Ready to Die

This and are the two main reasons why, for me at least, East Coast hip hop outshines the West Coast contemporaries.

Biggie had immense talent on the microphone, with an atmosphere that's unrivaled. His lyrics are urban poetry, with rhymes intertwining to create a picturesque scenery, especially on the songs that detail the intercity struggle.

Even if I never did like him, P did a good job on the production end. Even though there are a few questionable choices, most notably the interludes, which didn't age well, and the Diddy features, which feel like him strong-arming and forcing himself onto it (something not unknown to him), the production is on par with the lyrical and MC qualities this album is an abundance of.

I hadn't listened to this in ages, and it was a nailed-on 5 stars in my memory. Whilst it's mostly superb rhymes and beats, there are some nagging issues. The skits are pretty shite, a couple of the tunes couple have been cut from the final edit (it's a classic CD era epic), and the presence of Sean Combs is unwelcome in many ways. But most of the tunes are elite-level hip hop.

Many listens. Love the album, hate the skits.

Best tracks on the album is the unreleased stuff.

one of the most one sided beef in music history

22 years old. Cinematic production, skits are a bit much. One of the first albums I ever owned.

Musically, I don't know if I would say this is bad, per se, but not something I would listen to again. It's also too long. And though I am not usually one to police speech, especially in art, the lyrical subject matter is hard to ignore and/or dismiss.

I've learned a lot about hip-hop through this - some of the background, what I like, what I don't.

This I very much do not like.

they need to release a version with Puffy edited out

I quite enjoyed this. I don't know if I would ever pick this to listen to again as a whole album, but its a really excellent showcase of Biggie's skill and some superb production.

This album is as gritty and raw as anything ever made. It's basically an hour straight of Biggie spitting absolutely cracked slice-of-life poems with unrelenting intensity over drum beats. By the time Juicy rolls around, that song sounds like a love ballad.

Basically every word of every bar is captivating. Everything Big says flows perfectly and his unmatched ability to twist rhymes and play with your expectations gives the record a sublime level of emotional intensity.

Good album cover. Looks like a xanga.

Classic 90s rap themes: have-gun;will-use, cops=bad, doing drugs and drinking Moët, hooking up with women (misogynistically), being an MC, gang life. I will say, I think the delivery is a step above a lot of the other contemporary hip hop albums. It still got kind of repetitive by the end though, and even if I think it's better than other 2s, I don't want to listen again.

Slur count = 207.

Highlights: 'Juicy', Diana King

Lowlight: Pager beeps in 'Warning' >:(

4/5. An undeniable classic of rap music, that being said the minute and a half sex interlude was a bit unnecessary. I honestly forgot how insane some of Biggies bars are on this album, like on the track “me and my bitch” where he says “you look so good, huh, I’ll suck on your daddies dick.” besides the funny lines though, the production here is great and holds up well today and Biggie has a great sense of flow in his vocal delivery.

Nice.

Not my cup of tea. There's definitely a lot to like, but it's definitely outside of my comfort zone with music.

Stuff of legenda right there, top notch rapping talent and I really like half the songs, but as someone said, life imitates art and vice versa and perhaps it's no wonder he ended up the way he did.. lyrically though this can be absolutely horrible, but no one can deny Biggie's prowess, at least 4 stars

Darwin awards - best album 1994

Some of the individual tracks were ok.
I do agree with the concensus that his voice flows well. And although generally boring and repetitive, some of the samples are foot tapping.
But I don't want to listen to someone getting a BJ and fucking in between the tracks (unless it's me!).
And the constant fuck fuck fuck fuckety fuck fuck motherfucking fuck fuck motherfucker bitch fuck fuck hoe fuck fuck fuck pop pop nigga fuck fuck motherfucker fuck fuckety motherfucking fuck bitch hoe, just gets mind numbing.

Pre Listen:
I don't have any memorable exposure to Notorious B.I.G. but I know his name. I recall from my youth my Mom was a fan of his, but I don't recall any of his songs.

Notable Tracks:
The What - Realized P. Diddy was involved in this shit and stopped listening here out of principle. Will discuss further below!

Post Listen:
Not good, didn't enjoy that at all really.

Yet another self-aggrandizing dick measuring contest of a rap album, with the thinnest of political messaging veneers overtop it. B.I.G.'s voice is annoying, more talk-rap than any sort of singing. The lyrical content is as boring as dirt. We get it, you got women, fuck up your ops, and have lots of money, it's like a broken record with these sorts of albums.

What sunk this album from a low 2 to a 1 for me was the second I realized/remembered Sean Combs played a large roll in this thing's production. And so becomes the first album on here where I just can't separate the art from the artist. I do believe somewhat generally that the negative actions of the artist, for the most part, should be pushed to the back of your mind when listening or enjoying art.

It's impossible to separate the art from the artists when one of them is an Epstein-tier sex pest, and the lyrical content of the album glorifies that shit. 1/5

This is a very influential rap record. However, I was never the biggest Biggie fan. It was ok.

This hip-hop record is quite something. It’s incredibly compelling, with a relentless beat and his incredible rhymes. The autobiographical arc of it is much of what makes it so engaging, how he starts out doing crime, ends up in jail, then he finally becomes this famous rapper; so glad the "Juicy" video was there on YouTube because it was joyous. I'm not going to listen to this a lot (ever?), but I thought it was pretty great today.