Reviews (page 9 of 14)
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
Too crude for me
Meh
Nothing more than a 3
Autobiographical and layered
It started out strong but then really dragged.
Well what can I say, amazing album. Just find the sexual stuff and the misogyny not to my taste, it only makes the album sound dated but whatever. The beats and flow are still incredible nothing to say about there and some of the interludes are a bit sucky but its fine. One of those albums where you can pick your favorites and listen to them on a playlist and just forget about everything else. Favorite track its probably "Juicy" or "Suicidal Thoughts".
Mmmfunfunfunny in my tumtumtummyyieeee
Good stuff, but I’m more of a Tupac guy. Juicy, One Chance, and Big Poppa are the highlights from this album. Legendary.
Cinematic. I don’t listen to the genre much, this was intensely dramatic, almost stressful. Then porny. Then sadly prescient. “Sometimes I hear death knockin at my front door”. While I get how massive this album was for the genre, it’s not for me.
Majorly outshined by Life After Death
As far as rap albums go, this wasn’t the worst. I could have done without the skits and adlibs, felt that didn’t add anything to it.
Biggie was a great rapper and I don't think this album took enough advantage of what he could do. I think the slower groovier tracks make use of contrast. Diana King on Respect livens that one up a lot. The first single Party and Bullshit is miles beyond anything on this album. The skits are really obnoxious, though the last one track sort of gets the skit backing to work with the song. production: hated. (⌐⬛_⬛)
Same problem I’ve had with trying to evaluate most of the other 90s hip hop albums on here so far: it’s just pretty tough to overcome a lot of the content. Different world. Sonically, liked this one quite a lot. Better delivery than his peers that’s for sure. This is a round down from 3.5.
Never listened to this album before in it's entirety. Not generally what I listen to but loved the lyrics.
Not as bad as I had feared! Some interesting melodic beats, but quite a lot of posturing. I laughed out loud at 'oreo cookie-eating... pickle juice-drinking ... V8- drinking...' on "Fuck me". I don't need to hear it again, but I enjoyed the experience!
I was never big into Biggie. I wouldn't say overrated, but close to. The biggest thing that's always bugged me about him was all of Puffy's background chirping just to get his prima donna ass on a winner's album. Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Ready to Die' has good writing, but as usual, falls victim to the too may skits that rap albums have and this one's no different yielding a 1 1/4 hour album. No album needs to be that long. 3/5
This one was a little difficult because, reputationally, this is one of the best rap albums ever made by one of the greatest rappers that ever lived. My reality, however, is that I never connected to it, or Biggie, when it came out. I have, of course, heard the radio hits hundreds of times, but I was legitimately curious to see how I would respond listening to the full album now, with fresh ears. Verdict: mediocre. I still just don't connect with it. Look, it's fine. It's very OK! There are some good songs, even one great song, but mostly it's just fine. As a hilarious bonus, while listening to the song Who Shot Ya?, which was/is a Tupac diss track, my mind kept going, "Who Shot Ya but you punks didn't finish, you 'bout to feel the wrath of a menace," which are the lyrics to Hit 'em up, Tupac's rebuttal, and the greatest diss track of all time. Checkmate, Tupac. Three stars.
Enjoyable though not my music type
The lyrical content is seriously nasty 🤢 but completely see why he's so highly rated... Really playful and energising.
