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Ready to Die

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

The debut of The Notorious B.I.G. was recorded in two phases, in 1993 and 1994, mainly at The Hit Factory in New York. The first tracks, such as Ready to Die and Gimme the Loot, are darker and less suited to radio. When Sean Combs was fired from Uptown, the record was shelved for a while. Combs started Bad Boy Records, and there Biggie finished the album, with a smoother and more confident voice. Now came the songs with a better chance in the charts, such as Juicy and Big Poppa.

The production comes largely from Easy Mo Bee and the Hitmen and relies on samples, with a heavy bottom end and occasionally blues guitar. Biggie tells, in part autobiographically, of his life as a young criminal, and critics especially praised his storytelling. The record breathed new life into East Coast hip hop at a time when the West Coast ruled commercially. It was the only album released during his lifetime.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Juicy and notice how he tells his life story, from his childhood to his success.

Track list

  1. 1Intro (2005 Remaster)3:24Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Things Done Changed (2005 Remaster)3:58Apple Music ↗
  3. 3Gimme the Loot (2005 Remaster)4:46Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Machine Gun Funk (2005 Remaster)4:16Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Warning (2005 Remaster)3:40Apple Music ↗
  6. 6Ready to Die (2005 Remaster)4:25Apple Music ↗
  7. 7One More Chance (2005 Remaster)4:43Apple Music ↗
  8. 8Fuck Me (Interlude) [2005 Remaster]1:31Apple Music ↗
  9. 9The What (2005 Remaster)3:57Apple Music ↗
  10. 10Juicy (2005 Remaster)5:03Apple Music ↗
  11. 11Everyday Struggle (2005 Remaster)5:19Apple Music ↗
  12. 12Me and My Bitch (2005 Remaster)4:00Apple Music ↗
  13. 13Big Poppa (2005 Remaster)4:13Apple Music ↗
  14. 14Respect (2005 Remaster)5:21Apple Music ↗
  15. 15Friend of Mine (2005 Remaster)3:28Apple Music ↗
  16. 16Unbelievable (2005 Remaster)3:44Apple Music ↗
  17. 17Suicidal Thoughts (2005 Remaster)2:50Apple Music ↗
  18. 18Who Shot Ya? (2005 Remaster)5:19Apple Music ↗
  19. 19Just Playing (Dreams) [2005 Remaster]2:43Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs