(Courtesy Bad Boy Records)
“Ready to Die” serves as a semi-autobiographical account that details Christopher Wallace’s (a.k.a Notorious B.I.G.) time on the streets of Brooklyn. Through lyrical storytelling, Biggie explains his life and reminisces about the past, as well as giving insight to his future.
“Ready to Die” sets the stage for the usage of sampling in hip hop albums.
“Juicy” was released as the lead single on Aug. 8, 1994 and peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song sampled 1982’s “Juicy Fruit” by Mtume. In the song B.I.G talks about his rags-to riches story and how hopes to establish himself as a big name in hip hop, “I made the change from a common thief to up close and personal with Robin Leech.”
The track helps to show the vulnerability of B.I.G as he talks about everything that he has been through since he was a little boy on the streets of Brooklyn.
In a direct counter to the mood that B.I.G. displays in “Juicy” is the track “Suicidal Thoughts.” The entire track is a [phone] call that B.I.G. has with producer and friend Puff Daddy, “I wonder if I died, would tears come to her eyes? Forgive me for my disrespect, forgive me for my lies.” B.I.G. rhymes as he talks about how he feels that he has disappointed his mother. B.I.G also talks about the many mistakes that he’s made in his lifetime before he takes his life in the final seconds of the track.
The track continues with the theme of the album, displaying B.I.G.’s life (beginning to end) and why he’s not afraid of death; he’s “ready to die.”
“Big Poppa” was released as the second single on Feb. 20, 1995 and reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100. The track samples “Between the Sheets” by The Isley Brothers.
The song was nominated at the 1996 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Solo Performance, but lost to Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise.” Widely considered to B.I.G.’s most famous song, “Big Poppa” details why B.I.G. likes to be called “big poppa” and talks about living the luxurious life while being in the company of many women.
Overall, “Ready to Die” is classic New York hip hop: raw and unapologetic. B.I.G. masterfully mixes witty and clever rhymes with funky beats.
Though this is the first and only album to be put by the rapper himself, all of the others were posthumous; every track is virtually unskippable as they give insight to the “black Frank White.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Kenna Egbune at Ikenna.egbune@colorado.edu.