Such a frustrating listen for me because the delivery can be so strong at times and Biggie demonstrates several times over that he give us a strong track. Over and over again my enjoyment would be detailed by a weak song, or a dumb skit (the bj skit is almost as bad as Eminem’s bj skit). This listen did encourage me to see if it was Biggie who rapped the line, “Check Yo’self, before you wreck Yo’self”. Turns out Ice T was the originator there, so that was neat. Maybe Notorious would have matured and eventually released a 10/10 album if he survived but this ain’t it. 3 stars
READY TO DIEEEE ich lieb sini mächtig stimm es isch so fucking violent hahahaha "for my fucking bread and butter I leave N.. in the gutter" machine gun funk riese banger I've the cleanest meanest penis🤨 jaa d lyrics fanged ah chli störe hahahaha joaaa s interlude wos rifach figged hani müsse überspringe ja juicy halt riese banger everyday struggle wirdmer denn au wieder ewigs nahlaufe D ANNIK LAHT IRGENDE SCHEISSE LAUFW respect isch ja huuuere geil BRO WAS ISCH DAS FÜREN SCHLUSSSSSSSSSSSSSS ich muss nöd amene blowjob zuelose FRIEND OF MJNE IRESE BEAT ja s album usch z lang wie so oft. dass d lyrics nöd guet galteret sind mussmer glaub gar nöd sege d beats und sini stimm sind ebe scho huere guet, ich schwanke zwüsche 3 und 4
I love the way Biggie starts this album off in the intro. From the jump, he builds a compelling story that's intense and cinematic in scope. But this is some grim stuff, in spite of Biggie's clear talent and vision. The darkness and fatalism of his worldview as well the sheer misanthropy and crudeness of the lyrics made this a rough listen. I can't say I enjoyed much of this at all, but I do respect it. Fave Song: Big Poppa, Juicy, Things Done Changed
01) Intro - 6,0 02) Things Done Changed - 7,0 03) Gimme the Loot - 6,5 04) Machine Gun Funk - 8,0 05) Warning - 6,5 06) Ready to Die - 6,5 07) One More Chance - 7,0 08) #!*@ Me (Interlude) - 1,0 09) The What - 6,5 10) Juicy - 7,0 11) Everyday Struggle - 7,0 12) Me & My Bitch - 6,5 13) Big Poppa - 7,5 14) Respect - 7,0 15) Friend of Mine - 6,5 16) Unbelievable - 7,0 17) Suicidal Thoughts - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,47 (65/100) Current ranking: 154/196 If I wanted to listen to the sounds of sex, I would go to porn hub and turn down the volume. Back to the album, a typical nineties rap album, with a lot of swearing, shooting, fu**ing... Not too interesting, at least from my point of view. I'll have to watch some documentary on Netflix because I'm still not sure who killed who and if Notorious had anything to do with 2Pac's murder and vice versa.
This album has both similar and completely different problems from 2Pac's Me Against the World, which only makes sense. Despite the media pitting these two against each other, there's a reason the same general group now adore them, and while that may be some amount of nostalgia, they still hit similar beats of gang life in their area, and take time to both bring down and rise up women, as well as various other day-to-day activities for them. However, I think what this album lacks lyrically compared to 2Pac's introspection is its flows and beats, which are great. Biggie seems to never stop talking, and that is all the more impressive by its runtime being over an hour. Sure, some topics are touched on a couple of times, but it is always a pleasure to just listen to, and the beats, while minimalistic to a degree, are notorious for a reason. There are some deeper topics covered, such as the final track's heavy, destructive closing statements that just make you sit there and wonder if the whole rest of the album was a cover, but what makes it fall apart for me is that the rest of the album doesn't seem to reflect this idea. Rather, you get guns, sex, and drugs, and man is there A LOT of each. Really don't need to hear this man get sloppy toppy nor rigorous, greasy sex, I could live without hearing that, and while the songs discussing these topics sound good, often times tuning in lyrically leads to a few eyebrow raises. Nothing crazy, but it took me out of the flow more than once, and was aggravating even. It's an album with a ton of potential, but I feel like that's lost in its coat of 90s sleaze. I understand the bravado was admirable at the time, but now it just feels goofy, and can really hurt this album for a listener ill prepared. Tons to enjoy, and for this to be someone's only album while alive is impressive to say the least, but you will not be finding something new to enjoy if you didn't like gangsta rap before this album.
Solid rap and some recognizable tunes. Too much vulgar language for my particular enjoyment. Everyday Struggle is a good jam
Cool cool 😎
There were some fun songs
This was a decent album. I didn’t love a lot of the beats, but the flow was good and the lyrics were strong
I had to go to find a full playlist with all the songs on Youtube because half of the songs were unavailable on Spotify. I know that this is a great album for the ones who love that kind of older rap music but I haven't really liked that thing where they basically just talk. There is nothing catchy and I personally didn't enjoy it that much. I don't like the rap that is popular now either, but instead I like the more melodic one. Of course, there were some songs that were alright, and I think that Big Poppa is the most famous one.
obv a classic but yeah
Honestly, I was pretty surprised with Ready To Die, it turned out to be a bit better than i was expecting. The production of most of these songs was handled super well and it made the songs have some rather cool beats. The lyrics were alright too even if they did involve flexing some of the time, but hey that's probably what you are gonna expect in rap music and the flexing here seemed a little more interesting since it also involved his early life. This album is actually pretty decent and is a welcome album for my return to looking at 90s hip hop after a long absence. Best Song: Respect Worst Song: Intro
Not sure "Just Playin" still plays given its reference to Raven Simone (in 94) and the stuff with Puffy.
