Ready to Die

Ready to Die
Studio album by The Notorious B.I.G.
Released	September 13, 1994
Recorded	May 1993 - February 1994
Studio	The Hit Factory and D&D Studios (New York City, New York)
Genre(s)	Hip hop, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop, gangsta rap, G-Funk
Length	69:05
Label	Bad Boy Records, Arista
Producer(s)	Bluez Brothers, Sean "Puffy" Combs (also exec.), DJ Premier, Easy Mo Bee, Lord Finesse, Poke, Darnell Scott, Chucky Thompson

The Notorious B.I.G. chronology
Next	Life After Death (1997)

Ready to Die is the debut studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released in September 13, 1994 on Bad Boy Records. The label's first release, it features production by Bad Boy founder Sean "Puffy" Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, DJ Premier and Lord Finesse, among others. Recording for the album took place in May 1993 to February 1994 at The Hit Factory and D&D Studios in New York City. The partly autobiographical album tells the story of B.I.G.'s experiences as a young criminal, with the album beginning with his birth in the song "Intro" and ending with his suicide in the album closer "Suicidal Thoughts". 

Ready to Die received strong reviews upon its release and became a commercial success, reaching quadruple platinum sales. It was significant in revitalizing the East Coast hip hop, as it was released amidst West Coast hip hop's commercial dominance. The album's second single, "Big Poppa", was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards. Ready to Die has been regarded by several music critics as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.

Track listing

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Time
1.	"Intro"	-	-	Sean "Puffy" Combs	3:24
2.	"Things Done Changed"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Owen, Scott, Wallace	Darnell Scott	3:58
3.	"Gimme the Loot"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Harvey, Wallace	Easy Mo Bee	5:04
4.	"Machine Gun Funk"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Harvey, Wallace	Easy Mo Bee	4:17
5.	"Warning"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Harvey, Wallace	Easy Mo Bee	3:40
6.	"Ready to Die"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Combs, Harvey, Wallace	Easy Mo Bee	4:24
7.	"One More Chance"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Combs, Ellis, Glover, Thompson, Wallace	Bluez Brothers, Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs	4:43
8.	"Fuck Me (Interlude)"	-	Combs, Wallace	Sean "Puffy" Combs	1:31
9.	"The What"	The Notorious B.I.G., Method Man	Harvey, Smith, Wallace	Easy Mo Bee	3:57
10.	"Juicy"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Combs, Olivier, Wallace	Poke, Sean "Puffy" Combs (co.)	5:02
11.	"Everyday Struggle"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Ellis, Glover, Grusin, Mason, Wallace	Bluez Brothers	5:19
12.	"Me & My Bitch"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Combs, Ellis, Glover, Thompson, Wallace	Bluez Brothers, Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs	4:00
13.	"Big Poppa"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Wallace	Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs	4:13
14.	"Respect"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Casey, King, Wallace	Poke, Sean "Puffy" Combs	5:21
15.	"Friend of Mine"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Harvey, Wallace	Easy Mo Bee	3:28
16.	"Unbelievable"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Kelly, Martin, Wallace	DJ Premier	3:43
17.	"Suicidal Thoughts"	The Notorious B.I.G.	Hall, Wallace	Lord Finesse	2:50

Samples

Intro

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

Things Done Changed

• "California My Way" and "Summer Breeze" by The Main Ingredient
• "Lil' Ghetto Boy" by Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg and Daz Dillinger

Gimme the Loot

• "Coldblooded" by James Brown
• "Singing in the Morning" by Ohio Players
• "Throw Ya Gunz" by Onyx
• "Just to Get a Rep" by Gang Starr

Machine Gun Funk

• "Something Extra" by Black Heat
• "Up for the Down Stroke" by Fred Wesley and The Horny Horns feat. Maceo Parker
• "Chief Rocka" by Lords of the Underground

Warning

• "Walk on By" by Isaac Hayes

One More Chance

• "Hydra" by Grover Washington, Jr.
• "All This Love" by DeBarge

Fuck Me (Interlude)

• "Feenin'" by Jodeci

The What

• "Overnight Sensation" by Avalanche
• "Can't Say Enough About Mom" by Leroy Hutson

Juicy

• "Juicy Fruit (Fruity Instrumental Mix)" by Mtume

Everyday Struggle

• "Don't Change Your Love" by Five Stairsteps
• "Either Way" by Dave Grusin

Me & My Bitch

• "Wino & Junkie" by Richard Pryor

Big Poppa

• "Between the Sheets" by The Isley Brothers
• "Dolly My Baby (Bad Boy Extended Mix)" by Super Cat feat. 3rd Eye, Puff Daddy and The Notorious B.I.G.

Respect

• "I Get Lifted" by KC & the Sunshine Band feat. George McCrae
• "Gun Man Tune" by Pan Head
• "Check Yo Self" by Ice Cube

Friend of Mine

• "The Jam" by Graham Central Station
• "Spirit of the Boogie" by Kool & the Gang
• "Seventh Heaven (Larry Levan Remix)" by Gwen Guthrie

Unbelievable

• "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
• "Your Body's Callin'" by R. Kelly

Suicidal Thoughts

• "Outside Love" by Brethren
• "Lonely Fire" by Miles Davis

One More Chance (Remix)

• "Stay With Me" by DeBarge

Just Playing (Dreams)

• "Blues and Pants" by James Brown