'Ready To Die' is the debut solo album from now deceased New York rapper The Notorious BIG (RIP) aka Biggie Smalls aka BIG aka Frank White. The album was released on September 13th, 1994, a date I only recently noticed but hit a chord as BIG's fierce rival and former friend Tupac Shakur died 2 years later on Sept 13th 1996.

The album went multi-platinum and was credited for revitalizing East Coast hip-hop which had fallen behind the gangster sounds of California and the West Coast. It has since been named in countless 100 greatest albums of all time lists, albums to hear before you die lists, and Biggie is usually in the top 3 of any greatest rappers of all time lists (usually battling it out with 2pac, Run DMC or Eminem).

The album was originally supposed to be recorded on Uptown Records where Sean 'Puff Daddy' Combs was the labels A&R man so in 1993 they started recording. By the 1994 Puffy had been fired by Uptown and BIG's career was left in limbo so he went back to selling drugs to make ends meet. Later that year Puff started the Bad Boy Records Label and recorded the rest of the album. It's worth noting most of the hit's from this album where recorded in the second phase but the songs that sound most hungry where done at Uptown. Biggie started recording the songs to this album by reading from his notebook but by the end he started freestyling songs, with approximately 60% of the raps on here straight of the top of his head in the studio.

The album was produced by Mister Cee, with executive production done by Puffy, and some extra work by Easy Mo Bee. The production heavily used samples of other tracks with great effect. Mister Cee originally promoted BIG when he was releasing tracks with local groups The Old Gold Brothers and the Techniques. Legend has it BIG never made these with any intention to make a career from it but he was received so well he followed through on the rapping to become a very successful artist.

The album cover is a baby with an afro sitting down with a white background, while inside is a mixture of pictures of the baby, BIG, and the usual album thanks and production notes.

The Album

(Sampling information taken from Wikipedia)

Track 1 - Intro

The intro is basically someone having a baby symbolising BIG's birth, with Puff daddy doing the voice for the expectant father, followed by several clips of some great songs interrupted by people arguing about the raising of their son.

Samples

"Superfly" by Curtis Mayfield
"Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang
"Top Billin'" by Audio Two
"Tha Shiznit" by Snoop Dogg

Track 2- Things Done Changed

A great start to the album in which BIG reflects back on how things have changed over the years on the streets. BIG's lyrics are brilliant, but as your about to discover this rapper does not have off days when it comes to this album.

Samples

"Summer Breeze" by The Main Ingredient
"California My Way" by The Main Ingredient
"Lil Ghetto Boy" by Dr. Dre

Choice Lines

Back in the days, our parents used to take care of us
Look at em now, they even f*ckin scared of us
Callin the city for help because they cant maintain
Damn, sh*t done changed
If I wasnt in the rap game
Id probably have a key knee deep in the crack game
Because the streets is a short stop
Either your slinging crack rock or you got a wicked jump shot
Sh*t, its hard being young from the slums
Eatin five cent gums not knowin where your meals comin from
And now the sh*ts gettin crazier and major
Kids younger than me, they got the sky grand pagers

9/10

Track 3 - Gimme the Loot

This track has got a wicked gangster beat, accompanied by Biggie rapping as if he was 2 people alternating his voice between slightly higher pitch. This track is basically the story of 2 thugs looking out for someone to rob... and I love it! The beats are fantastic and the story telling is spot on, whilst Biggies raps are fantastic. I used to listen to this album over and over with one of my friends while having the argument that its was only Biggie on the track while my mate was convinced it was two different people lol.

Samples

"Coldblooded" by James Brown
"Throw Ya Gunz" by Onyx (vocals by Sticky Fingaz)
"What They Hittin' Foe?" by Ice Cube
"Just to Get a Rep" by Gang Starr (vocals by Guru)
"Scenario" (Remix) by A Tribe Called Quest (vocals by Kid Hood)

Choice Lines

Nigga, you ain't got to explain sh*t
I've been robbing motherf*ckers since the slave ships
with the same clip and the same four-five
Two point-blank, a motherf*cker's sure to die

I'm slamming niggas like Shaquille, shit is real
When it's time to eat a meal I rob and steal
'cos Mom Duke ain't giving me sh*t
so for the bread and butter I leave niggas in the gutter
Huh, word to mother, I'm dangerous
Crazier than a bag of f*cking Angel Dust
When I bust my gat motherf*ckers take dirt naps
I'm all that and a dime sack, where the paper at?

10/10

Track 4 - Machine Gun Funk

One of the weaker tracks on the album in my opinion the beats are decent but nothing special while the lyrics are ok but nothing special for big, I usually skip this track.