The obsession of hip hop artists with misogyny and violence is so juvenile and after listening to a few such albums in a short span of time I'm very sick of it. That said, the music is quite catchy
way too many skits
The usual kind of over-the-top bravado. Amusing but nothing special.
2,5
Biggie has this incredible way of being extremely real, such a good storyteller. There's a few songs that really lets him down as they're quite sexist and it makes it hard to relate.
Didn’t like it as much as his previous albums. Maybe it was the remaster? The production felt too clean somehow. 6/10
The interlude threw me for a loop. I think the album gradually got better and redeemed itself at the end. Went out with a bang!
God rap
5/10 I had some fun listening to this. Not something I would have listened to on my own. 4-19-2024
Good Rap album not something I would really dig into again, I guess I would like the songs to have a faster rhythm.
Maybe Biggie desired to be murdered so he didn’t have to end his own life. I mean, that doesn’t imply he actually wanted to die, just that he welcomed death all the same. I’m into the vibe, but I think it’s not my style overall.
Great lyricist but this is a pretty weak album outside of Juicy and Big Poppa. Same type of rhythmic beats over and over. 2.5/5
Not for me. I'm sure it's a great example of it's style though.
Good beats but the lyrics get weak over time.
This album is ok, I would not consider it a must listen
best songs: juicy, big poppa
Definitely some classics on this album that even I have heard plenty of times. GIMME THE LOOT! I didn't appreciate the porn blasting in my headphones while mowing the lawn. The beat in Unbelievable is top notch. Not generally a rap fan, and this honestly didn't do much to change that. He's got some serious flow and the lyrics are full of emotion, but I just doubt I'll ever listen to this again. That being said, the hits are great, the beats had me bopping, and I enjoyed it more than I expected to. It just takes some active listening to appreciate everything. High 3 personally.
not really for me YNN
Biggie isn't really my sound, and the violence and anger don't resonate with me much. But there were some positive songs in there, and the flows, hooks and beats were quite good. Biggie was clearly a very talented rapper and I respect the hell out of him for that. Great storytelling too. Three stars.
I hate that interlude
There are some good beats and his lyrics/flow is easy to follow. I remember when "Big Poppa" came out, but it sounds different to me now. Dated, I guess. Not my thing, but overall good. 3.6
6/10 solid rap album but there’s so much blatant misogyny that I was just rolling my eyes for a large portion of this
A seminal hip hop album. Lost a star due to terrible skits and sex noises.
Don't quite get the hype tbh, thought it had a few good songs but not consistent and some of the lyrics I found cringey and didn't really resonate with me
Biggie was, without a doubt, incredibly skillful as an artist, that being said, this is the type of album where you take out the standout songs and put them in your own playlist and ignore the rest
Not my type of music, but actually it has something in it. It's good for some morning chill to get that good energy.
Having seen the B.I.G. biopic, I get the importance of this album, and it has some good cuts. It also has a lot of fluff and interludes that seem purely designed to build an image, and I found it more of a distraction than an enhancement to the listening.
Quite good, but one off for the misogyny
I hope his mom's breast cancer went away
Bruh Moments from this album: 1. “I got the cleanest, meanest penis” 2. Biggie really starting to go hard in Fuck Me (Interlude) when she starts talking about all that food 3. Fuck Me (Interlude) in general 4. “They call him Two-TECs, he tote two TECs” 5. “You look so good, I’d suck on your daddy’s dick” 6. The fucking blowjob at the end of Respect. This is a good song, but I had to save the censored version bc I don’t wanna listen to a full minute of Biggie pretending to get sucked off whenever it comes up on shuffle. 7. The Raven-Symone line in Just Playing?????????
