Ready to Die
|
|
Ready to Die is a gangsta rap album by East Coast hip hop artist Notorious B.I.G., released on September 13, 1994 (see 1994 in music). While sometimes criticized as overly dramatic, Ready to Die is widely acknowledged as the album that revitalized East Coast hip hop after Dr. Dre and Death Row Records took over the industry in 1992 (see 1992 in music). The album was very popular, and crossed over into the mainstream, partially as a result to Biggie's slow, easy-to-understand style, though his complex rhymes made the album a critical success as well.
The album peaked at #3 and #15 on Billboard's (North America) Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums and the Billboard 200 album charts.
Track listing
- "Intro" (Notorious BIG) (samples Curtis Mayfield's "Supafly", Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight", Audio Two's "Top Billin'" & Snoop Dogg's "Tha Shiznit") - 3:24
- "Things Done Changed" (Notorious BIG) - 3:57
- "Gimme the Loot" (Notorious BIG) (samples Gangstarr's "Just to Get a Rep") - 5:04
- "Machine Gun Funk" (Notorious BIG) (samples Lords of the Underground's "Cheif Rocka") - 4:16
- "Warning" (Notorious BIG) (samples Isaac Hayes' "Walk On By") - 3:40
- "Ready to Die" (Notorious BIG) - 4:24
- "One More Chance" (Notorious BIG) (samples Jackson 5's "I Want You Back") - 4:43
- "#! *@ Me (Interlude)" (Notorious BIG) - 1:31
- "The What" (with Method Man) - 3:57
- "Juicy" (Notorious BIG) (samples Mtume's "Juicy Fruit") - 5:03
- "Everyday Struggle" (Notorious BIG) - 5:19
- "Me & My Bitch" (Notorious BIG) - 4:00
- "Big Poppa" (Notorious BIG) (samples the Isley Brothers "Between the Sheets") - 4:13
- "Respect" (Notorious BIG) (samples George McCray's "I Get Lifted") - 5:22
- "Friend of Mine" (Notorious BIG) (samples Kool & The Gang's "Spirit of the Boogie" & Black Mambo's "Vicious") - 3:28
- "Unbelievable" (Notorious BIG) (samples R. Kelly's "Your Body's Callin'") - 3:43
- "Suicidal Thoughts" (Notorious BIG) - 2:54
Charting singles
Billboard (North America)
1994 Juicy/Unbelievable The Billboard Hot 100 No. 27 1994 Juicy/Unbelievable Hot Rap Singles No. 3 1994 Juicy/Unbelievable Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 14 1994 Juicy Rhythmic Top 40 No. 36 1994 Juicy/Unbelievable Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 1 1995 Big Poppa/Warning The Billboard Hot 100 No. 6 1995 One More Chance/Stay With Me The Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 1995 Big Poppa/Warning Hot Rap Singles No. 1 1995 One More Chance/Stay With Me Hot Rap Singles No. 1 1995 Big Poppa/Warning Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 4 1995 One More Chance/Stay With Me Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 1 1995 Big Poppa/Warning Rhythmic Top 40 No. 12 1995 One More Chance/Stay With Me Rhythmic Top 40 No. 7 1995 Big Poppa/Warning Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 1 1995 One More Chance/Stay With Me Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 1