became a bit of a slog. I could have done without all the skits and sex sounds. I enjoyed this more than anything I've heard by Tupac, so congrats!

Digs

A killer record, great flow & lyrics

I've heard Biggie's music, but I don't think I've listened to this one all the way through. Overall, it is very good. Just about everyone has heard Juicy and Big Poppa. Some others that stood out to me were Things Done Changed, Gimme the Loot, and The What (with M E T H O D Man). The flow, music, and grooves are all amazing for the most part. The lyrics do get a little tired after a while, but I guess that's what sold in '94. I also did not like the vignettes or whatever they were throughout the album. All they did was disrupt the flow. Overall a good album. Hard to believe he was only 24 when he died.

Definitely feel like I should give it another listen to while really paying attention to the lyrics, but I don’t mind it as background music.

I know he was “Just Playin’,” but the last track had some lyrics that were beyond simply uncomfortable about a child and date rape. Smacking Tina Turner around is also in poor taste. Too bad, too, because it otherwise had a great beat. And forgetting that one for a minute, I can definitely see why people call him one of the best in the genre.

Not for me. I thought I would be able to hear how much better Biggie was than other rappers, but I couldn’t.

Painful in so many ways, but I guess I see that he was a good rapper.

Not really my thing, but no doubt Biggie could rap.

It was hard. I'm not crazy about the genre compared to more complex instruments

kell egy speckó vibe nekem az ilyen gettó raphez, amúgy jó, meg pl a telepen fun mikor ilyen szól, de nem a kedvenc zsánerem, a s2exes tracket nem teljesen tudtam hovatenni:)

Kedvenc/Favourite: Gimme The Loot Őszintén nagyon meglepődtem mennyire élvezhető volt számomra, nagyon válogatós vagyok, ha rapről van szó. Nem hiszem, hogy sűrűn vissza fogok térni hozzá, még mindig nem az én világom, de örülök, hogy adtam ennek egy esélyt. I was honestly very surprised how enjoyable it was for me, I'm very picky when it comes to rap. I don't think I'll be coming back to it often, it's still not my thing, but I'm glad I gave it a chance.

I didn’t enjoy it as much as I was hoping to.

It was good, It was evident how he had such a great skill of story telling through his music. I liked how he had a great flow when rapping. I disliked the sexual themes, especially the "Fuck me Interlude"

It was ok

The grooves on here are undeniable. Most of the better tracks wait for the second half of the album ("Big Poppa," "Respect"). The production is great and B.I.G. has great flow, but I don't hear why some consider him one of the greats.

the talent is there and there are some bright spots in the album where he really gets into some great poetry, but it drags on too long and I just don't enjoy some of the content regardless of the talent behind it.

Prinzipiell schon gut, aber die meisten Lieder haben mich nicht wahnsinnig abgeholt. Zwei sehr nice Lieder. Old School Hip Hop 3/5

Why is every single hip hop album over an hour? Have these people ever heard of "leave them wanting more"? This isn't the fairest review as I only gave it one listen. I was debating one or two stars. But I decided to go back through some of the tracks and read along with the lyrics and properly concentrate and focus my thoughts fully on the music which definitely helped a lot. If I had time I'd listen to albums as many times as I could. With other genres, there are vocal lines, melodies, solos, riffs, something catchy to 'grab' onto. With rap, there's a constant looped beat and unless you follow along with the words it's difficult to 'grab'. That's the best way I can describe my personal feelings towards hip hop. 'Juicy' is obviously the best track here. It's got a really funky bass line running through it and actually sounds quite uplifting in comparison to the rest of the album. I wish the whole album was exactly like this track. Biggie really shines on 'One More Chance' and 'Respect' too, they're both very good. He's an enjoyable rapper to listen to. I like the laid back delivery of most of the lyrics. 'Gimme The Loot' however is quite an aggressive track, Biggie and whoever else that is on the track sound great. The skits are probably funny once, and then just ruin the flow of the album. Stop with the skits. These ones were particularly cringe. I would probably enjoy this more with more listens. Really popular stuff like Kanye and Eminem I like because it's familiar and I can follow along with the lyrics that I already know which helps a lot, so this is difficult to rate after just one listen. I'll assume I'll like it more after more spins, so I'll give it a 3.5 rounded down.

