Details
Track Listing
1. Intro
2. Things Done Changed
3. Gimme the Loot
4. Machine Gun Funk
5. Warning
6. Ready to Die
7. One More Chance
8. #!*@ Me (Interlude)
9. What, The - (with Method Man)
10. Juicy
11. Everyday Struggle
12. Me & My Bitch
13. Big Poppa
14. Respect - (Patois)
15. Friend of Mine
16. Unbelievable
17. Suicidal Thoughts
Album Notes
Personnel: The Notorious B.I.G.; Diana King (vocals); Sybil Pennix (spoken vocals); Carl "Chucky" Thompson (various instruments); Method Man, Total.
Recording information: The Hit Factory, New York City; Soundtracks Recording Studio; Sound On Sound Studios, New York, New York; Chung King House Of Metal; D&D Recording Studio, New York, NY.
Once he stepped out onto the scene as the rapper on the remix of Mary J. Blige's hit single "Real Love," many hip-hop fanatics anxiously awaited the debut of The Notorious B.I.G. a.k.a. Biggie Smalls. Their prayers were answered with READY TO DIE, fifteen tracks of uncut, hard-core, lyrically sophisticated rap all complemented by hypnotic beats supplied by the underground's most prominent producers. READY TO DIE resumes where his "Juicy" single left off, but separates itself from the array of hip-hop albums that don't live up to the initial hit.
Blowin' up the charts using his knowledge of the streets and hard bangin' snares provided by producer Easy Mo Bee, the Bedford-Stuyvesant native Notorious B.I.G. is far from "Ready To Die." Not since the likes of Slick Rick has there been an artist so successful in the storytelling genre of rap music, creating a mental picture of life in the heads of his listeners. The up-tempo "Gimme The Loot" illustrates the hustlin' ways of a trigger-happy robbery expert stressed from the "Everyday Struggle" of life. The recurrence of the Isley Brothers tune "Between The Sheets" adds to the charm of "Big Poppa," where Biggie portrays his "player" image. No need to skip any songs, READY TO DIE is packed with hits all the way through.
Industry Reviews
Included in Rolling Stone's Essential Recordings of the 90's.
Rolling Stone (05/13/1999)
Ranked #27 in Spin Magazine's 90 Greatest Albums of the '90s.
Spin (09/01/1999)
Ranked #38 in Village Voice's 1995 Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll.
Village Voice (02/20/1996)
4.5 Mics - Slammin' - ...READY TO DIE, the debut from Brooklyn's own Biggie Smalls (a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G.), echoes the attitude in full Ghettovision color, showing us that the true `American way' is to hustle for yours...
The Source (10/01/1994)
4 Stars - Excellent - ...With his prodigious, often booming voice overwhelming the track, he sweeps his verbal camera high and low, painting a sonic picture so vibrant that you're transported right to the scene...
Rolling Stone (11/03/1994)
3 Stars - Good - ...the natural rapping, clever use of sound effects and acted dialogue, and concept element (from a baby being born at the start to the fading heartbeat at the end) set this well apart from the average gangsta bragging...
Q (12/01/1994)
Included in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century
Vibe (12/01/1999)
Ranked #5 in Vibe's Top 10 rap albums - ...Fans knew that from this debut that Biggie was indeed a born winner...
Vibe (06/01/2002)
4 stars out of 5 - A funky, hard-nosed chronicle of a death foretold.
Ranked #133 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time - Almost single-handedly, Biggie shifted the focus back to East Coast rap.
Rolling Stone (12/11/2003)
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