Why did rappers in the 90s/early 2000s think it was a good idea to include skits of them fake having sex?? Was everyone that horny back then? Nothing worse than trying to concentrate at work while moans and dick sucking sounds from Biggie’s album come through your headphones. Aside from being criminally horny and pathologically violent, I thought this was a decent album with some good moments and classics.
Flow:5 - can’t top this Bars:3 - shooting people or riding a his bitch Skits:1 - absolute L 9/15=3/5 Some classics on this album (big poppa / juicy specifically) that are all time and no one can debate that
I hated the skits on this thing, although the highlights are pretty amazing
Decent lyrics at time but don't really want to listen to this other than big poppa. Hate the skits
Not my cup of tea, but the production is solid. Samples are from everywhere and the beats are tight and infectious. This record is very close to being a concept album and is almost overshadowed by the history surrounding BIG. His name is ubiquitous with rap of that era and style and you can hear the DNA from this album through countless other records even today.
Think I’ve heard of the artist but not really the album. Quite enjoying the start of the album. Wasn’t ultimately my thing but listened to the whole thing.
Interesting storytelling, some enjoyable songs, stellar use of language.
Whenever I hear this album I always feel like he was writing my story: “ I love when they call me big papa; I wear 13’s if you know what I mean”; “damn,_______ want it stick me for my paper”. … No, it doesn’t. Matter of fact if I would have called any woman I know a “bitch,” they would ”bring pain, bloodstains on what remains”. His talent is unquestionable. This is a good album but it flow like fantasy. Much like the Curtis Mayfield song that starts this album, this album holds up for those who live in the culture, which I do not.
Not sure how to rank this one. I really couldn’t listen to it all the way through. I doubt I’ll put this one on again. Also, tons of tracks seem to be blocked by Spotify. I guess this just isn’t my jam.
Decent
A classic, but like many albums of any genre from this era, bloated and overly long.
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background It's growing on me as I listen. Some of the lyrics are a bit eye-rolling and more than a few of the melodies are lifted (plus the sampling), but I like a lot of the grooves. I'm never going to be a huge rap fan. Not quite as good as Tribe Called Quest in my book but a worthy listen in my book. Solid 3.
Classic rap album. 2 starred songs
Staple album, previously listened many times. Found biggie and others around the same time of 2014 or so.
Not sure how to rate this one because it's wrong on so many levels, but has some songs that I like. With rhymes like jail & Patti LaBelle...you can't go wrong?! Pimping ain't easy, but it sure is fun!
Biggies skills were smooth. The skits are terrible and the videos are worse. West coast did it better.
Insanely produced, not necessarily for me all the time. Definitely suits one of my vibes! Love.
Well... Dunno. Beats, style, all good. But skits and lyrics, not my thing. So since I am not an OG I only give 3/5.
Not for me
3 There are some songs I really love the flow of, but I can't forgive the mid 90s
I really wanted to like this, but it's just so nihilistic.
Very aggressive and crude. But okay it’s 90s HipHop.
I forgot I liked rap honestly. This album made me remember how good rap songs could be. As we follow big’s life we find our more about him. It reminded me of loads of films form the 90s.
I mean. I can absolutely understand why he was a big deal. This isn't really my favorite genre either and there were several songs I strongly disliked, but there were some undeniably solid tracks as well. 3/5
Witty dark lyrics, but other than the hits I don’t find this to be a good listen
Overall, I really wanted to give this a 2. Lyrically, every song is amazing. And the beats and lyrics and beats on the singles are perfect. But the beats on the other songs are really disappointing. But lyrically it's too special to be given a 2.
Not at all musical, (or to my personal taste), but I can see how his lyrics would resonate with a younger audience. Obviously the man had a huge ego, but his words paint a picture.
It was ok
Einfach ein Blowjob als Übergang
Some good songs on this record. Overall a bit longer than I probably prefer. Biggie's vocal deliveries are so smooth, gotta have one of the most recognizable voices in music. That being said, I did get a bit bored even if this album does end on some bigger songs. The sex and blowjob interludes are bizarre - no idea why anyone would want to hear these parts every time they spin this album. I enjoy Biggie from a singles perspective, not sure about a whole album at this point.