we were doing so well until the slurping.

this was a real mixed bag for me. pros: - love the creative censoring spotify does for some of these lyrics, changing the curses into dashes or the n-word into obvious substitutes like "man" and "people" and "why they" (???). those might be radio edit lyrics but still, amazing stuff. - biggie raps about his pager at least twice in these songs, and probably more if i had listened more closely. it's like, dude, aren't you like 19? why do you even have a pager? kids those days, always on their damn pagers!! - the beats and flow are pretty slick here. - after the confusing and unimpressive intro, the album opens nicely with things done changed and the next song available on spotify, warning. one more chance even has a cool interpolation/parody in it. - i love it when you call me big poppa cons: - holy shit these skits have to stop. i don't need women moaning and slurping in my ears while i'm at work. -- side note: i know pornography was a lot harder to come by (pun intended) 30 years ago but were there people out there who were like "oh boy, a 15-second skit of a horny lady moaning on my rap album, now THIS is the good stuff" like what does this inclusion actually do for your credibility vis-a-vis bitches and hoes, mr. smalls? i rest my case. - on a related note, the misogyny here is mind-boggling. comes with the territory and time period i guess but yiker's island, what are we doing here. - boy this album is long, huh? it really starts to wear out its shtick after a couple tracks, and it doesn't help that most of these tracks are around 4-5 minutes long already. all in all, it's gonna be 2.5 stars from me, dog. i guess i'll throw you a bone and round up. favorites: things done changed, warning, juicy, big poppa

That's not my taste in music - But ok, some cool songs

He has a great flow and the beats are good. But even putting the misogyny aside, having the same lyrical theme song after song, only broken up by crappy skits kills the enjoyment.

was always west coast but i'm mature now and have put long dead (no pun intented) rap beefs behind me. i still don't care for this album. yes, biggie is talented and it carries such an aura that you have to respect, but there's so much fat to be cut (pun intended) and i have a hard time finding standout songs that aren't the hits. the skits sucked too

Quite catchy beats and poignant lyrics

I could only listen to this once, so the review isn't really fair. I honestly expected more from this. It is a solid album with really good beats and flow, but there wasn't anything that clicked. If I had more time, maybe it would be able to grow on me, but for now, this gets 3 stars.

Shame BIG’s legacy is so tied to the rapist P Diddy.

While the overall tone was terribly misogynistic from start to finish, I did enjoy the overall style and sound they were laying down. Maybe it's because I'm listening to this 30 years after its original release (who knows). But damn is this album unnecessarily bloated. I don't need skits and interludes between almost each and every track. I especially didn't want to (or need to) hear "renditions" of Biggie and his sexual escapades throughout.

The beats and music were great, the interludes and skits unnecessary, and rapping was unique. Typical.

already heard - fav is hypnotize - overly long

норм. вайбовый, семплированный хип-хоп. местами слишком пошловато))

a masterclass in lyricism featuring the some of the biggest hits in the genre, but a chore to get through at times.

Gimme the loot

These hour-plus gangsta rap albums are fast becoming more of a chore to listen to than anything enjoyable. Maybe it’s just the mood I’m in, the time of day, whatever. I hate to say this, but it’s all the same. It’s vaguely interesting and certainly respectable, but just not entertaining enough. It’s not even the consistently vulgar and often pornographic content, it’s just that it doesn’t sound different enough to the albums I’ve had previous, e.g. The Chronic. I can’t say anything else about this, really. A landmark album, fine, but not all that remarkable.

the skits really brought this down

Definitely an album built on shock value. Big's flows and rhymes are impeccable, a true microphone renegade and ambassador of 90's east coast flow. The samples too are beyond iconic, and Juicy is one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. But, the day and age of porno skits and interludes of gunfire are over and really demolish what big built here. I have the same opinions of west coast 90's g funk and hip hop. But, rap and hip hop were only about 20 years old at the release of this behemoth, so I tip my hat to Big for redefining the genre and absolutely demolishing the competition.

