Notorious B.I.G.
Album : Ready to Die
Release Date : September 13, 1994
Label : Bad Boy

Review :
Notorious B.I.G’s first full length is filled with the style that made him listed among the greats. He’s fierce, brutal, unapologetic and humourous all at the same time. Ready to Die displays some of the best production and lyrical combinations ever seen in hip-hop. "Things Done Changed", where Biggie complains of how bad the state of society has gotten, still stuns me with its insight. Its as if Big starts of in an almost stunned reality of how the world surrounding him has changed. His solution ? The second full length song "Gimme the Loot", where he goes on a stick-up spree with his boys. This track remains in my mind as one of the most politically incorrect tracks of all time but also one of the most brilliant in it’s delivery and lyricism. As much as lines like "I couldn’t give a (expletive deleted for those easily offended) if you’re pregnant/Gimme the baby rings and the "Number One Mom" pendant" obviously offended , (even his record label edited out the word "pregnant"), its brutal hilarity can not be overlooked. Nor can the dual role Big plays, (ala Slick Rick), of both himself and his stickup partner be ignored. The man was good at what he did.

Unfortunately that does not mean the album is perfect. Some of the production is unoriginal, (see "Respect" and "One More Chance"). Some of the delivery from Big seems a little lackluster (see "Everyday Struggle"). As has been mentioned, "Friend of Mine", while not a bad song, seems out of place on this record. Sometimes the misogyny begins to wear on an old school head like me. And finally, I personally can’t stand pop tracks like "Big Poppa" with it’s HIGHLY overused Isley Brothers sample and "Juicy" again with it’s HIGHLY overused Mtume sample. To me, tracks like this are just blatant garbage designed by Puffy to sell style over substance. It’s too bad that they BECAME the substance of Big’s follow up Life After Death...

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No profanity, or inaproppriate remarks.

Notorious B.I.G Ready to Die, by Big King [2008-06-02 21:18:35]

Lmfao this reviewer is a faggot.

Ready to Die = a Hip Hop Classic, this shit is real hip hop, hip hop niggas remember years after Biggie’s death and gon keep rememberin till dey die

Notorious B.I.G Ready to Die, by bIG b [2007-10-10 08:23:48]

Wow i agree with some of what this guy has to say. But Juicy and Big Poppa are great songs. this is some bull that you tearin apart the best rapper to ever live. Disrespect in my view.

> Notorious B.I.G Ready to Die, by Robbi Paterson [2005-08-11 00:10:04]

I read alot of reviews on Ready to Die after having an interest in Notorious BIG when I bought Life after Death. The two albums are great, but different in appeal. I found Ready to Die hard to get into at first. Lots of bad language and very raw sounding. Its just because Life after Death was the sound I was used to with Biggie. Its a bit more user friendly and easier on the ear. But after a few listens the songs on Ready to Die began to appeal more, and I began to realise what all the fuss was about with this highly rated album. Its more of an underground sound on this album, and I feel that Biggie is at his best in terms of delivery and flow on this album. "Machine gun funk", "Warning", and "Ready to Die" are evidence of a great flowing MC. This album has some great tracks in terms of raw sounding beats. Easy Mo Bee and Puffy are the main people behind the producing. Life After Death has two discs, and some great tracks as well, so its close between the two. Biggie just sounds better on this album though, and its more for the true Hip Hop head this album.