The music is good, the lyrics flow, but the skits are bad. The album is just too long and Puff Daddy's presence is a drag...
Great Rap from the 90's.
I know that this man was a Huge symbol for many future rappers and that his style of rap has been used by Many famous current Rap and Hip Hop artists….he deserves their praises and the honors they bestow upon his memory. May he Rest in Power….this is just not music I listen to or have been exposed to…not my jam but mean no disrespect…
It's okay. Didn't feel compelled to skip any songs, so there's that. He's seems to be very interested in being rich and f'ing b*tches. Fave songs 'Big Poppa' and 'Suicidal Thoughts' 3/5
Couldn’t connect to the content of this album and didn’t listen to it in its entirety.
I got the cleanest, meanest, penis. - En sætning som har været i mit baghovede i 9 år. - Er det passende at kalde det en ear worm?🤔 - Det var i en Ja Rule sang! Overraskende nemt og spændende lyt.
Starts with a presumably biographical skit - chronological music under dialog “People are getting robbed and shot!” “I’m robbing and shooting people!”
Lots of nostalgia but it was hard to get through the sex noise. It is easier to enjoy the songs individually. I know it's supposed to be a biography, so that's cool. Parts of is it just felt like he was trying to be controversial and it was difficult to enjoy. I do remember what a big deal this was when it came out. Pretty ground breaking. Just not good music to me.
Keine gute Rezension möglich, da nicht alle songs bei Spotify und trotzdem nicht richtig durchgehört. Ersteindruck 3/5.
- Ich habe Biggie Smalls das erste mal vor 20 Jahren gehört und zwar im Soundtrack von dem großartigen „Hardball“ mit Keanu Reeves. Der Track „Big Poppa“ spielt hier eine wichtige Rolle. Ich fands damals direkt geil, auch wenn es noch einige Jahre dauern sollte, bis ich mir selber das Notorious B.I.G. Best-Of bei iTunes runterladen konnte/durfte. - Bei der Frage 2Pac oder Biggie war ich immer eher auf der Seite von Pac. Insgesamt hat mir der Westcoastrap immer etwas besser gefallen. - Was ich an Biggie aber immer geil fand ist sein wahnsinnig chilliger flow. - Insgesamt fehlt mir ein bisschen die Abwechslung - Warum das Album von der Rolling Stone auf Platz 22 der 500 besten Alben gewählt wurde verstehe ich ehrlich gesagt nicht und schreit mir nach Konzessionsentscheidung: „Oh shit! Wir brauchen noch ein Hip-Hop Album. Ja gut, dann nehmen wir Notorious B.I.G…“ - Insgesamt cool, aber ich hör dann doch lieber das Best-Of Rating: 2,75-3/5
- Ich höre sehr alte Rap-Alben mittlerweile wie viele Rock/Pop Klassiker. Nämlich irgendwie immer mit so einer Art Meta-Filter. Das führt dazu, dass ich nie wirklich "nur" die Musik wirken lassen, sondern der Gesamteindruck und vor allem die historische und kulturelle Bedeutung sehr hohen Stellenwert hat. Ich würde es gerne ausklammern, kann ich aber nicht. - Jetzt mal am Beispiel meiner zurzeit bis zum Erbrechen gehypten Run The Jewels: Ich würde mir niemals Zuhause, in der Stadt oder beim Sport ein Song von Biggy anschmeißen, sondern eher von RTJ, weil die Musik mir einfach besser gefällt. Dennoch finde ich das Album Ready To Die (was fast einstimmig von allen Musikmagazinen auf der ganzen Welt als bestes HipHop Album aller Zeiten gehandelt wird) als "Kulturprodukt" total spannend und interessant. - Die Art und Weise wie Biggy flowt, rappt, Interludes benutzt, Humor mit düsteren Themen verbindet und textet ist Genreprägend. - Ich finde es ist ein Album (und Künstler) wo man zu keiner Sekunde daran zweifelt, dass das, wovon er rappt, absolut der Wirklichkeit entspricht. Sei es Depressionen, Gewalt, Drogen, Sex. Der Typ und das ganze Album ist (abseits natürlich vom Humor) Authentizität pur. - Um mir die Tracks im Alltag zu geben, fehlt mir aber ein bisschen mehr Energie in der gesamten Produktion. Es ist wie bei vielen frühen HipHop Alben. Hier ist eben der Text im absoluten Vordergrund. Komposition, Dramaturgie, Beats sind nur mittel zum Zweck und das gefällt mir persönlich leider nicht so gut. 3/5
Tracks Started to sound similar but wasn’t able to listen fully.