Rough lyrics and terrible skits, but a lot of tracks with undeniably excellent beats and flow. Low points aside, it made for an unexpectedly fun soundtrack to my daily walks. Favorite tracks: Juicy, Everyday Struggle

I feel BIG was one of those artists that started normalising the transition from old style rap to the new one. Great beats, but the kind of rap lyrics that overwhelm the genre nowadays

long

I was sure that this was going to be an easy 5. One of the best rappers ever, what a flow. Production is great. It just didn't age well. The skits are out of control, and there's just to much of everything.

This was solid, though the lyrics are a bit embarrassing - A bit ‘did ye aye?’ but he probably did.

Classic 90s hip-hop. Not bad. The constant lyrics about drugs, guns and sex get annoying after a few tracks. Giving this one a 3/5.

There’s some real hits on here and it’s a great breakthrough album. There’s some weak stuff in the middle as well.

Битые неинтересные, скучные, некоторые вообще попсово-РнБишные. Стиль читки Бигги мне никогда особо не нравился. Так что ни одна песня не понравилась. Единственной отдушиной был куплет Method Man в песне "The What".

Fuck me interlude? Lol

Some bangers but some meh

I like slower rap because I can understand it better and there are a lot of good rhymes. Now I don't like all the b*tches, hoes and misogyny. I also don't know if I look at the violence as trying to make a political statement or just being violent. Plus P. Diddy just sort of makes this all tainted of me. Is it influential...for sure East Coast and West Coast probably wouldn't be nearly what it is without it. I just think maybe for actual music and not just cultural influence, others do it better.

This was ok. Not bad, but a lot of bitches and hoes with less meaningful songs to balance that out. And I could’ve done without the sex SFX, especially at the end of the reggae song, which I rather liked until the end. Also hard to listen to those sounds knowing how much Puffy was involved in this album. Anyway. There’s a reason I’m west side apparently. Give me Tupac!

It was interesting and intense hip-hop. He’s talented but very vulgar and I thought it wasn’t bad but not the best. Just not my kind of music.

3- Stars (7/15)

Fun beats that I would come back to listen to again

It's funny how I've heard the name "Notorious B.I.G." so much over the years, but as far as I know I've never heard anything by him, and don't actually know Biggie Smalls' story at all (although I guess I might have known he got killed right before his second album was released). Not the most promising start to the album between the endless f-bombs on "Intro" and plenty of n-words throughout, but I suppose that's largely par for course for 90s rap/hip-hop, particularly East Coast hip-hop, as depressing as it is to hear and watch the glamorizing of drugs, violence and sexism, although I do appreciate it that occasionally you get the darker side of it all on this album, and you definitely get a sense that Biggie Smalls experienced a lot of what he sings about. Interesting story-telling on several of the tracks, especially "Gimme the loot", the title track "Ready to die", and "Respect". Overall, though, this is far too long for what you get, especially for a debut album. I'm glad to have finally heard it, but I doubt I'd revisit this, just based on my personal music tastes. (It reminds me of how I read this amazing review for E-40's "Charlie Hustle: Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire", went out and bought it, and then listened to it exactly once.)

Funny coincidence to have 2pac and Biggie right after each other. This album is pretty bloated just like Biggie himself. The skits are awful but the songs are all bangers. The songwriting does get repetitive after a while though. Could count about 20 different cars he bragged about and shooting and fucking and bragging gets tiresome here.

The beats are made from classic soul and funk samples with a bit of live bass to animate them, for a smooth easy going sensual strip club feel that fits well with the horny songs and offers a stark contrast on those that deal with the violence of hustling life. He's got an incredible lyrical gift and delivery, layering rhymes on top of each other relentlessly in a fluid direct cadence that plays around the beat to create a autobiographical/self-mythologizing narrative, that ends in a remarkably introspective reflection on lovelessness and how little it all amounts to in the end. The skits are so annoying and it gets a bit samey over an hour, but there are torrents of masterful verses and Big-Poppa has probably THE most iconic sound of 90s hip hop.

Behind the sex tape audio and gun shot sounds there are some serious jams here.

Biggie sounds excellent, there are some great lines, and a few major hits. There’s also a lot that didn’t hold my attention. Not my favorite type of rap.