Samples

"Something Extra" by Black Heat
"Up for the Down Stroke" by Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns
"Chief Rocka" by Lords of the Underground (vocals by Mr. Funke)

Choice lines

All I want is b*tches, big booty b*tches
Used to sell crack, so I could stack my riches
Now I pack gats, to stop all the snitches
from stayin in my business, what is this? Relentless
approach, to know if I'm broke or not
Just cause I joke and smoke a lot
Don't mean I don't tote the glock

8/10

Track 5 - Warning

My favourite track on the album by a long way, this track has fantastic beats and one of the best story telling raps I've ever heard outside of Insane Clown Posse. The rap is basically about Biggie being told there are some people talking about murdering him, then BIG raps about what will happen to them if they try to get him.

Samples

"Walk on By" by Isaac Hayes

Choice lines

there's gonna be alot of slow singin and flower bringin
if my burglar alarm starts ringin
whatcha think all the guns is for?
all purpose war got the rottweilers by the door
and I feed em gun powder so they can devour
the criminals tryin to clock my decimals
DAMN..niggas wanna stick my for my C.R.E.A.M.
And it ain't a dream things aint always how it seems
it's the ones that smoke blunts witcha
see your picture, now they wanna
grab they guns and come and getcha

10/10

Track 6 - Ready to Die

A pretty standard gangster rap song here with the usual story of singing about how much of a gangster he is and what he does to people who cross him. His word play is excellent whilst the beats are also decent, not the most thought provoking track but worth a listen none the less.

Samples

"Singing in the Morning" by The Ohio Players
"Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
"Hospital Prelude of Love Theme" by Willie Hutch
"Ain't No Half Steppin'" by Big Daddy Kane
"Two to the Head" by Kool G Rap & DJ Polo (vocals by Scarface)

Choice lines

In a sec I throw the tec to your f*ckin neck
Everybody hit the deck, Biggie bout to get some wreck
Quick to leave you in a coffin, for slick talkin
You better act like CeCe, and keep on walkin

8/10

Track 7 - One More Chance

Another standard gangster rap subject here - this time talking about how women love him. Its a decent track that was later remixed and turned into a video, and is also included in the re-mastered album version released in 2004.

Samples

"Hydra" by Grover Washington Jr.
"Who's Making Love?" by Lou Donaldson (Remix to the remix version)
"All This Love" by Debarge
"I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5 (chorus)

Choice lines

And my jam knock in the mitsubishi
Girls pee pee when they see me
Navajos creep me in they tee pee
As I lay down laws like alan coppet
Stop it - if you think they gonna make a prophet

8/10

Track 8 - F*ck Me (Interlude)

If you want to hear a 300+ pound man having sex this is the track for you, if like me you have no interest in this skip this interlude.

Track 9 - The What feat Method Man

This track feature's Wu-Tang member Method Man, back in the day when his rhymes were tight and he was sitting a top of the hip-hop world after his first album release, Tical. Both rappers sound like they are free styling in this track, to great effect I must say. Nice beats but forget about them and just listen to Big and Meth spitting pure gold in what sounds like a battle rap.

Choice lines

Biggie Smalls is the illest
Your style is played out, like Arnold wondered
"What you talkin bout Willis?"

You front and got me mad enough to touch somethin
Yo I'm from Shaolin, Island, and ain't afraid to bust somethin
So what cha want nigga, ya punk nigga
I got a six-shooter and a horse named Trigger
It's real, ninety-four, rugged raw
Kickin down your god damn door

9/10

Track 10 - Juicy

A track that's is partly a autobiography and partly a declaration of success, Juicy is basically the story of Big coming up in the rap world. It was a successful single and would spawn a few different remixes although none as good as the original version on here.

Samples

Juicy Fruit" by Mtume

Choice lines

The Moet and Alize keep me pissy
Girls used to diss me
Now they write letters 'cause they miss me
I never thought it could happen, this rappin' stuff
I was too used to packin' gats and stuff
Now honies play me close like butter played toast
From the Mississippi down to the east coast

9/10

Track 11 - Everyday Struggle

Great lyrics, decent enough beats, a good track but not to different to a lot of the other ones on here. Still a half decent Biggie track is better than 95% of the rappers about today's best tracks.

Samples

"Either Way" by Dave Grusin

Choice lines

I know how it feels to wake up f*cked up
Pockets broke as hell, another rock to sell
People look at you like you's the user
Selling drugs to all the losers mad Buddha abuser
But they don't know about the stress-filled day
Baby on the way mad bills to pay
That's why you drink Tanqueray
So you can reminisce and wish
You wasn't living so devilishs sh*t

8/10

Track 12 - Me & My Bitch

A great track about Biggie and his wife, obviously it's more story telling but it's done very well, the beats are decent, slightly slower paced than much of the album and also quite dark.