Not my style of rap, but not bad.
Good Drum base. Explicit lyrics.
Filled with standout lines and killer beats, but just too long for its own good, as is common with this era of rap.
Okay, doch heftige Texte
Like his voice and his style. Sadly lyrics seem to be a look into his ultimate death.
The most Biggie I've listened to. I knew a couple of the classics but it was cool to hear some more of his stuff. A lot more sexual interludes than I expected lol
Fun for a change and interesting after reading “When Crack was King”. Won’t be in regular rotation, however.
I recognized 1 song on this album, but I liked a bunch of these songs.
Classic album for it's time.
Some solid and classic songs on here. Personally the album is a bit long I prefer shorter albums and I feel like there’s a lot fat that could be trimmed. Such as the F*** me interlude lmao as well as the coughing in gimme the loot not fond of that and the intro was weird af LOL. I’m also not too big on rap especially older rap so some of these were a lil dated for me. Nevertheless there were some really good songs on here I’ll def add to my liked songs just don’t see myself going back to the whole album. Not a bad listen!
Muy interesante, es como un corrido mas detallado con la duración de un album. Musicalmente me impresionan las melodías que se generan con las voz. Al no haber escuchado Rap me parece un poco denso de información y se potencia con la duración del album.
Definitive work in the golden age of hip hop. Autobiographical, graphic, and lyrical. Personal preference is to skip all the woman degradation and sexual sound effects. Prophetic lyrics in many ways from foreseeing his own early death to the World Trade Center bombing. What else can be mined from these lyrics that could serve as a warning? Plus, I believe that one song helped that one kid be good at baseball in that one movie. And if you don’t know, now you know!
Some nice songs on here but it’s too long and the lyrics aren’t very interesting
kinda fun record, still not really my thing tho
Cryptically accurate album title and I guess it's ok. But then I'm a west coast guy so don't tell anybody I said so.
Skills
Decent
Biggie is one of those rappers that I know of because everybody does. I’m not sure I actually know any of his music though. Maybe I’ll know things when I hear them, but if you were to just tell me to name a Biggie song without warning, I’d be clueless. Let’s finally listen! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Big Poppa For the most part, this was really good. The big dampener for me (pun not intended), which I know is something that other people don’t seem to mind, is the overly sexual stuff. I can deal with subtle stuff, but there are some really wet sounds happening on this album that turned my stomach. If that wasn’t there, I’d probably rate this higher, but I’m very unlikely to come back and listen to this again because it made me feel ill.
Some great tracks but also some stupid-ass fucking skits. The remaster is bollocks too.
Look. There are definitely some positives to "Ready To Die". However, there are also some very obvious things about this album that make my enjoyment of it lower that it probably should be. I should start with the positives. Obviously, The Notorious B.I.G. is arguably one of the greatest rappers of all time. His voice makes his rapping stand out in a great way. His flow is absolutely impeccable, and I do think that he is a great rapper. The sound of the album is also quite good, and there are some great songs on here. Unfortunately, this album has some major missteps. The writing, for one, falters at points. Sometimes, the "gangsta rap" lends itself to some thought-provoking tracks like "Things Done Changed" and "Juicy". Other times it just kind of ends up feeling edgy and unnecessarily vulgar. I'm fine with songs have controversial lyrics if they have a point to them. However, not all of these songs feel like they have a point to make beyond being about Biggie's history with crime. Finally, I have to talk about the skits. Sometimes they work to further tell a story, like at the end of "Warning". However, a lot of the times are just kind of gross. I have to admit; this was the first time I ever had to skip a song on an album. The interlude was just... no. On top of that, the ending skit of "Respect" was similar in that they are both just sex sounds. That's not music, and it kind of ruins the listening experience of the album. I'm sorry, but that's just how I feel. I understand the value of this album. It serves as a harrowing tale about the dangers of inner city crime, and Biggie himself is a phenomenal rapper. However, the skits and lyrical matter drag this album down to being one that I just don't personally enjoy listening to as a whole. 3/5.