East Siiiiiiiide

I liked Big Poppa, I did not like listening to that sloppy blow job

It was ok

This wasn't terrible, but I got a little tired of all the talking.

Musically/hook wise/Biggie’s rapping abilities: amazing Lyrically/content: I’m too old for this kind of thing Skits: dumb/unnecessary It’s terrible to think about what might have been going on in the background with P.Diddy pulling the strings

Sad to hear he dieded of diabeetus, his music was aight

Classic

I like the instrumentals and his flow, but I found the songs blended into one a little bit. Also that skit in the middle was unbearable.

Ok

77 minutes of rap is a lot to ask of a person who doesn't care for rap. Blah. With that out of the way, this was fine. I know Biggie is considered one of the greatest rappers and so I was invested in listening. It's just that rap is never going to be a genre I choose to listen to.

Может быть каждый бар тут можно цитировать, и весь вот этот контекст убийства, и так далее, но в целом мои впечатления смешанные. И вот эти секс-скиты и мизогиния совершенно не помогают. Лучшая песня - The What (feat. Method Man)

Relentless flow, and deliberately claustrophobic. This suffers from the mindset of early CD era - "PUT IT ALL ON, WE HAVE GOT SEVENTY MINUTES TO FILL." It could do with some edits, I think. But the highs are pretty high!

Good.

I totally missed this era of music. Nice to revist

His vocals are clean, his flow is good and the storytelling is all there. His talent really shines through on this record, way too many skits though.

Heard better since this was first generated from me.

BIG is a 5* artist, but this loses points be abuse... - it's a single issue album. Lots of "I do crime and shoot people" and not much else - the Intermissions are a bit cringe, and as Diddly was involved I can only imagine that was his influence. It's a good listen, and BIGs storytelling and flow are unparalleled, but this isn't an album I'll ever play front to back ever again

I enjoyed a few songs (the ones I’ve heard already) but overall it’s not really my thing.

I liked it. Good beats and production, had me bopping. The sex stuff is a bit gratuitous but the rappings great and got soul man!

Ok

The visualizations I get almost feels like a musical the way the dialogue happens throughout the album I feel like stylistically, Lin Manuel Miranda is heavily influenced by this narrative flow and style - especially in Hamilton Favorite Songs: Gimme the Loot, Juicy

Biggie's flow and rhyming are fantastic, but this album is bloated by all the skits and filler, and the lyrics are about the things that have put me off 90s hip hop for decades - violence and misogyny - which prevents me from enjoying his obvious talent. It's such a a shame we didn't get to see the rapper he could have matured into.

Classic

A classic but now all I can think of is baby oil. :(

I really like the style and execution, however, the violence and in-your-face sex knocks this down for me.

Liked the album. Had some classic bangers on, not sure if I’d listen to it over and over again though.

Buenos beats. Algunas canciones muy buenas. Me costó conectar con el álbum.

I like the drama. Hard to listen to this with new ears though

Some classic tracks, but not a classic album for me. Great flow, great delivery, great rhymes, but sounding dated and the lyrical themes (misogyny, homophobia, glorification of violence and drugs etc) let it down. And the sex noises are not big or clever (unlike Biggie).

not really my vibe

Could get into some of the songs and really disliked some of the others. Overall it’s just not really my thing.

Classic album from an all time great. Sound is a bit dated now though and the skits are unnecessary. 5.5/10 (2.75/5)

Although Hip-Hop is not really my favourite gerne, I quite enjoyed this one. Apart from the weird "sex-interludes", the tracks were quite mellow

Like other reviews pointed out, this really didn’t age well lyrically. The beats and rap still hit, but the message of violence and misogyny is difficult to overlook.

Overhyped

3/5

s'Alright. Not quite what a 54 year old pasty rock fan from Yorkshire tends to enjoy - fun beats, lots of juvenile stuff here. He can rap, the samples are beautiful, but this is more fun for my 14 year old son

Nix the skits and this is probably a low 5.

