The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die
The album that reinvented East Coast rap for the gangsta age, 'Ready to Die' made the Notorious B.I.G. a star, and vaulted Sean "Puffy" Combs' Bad Boy label into the spotlight as well. Today it's recognized as one of the greatest hardcore rap albums ever recorded, and that's mostly due to Biggie's skill as a storyteller. His raps are easy to understand, but his skills are hardly lacking -- he has a loose, easy flow and a talent for piling multiple rhymes on top of one another in quick succession. He's blessed with a flair for the dramatic, and slips in and out of different contradictory characters with ease.
A sense of doom pervades his most involved stories: fierce bandits ("Gimme the Loot"), a hustler's beloved girlfriend ("Me & My Bitch"), and robbers out for Biggie's newfound riches ("Warning") all die in hails of gunfire. Not everything is so dark, though; Combs' production collaborations result in some upbeat, commercial moments, and typically cop from recognizable hits: the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" on the graphic sex rap "One More Chance," and the Isley Brothers' "Between the Sheets" on the overweight-lover anthem "Big Poppa." "Suicidal Thoughts" closes the album on a heartbreaking note, it's clear why he was so revered even prior to his death.
Double vinyl re-issue.
Tracklist:
A1 Intro
A2 Things Done Changed
A3 Machine Gun Funk
A4 Warning
B1 Ready To Die
B2 One More Chance
B3 Fuck Me (Interlude)
B4 The What
B5 Juicy
C1 Everyday Struggle
C2 Me & My Bitch
C3 Big Poppa
C4 Respect
D1 Friend Of Mine
D2 Unbelievable
D3 Suicidal Thoughts
D4 Who Shot Ya
D5 Just Playing (Dreams)
The album that reinvented East Coast rap for the gangsta age, 'Ready to Die' made the Notorious B.I.G. a star, and vaulted Sean "Puffy" Combs' Bad Boy label into the spotlight as well. Today it's recognized as one of the greatest hardcore rap albums ever recorded, and that's mostly due to Biggie's skill as a storyteller. His raps are easy to understand, but his skills are hardly lacking -- he has a loose, easy flow and a talent for piling multiple rhymes on top of one another in quick succession. He's blessed with a flair for the dramatic, and slips in and out of different contradictory characters with ease.
A sense of doom pervades his most involved stories: fierce bandits ("Gimme the Loot"), a hustler's beloved girlfriend ("Me & My Bitch"), and robbers out for Biggie's newfound riches ("Warning") all die in hails of gunfire. Not everything is so dark, though; Combs' production collaborations result in some upbeat, commercial moments, and typically cop from recognizable hits: the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" on the graphic sex rap "One More Chance," and the Isley Brothers' "Between the Sheets" on the overweight-lover anthem "Big Poppa." "Suicidal Thoughts" closes the album on a heartbreaking note, it's clear why he was so revered even prior to his death.
Double vinyl re-issue.
Tracklist:
A1 Intro
A2 Things Done Changed
A3 Machine Gun Funk
A4 Warning
B1 Ready To Die
B2 One More Chance
B3 Fuck Me (Interlude)
B4 The What
B5 Juicy
C1 Everyday Struggle
C2 Me & My Bitch
C3 Big Poppa
C4 Respect
D1 Friend Of Mine
D2 Unbelievable
D3 Suicidal Thoughts
D4 Who Shot Ya
D5 Just Playing (Dreams)
Info columns
PRE-ORDERS
Flying Nun only debits your account for a pre-order when it has actually landed in our store. We believe this is fair because supply can often be unreliable - availability and release dates frequently change without notice. Pre-order with Flying Nun and you can cancel any time prior to the product arriving at our store.
OUT OF STOCK ITEMS
Flying Nun only make products available to purchase on our website when they are actually physically held at the store (except pre-orders). Vinyl availability from all local and international suppliers changes on a daily/hourly basis. Therefore, it is not possible to guarantee an online order for many items not currently held in stock.
SHIPPING
Flying Nun offers free shipping in Aotearoa New Zealand on orders over $80. We have record stores in both Auckland and Wellington and will ship your record from whichever store is nearest. We aim to pack send your order next business day. Pick ups are also available from both stores.