The overall sound of the music is decent. And not really my thing though.
Høydepunktene er høye, men er så slitsomt med de ekstremt Harry knullegreiene, så det trekker en del.
Christopher Wallace (the least threatening name imaginable- no wonder he went with "The Notorious B.I.G") released "Ready to Die" aged 22, neatly summarising his life-story and setting out his stall as one of the major players in the East-Coast hip-hop scene. We begin by chronicling B.I.G's birth, rise, fall and return up to the present-day with a sound collage and a series of samples from the last twenty-five years of hip-hop's heritage, from "Superfly" to "Rapper's Delight" to "Tha Shiznit". Bold, cinematic, and audacious… then we go straight into "Things Done Changed", with its bleak outlook on ghetto life as it worsens with the passage of time. It's an appropriate opening to such an ambitious and reflective work. Wallace set out to chronicle his whole life and thoughts, and ensured it was all packed into this debut album. We explore his burgeoning career, his struggles with violence and crime, his relationships with women. The sweeping scope is given appropriate treatment by the production and music, which is regularly top-notch. B.I.G’s vocals are superb throughout: effortlessly speak-sung in "Machine Gun Funk", rapid and clear in “Everyday Struggle” and “Gimme the Loot”, imperious and powerful in “Big Poppa”. All around him, the soundscapes are dense and involved: some elements to jump out at me include the harp in "Things Done Changed", the wobbly synths in "Friend of Mine", the iconic bassline and funk guitar in "Juicy". It's rich and illustrious, and frequently irrepressibly catchy. There are some great guest spots too, including a feature from Method Man in “The What”. While women have some of the best guest features on the album (Total in “One More Chance” and “Juicy”, Diana King in “Respect”, Lil Kim’s ear-grabbing “Fuck Me” skit), we also have numerous uncomfortable and jarring lyrics from Biggie to contend with: "beating motherfuckers like Ike beat Tina"; “bitches get strangled for their earrings and bangles”; "fuck the bitches, fuck all the stank-ass hoes"… etc. The closing track, "Just Playing (Dreams)", is one of the most queasy tracks I've ever heard in hip-hop, with unbearable fantasies about various women artists. It cheapens the record and leaves an aftertaste which is, presumably, even sourer than B.I.G's "cleanest, meanest penis". While there are some stand-out tracks on this record, to be truly invested in it is to root for character redemption that's tragically never going to come. Three years after "Ready to Die"'s release, Wallace was killed in a drive-by shooting, meaning this stands as his sole statement in music bar posthumous releases. The title track, with its ominous lyrical tone against a long sustained string backing, is haunting in retrospect. Thirty years on, the mythologising is complete: B.I.G’s story becomes that of a man locked in a cycle he was ultimately unable to escape.
"Ready to Die" by the Notorious B.I.G. is a classic album that has stood the test of time. While I'm not typically a fan of rap music, I can appreciate the artistry and creativity that went into this album. The beats are catchy and the lyrics are clever, and I can see why it's considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time. One thing that stands out to me about "Ready to Die" is the honesty and authenticity of the lyrics. The album tells a story of life on the streets, and it doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of that life. The songs are raw and emotional, and they paint a vivid picture of the struggles and triumphs of the people who live in that world. Overall, "Ready to Die" is an album that I can respect and admire, even if it's not my usual cup of tea.
#54/1001. Ok - I get the significance of this album in music history, and totally respect it. However, it just doesn't do it for me
Your standard 90s rap with shooting skits etc I assume lyrics are Not OK but beat funky
Nice flow and objectively good rap but wouldnt listen to again. Also weird sex "bits"
Kind of a big deal in the rap community. Essential rap listening
I like the beats, but I don't think I would listen to it again.
Here we go again, probably a bit too soon after snoop. As much as I enjoy Doggystyle, this is much better, seems a bit more focused and serious. I’m tired of the misogyny and the constant use of language that is not acceptable these days. I enjoyed this album but I’m happy to have a rest from hip hop !
