| 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 |
|
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
Edit
| 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 Edit
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
