He would leave the year as a Rap poet laureate, unafraid to put a coast, a street-rooted narrative, or an entire craft on his sturdy back. entered 1994 as a quick-witted freestyle specialist with a boisterously percussive delivery. Ready To Die appeases Rap purists, story seekers, and those simply looking for a compelling listen. This LP had both range and direction, and not only cemented Biggie’s royal Rap status as a rookie, it set the genre’s standard for the notion that a debut album should take your whole life to write. Songs like “Big Poppa” could lean towards pop culture, and somehow hit their mark after the album released. However, as Biggie transported the listener away to hustling trips down south, he could also open up the newfound glamor. “Ready To Die” and “Suicidal Thoughts” opened Biggie’s mind and vulnerability to a level that guarded MCs wouldn’t dare go.
The rhythms of each were completely in step, making hardcore Hip-Hop a true work of music mastery. “Unbelievable” fused Biggie’s wit and syncopated delivery with DJ Premier’s pinnacle sound. “Juicy” would become Hip-Hop’s rags-to-riches anthem, a meritocratic hope story for everybody with a dream. The album presents Biggie from his days as a teased youth finding solace in Hip-Hop, to a deranged stick-up kid and corner hustler, eventually becoming a man who adored his mother and his daughter. Give or take a few facts bent a bit, and Biggie Smalls’ breakthrough effort reminded the world that Hip-Hop was for the people, by the people-so why not crown somebody who all seemingly related to? never self aggrandized his album as a “concept,” it was simply his reality. Upon releasing Ready To Die, he proved immediately that he had a story to tell. Christopher Wallace’s wordplay, impeccable timing, humor, booming voice, and self-deprecation stood out from the pack to the fullest.
Notorious big ready to die lp full#
However, the deeply anticipated Bad Boy Records debut had those in the know clamoring to hear a full work from the rapper who had dazzled in a handful of preemptive appearances. As he would rhyme on “One More Chance,” “Heartthrob, never / Black, and ugly as ever” is how the obese Brooklyn, New York MC described himself. When Ready To Die released in 1994, Biggie Smalls (officially known as The Notorious B.I.G.) was not a star. First Round Winner ( against MF DOOM’s Operation Doomsday, 53% to 47%).Second Round Winner ( against Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, 65% to 35%).
Third Round Winner ( against Slick Rick’s The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick, 75% to 25%).Fourth Round Winner ( against Jay Z’s The Blueprint, 78% to 22%).Only votes cast in the voting tool below will be counted, so use the power of your click (Click one then click “vote”). As Ready To Die has twice won by margins of less than 10%, Enter The Wu buckles up to face its most sacred opponent.
The differing aesthetics of these albums may be the tipping point for voters. Whereas RZA and the Wu kept the sniffles, coughs and dirty drums in the mix, Puff Daddy’s productions pulled Biggie out of Bedford Stuyvesant, polished the productions and made him a battle rapper-turned-sex symbol. There were stark contrasts between the two bodies of work, too. They boisterously spoke from the heart, about hard times, forced criminal circumstance, and just how pathetic their competition was.
Biggie Smalls and the nine-MC clan both brought a ruggedness to Hip-Hop in these albums. Released less than one year apart, both LPs have strong ties to Brooklyn, New York-and each feature the raspy vocals of Method Man. The Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready To Die and Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) have plenty in common. Now that y ou have decided the Final 4, things have never been more crucial-as your vote dictates the annals of AFH history. Last September, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: what is the greatest Rap Album Of All-Time? “Finding The GOAT Album” has considered more than 120 albums from the 80s, 90s and 2000s (40 in each), with options for wild card and write-in candidates.