Non mi dice molto...
Rap and hip hop rarely appeal to me and this was no exception, although I do appreciate Biggie’s flow. The interludes of conversation, sloppy oral sex, rough sex, gunshots, etc tended to jar me out of the groove/beat of the last song, which I didn’t appreciate but I think was probably the point as all the interludes emphasized the content of the previous or upcoming song.
He's a really good rapper, but unfortunately rap just isn't really my thing
The beginning started a little slow - I'm not a big fan of the phone calls/news stories/whatever. I also could do without "Fuck Me (Interlude)". "Juicy" and "Everyday Struggle" have been good vibes with good music. The rap is good too, and not overly explicit - it IS pretty explicit, especially the songs which are literally sex noises.
Explicit, but good
Kinda surprised I'm only giving this a 3. Having so many compilation albums released after his death kinda spoils the point of his actual albums. Like if you wanna listen to Biggie, it just kinda makes sense to pull up Life After Death.
It was pretty good. Would have been a 4 but way too many multiminute intros of Biggie making out with chicks
I enjoy Biggie for sure, but to be honest there are so many similar flows on this album that a lot of songs feel a bit repetitive. The singles very much stand out, but even listening to the full album they blend in more than I feel they should. Also, not really trying to listen to Biggie fuck someone or get the sloppiest bj outside of that one lady that showed how to do the grapefruit method on YouTube.
Ik twijfel zwaar tussen 3 en 4 sterren. Hij is natuurlijk super invloedrijk geweest, en misschien dat het met nog een paar keer luisteren op me groeit, maar na 1x heb ik nou niet direct zoiets van: dit moet ik vaker horen. En toch is het wel gewoon goed. Dus. Doe maar 3.
Pretty good
The rock I've lived under has been comfortable, but this is is a really good album. I hear this rapper is dead and everyone is really broken up about it.
Dude’s got talent. No doubt about it. His street life lyrics paint a colorful canvas. It’s too bad there is so much truth in them. However, when he brags about being good at the sex (see One More Chance) or essentially viewing women as possessions, he sounds like a giant, insecure, overcompensating loser. That’s not a fat joke.
The rap is dated, lyrics are really dated. Some tracks are good musically. I like the skit format usually but these seems a little try hard and fake but I should do my research
Good, considered a classic by many however the vulgarity was a little too much. Overall a well made album
Great song writer, fun listen. 3/5
There are some good beats and his lyrics/flow is easy to follow. I remember when "Big Poppa" came out, but it sounds different to me now. Dated, I guess. Not my thing, but overall good. 3.6
Never was into Biggie.
Sketches that show glimpses of the brilliance to come. Great, but not perfect. A little overlong and outros tended to run on in a repetitive way. 3.5/5
Ok. Ik kende alleen de single Old Thing Back van Biggie. Blijkt dus dat One More Chance (deels) het origineel is? Geen idee, maar die vond ik leuk. Juicy ook leuk. Deze soort rap(?) past me beter, in combinatie met de zang. Leuk om dit album geluisterd te hebben.
3.5, great beats
For the ten minutes or so the subject matter is not limited to robbery, murder, being good at sex and being rich, its pretty good. He was obviously a talented rapper, but I wish he had expanded what he was writing songs about somewhat. "Suicidal Thoughts" is good.
the intro is good， unfortunately im not a fan of rap
Somewhat enjoyed. Suicidal thoughts his hard but that’s about it
Cool.
Udara jako. Čovjek poželi popucati ljude u ljubičastom u svome susjedstvu sa Mac-10om. Odlične rime, odličan flow. Jako kreativno. Album malo predugo traje. Zvukovi seksa su malo previše, ASMR koji nisam tražio. 3,5/5
it's not my vibe
Finnst þetta mun betri plata en Chronic (sem var í gær). Feitara beat, betra flæði í rímunum. Fíla lögin sum og uppsetningin eins og sjálfsævisaga er skemmtileg. En ríðingar, totthljóð og sama kvenfyrirlitningin og þetta gangster dæmi er svo leiðinlegt til lengdar. klukkutími og korter af því er bara of mikið. Því miður. Big Poppa, Juicy og Who shot ya? eru feit lög.
Pretty dope,