Samples

"Computer Love" by Zapp (Live Remix version not album version)

Choice lines

When I met you I admit my first thoughts was to trick
You look so good huh, I suck on your daddy's dick (yeah)
I never felt that way in my life
It didn't take long before I made you my wife (uh, yeah)

With a glock just as strong as me
Totin guns just as long as me, the b*tch belongs with me
Any plans with another b*tch, my b*tch'll spoil it
One day, she used my toothbrush to clean the toilet (that's nasty)
Throwin my clothes out the windows, so when the wind blows
I see my Polos and Timbos
Hide my car keys so I can't leave
A real slick b*tch, keep a trick up her sleeve
And if I deceive, she won't take it lightly
She'll invite me, politely, to fight G
And then we lie together, cry together
I swear to God I hope we f*ckin die together

8/10

Track 13 - Big Poppa

One of the better tracks on the album, Big Poppa is a laid back sounding beat in which Big raps basically about being a PIMP and all things pimping. The song was nominated at the 1996 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Solo Performance, but crazily lost to Coolio's 'Gangsta's Paradise'. Not that I don't like 'Gangsters Paradise' but 'Big Poppa' is a much better track.

Samples

"Between the Sheets" by The Isley Brothers
"Dolly Me Baby (remix)" by Super Cat

Choice lines

Straight up honey really I'm askin
Most of these niggaz think they be mackin but they be actin
Who they attractin with that line,
"What's your name, what's your sign"?
Soon as he buy that wine I just creep up from behind
And ask what your interests are, "who you be with"?
Things to make you smile, what numbers to dial
You gon' be here for a while, I'm gon' go call my crew
You go call your crew
We can rendezvou at the bar around two

10/10

Track 14 - Respect feat Diana King
I really like the beats to this track and the Jamaican voice of Diana King singing on it, while the raps are top notch as per usual from BIG. The song is the stopry of BIG from birth up to 1994 when the album was made.

Samples

"I Get Lifted" by George McCrae

Choice lines

No spouse in the house so she rode for self
to the hospital, to see if she could get a little help
Umbilical cord's wrapped around my neck
I'm seein' my death and I ain't even took my first step
I made it out, I'm bringin' mad joy
The doctor looked and said, "He's gonna be a Bad Boy"

8/10

Track 15 - Friend of Mine

A bouncy sounding beat with a great baseline. This tack is basically Biggie rapping about women (not for the first time), sleeping with them, and them sleeping with his friends. Decent track overall.

Samples

"Vicious" by Black Mamba
"Seventh Heaven" by Gwen Guthrie
"The Jam" by Graham Central Station
"Spirit of the Boogie" by Kool & The Gang

Choice lines

It was me, Dee, the MPV
The blunts and brew thang, knockin' some Wu-tang
M-E-T-H-Oh sh*t, look at them lips and them hips on that b*tch
Dee hit the dip, so I can drop my mackadocious sh*t
Light the blunt clip, and recognize a pimp
Needless to speak, the Gee's obsolete
Don't sleep! Banged the skins in a week
On the creep up the avenue
I seen her on the block, who she rappin' to?
That's my nigga Dee, damn he got Gee
Now she f*ckin' him and f*ckin' me, see
You know that ain't right

7/10

Track 16 - Unbelievable produced by DJ Premier (Gangstarr)

A brilliant hardcore gangster rap beat accompanied by BIG rapping about guns, weed, women etc. Nothing that will suprise anyone who knows about rap music but as I've already said when BIG does it he does it better than 95% of the other rappers out there.

Samples

"Remind Me" by Patrice Rushen (Where?)
"Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
"The What" by The Notorious B.I.G.
"Your Body's Callin'" by R. Kelly

Choice lines

Buck shots out the sun roof of Lexus Coupe's
Leave no witnesses, what you think this is
Ain't no amateurs here, I damage and tear
MC's fear me, they too near not to hear me
Clearly, I'm the triple beam dream
One thousand grams of uncut to the gut
It seems f*cked up, the way I touched up the grill
Tryin to play gorilla, when you ain't no killer
The gat's by your liver, your upper lip quiver
Get ready to die, tell God I said hi
And throw down some ice, for the nicest MC
Niggaz know the steelo, unbelievable

8/10

Track 17 - Suicidal Thoughts

Easily the darkest track on here, the beats are slow and low key while the song is about BIG contemplating suicide and finally committing it. Some of my friends aren't as keen on this track as I am but I love this one and believe it was the perfect way to finish an almost perfect album.

Samples

'Lonely Fire' by Miles Davis

Choice lines

God will probably have me on some real strict sh*t
No sleepin' all day, no gettin my dick licked
Hangin' with the goodie-goodies loungin' in paradise
F*ck that sh*t, I wanna tote guns and shoot dice
All my life I been considered as the worst
Lyin' to my mother, even stealin' out her purse
Crime after crime, from drugs to extortion
I know my mother wished she got a f*ckin' abortion
She don't even love me like she did when I was younger
Suckin' on her chest just to stop my f*ckin' hunger
I wonder if I died, would tears come to her eyes?
Forgive me for my disrespect, forgive me for my lies

10/10

Overall a 10/10 score for me, anyone who likes rap music should own this album period, this is one of those albums that must be heard and demands your attention, it still sounds as fresh today as it did all those years ago.

Further Reading

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Notorious_B.I.G.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ready_to_Die