Massive debut. While the general aesthetic, stile and "content" feel kind of dated today, Biggie Small's flow and lyrics and rhymes and delivery are something to behold. I don't even mind the skits that much. Still, over an hour of good, but not spectacular, dated gangster rap is just too much. 3.5/5

This was a hole in my musical knowledge - I only knew the popular tracks: Juicy and Pig Poppa. Some of the backing tracks are great, especially ones that sound like movie scores (so I guess props to P Ditty for that). Biggie has a great delivery and I especially liked the tracks that were dialogs. But at the end of the day I’m not really into the style.

A lot of the songs are pretty great, with a couple classics amongst them. But, I could do without the "interludes," and the misogyny and violence wore me out by the end

Skilled, at times fun and funny gangster rap.

Dude's got skills, no doubt. His flow is killer. But the subject matter and the skits get tiresome. Some great songs on here, though.

Flow, samples, beats are a 5. Lyrical content gets old pretty fast and the skits really ruin any kind of uniformity. Like did I really need to hear a girl asmr his dick in a song?

Didn’t really resonate with me, guess it wasn’t supposed to. Regardless, I enjoyed some classic songs, great beats, and that nonchalant delivery of dark subject matter that only Biggie could achieve.

I have to admit, this album was actually pretty cool to listen to. Back in the 90s, I never gave it a chance because it was so trendy and commercial, especially with suburban kids who thought they were gangsters. That audience always turned me off, and I was more into other styles of music back then. Revisiting it now, I realized it has really good production and is better than I expected, especially for its time. The album uses a lot of great old samples of funk, jazz, and R&B, which adds a lot of depth. Another pleasant surprise was seeing DJ Premier involved in the production, as I’ve always enjoyed him. Overall, it was a much better experience than I anticipated.

Nice beats, and I have a soft spot for Biggie’s flow and voice. Album could have been 20 minutes shorter, and lyrically some of the stuff doesn’t hold up. But it wasn’t terrible.

Loved “Juicy” and “Big Poppa” but that’s about it. Those are the two I was familiar with before listening to this, and I hoped to enjoy this based on those songs. But I didn’t. I enjoy hip hop a fair amount, but this just didn’t grab me. The Diddy of it all probably didn’t help either. This was just okay, but I wanted more.

I admit I really know nothing about this genre of music and the key players. I am taking the time to listen and try to learn. It is still difficult to listen to because of the violence and mysogeny. However, music is for performers to tell their stories and I think Notorious B.IG. had a story to tell, even if it is a way that I can't relate to.

Where I’m forced to finally deal with the question of whether or not to include skits when deciding on a rating. Rap skits are SO bad! Especially the ones from the 90s omg. My first thought is just to ignore the skits and rate the music, which would easily be at least a 4. Howevah, the skits are clearly there for a reason, and for better or worse (worse) are part of the artist’s vision. This is all just rambling to say I feel so sad imagining the poor girl giving a fake blow-job in a recording booth, almost definitely multiple times so they could get a good take.

I'm going to level with you here, I felt ready to review this once we'd reached Big Poppa - track 13 with 6 to go. This album is so long not because it's 1 hour 16 but because it's 1 hour 16 of tracks that feel the same. P-Funk samples so beloved of early 90s hip-hop (Dre, Cube etc), bars that feature gats, bitches and money with a side-order of respect to the players, disses to the fakers etc. It's not a bad album and can see why people rate it, but prime Cube for example I would say does this if not better than a bit more concisely. And the skits. Stop the skits.

Largely very catchy music, interesting as autobiography, the ending is really haunting

The classics are classic, but too many violent skits and gun talk for me to really enjoy or identify with it.

Old School hip-hop has its place, but it's almost impossible not to sound outdated in 2024. Sometimes, the qualities can be so astonishing that we can try to analyze it with 90s eyes, but sometimes not. A good number of songs on this album can be appreciated without the bitter taste in the mouth, but the whole album is much more historically significant rather than enjoyable to listen to. It deserves the spot on the 1001 list, but I'm unsure if I'll re-listen to it as a whole album after today.

Deeply foundational of the East Coast hip hop experience, and clearly some of the tracks on here are major bangers, but after a while you begin to feel he’s shot his load, and it starts to get tiring.

This may be iconic, but does that make it good?

great beats but those interludes/intro are so cringe. 3 stars

Not for me.

6.5/10