Ready to Die is the debut studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released on September 13, 1994 by Bad Boy and Arista Records. The album features production by Bad Boy founder Sean "Puffy" Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, DJ Premier, and Lord Finesse, among others. It was recorded from 1993 to 1994 at The Hit Factory and D&D Studios in New York City. The partly autobiographical album tells the story of the rapper's experiences as a young criminal, and was the only studio album released during his lifetime, as he was murdered sixteen days before the release of his second album Life After Death in 1997.
Ready to Die was released to critical acclaim and became a commercial success, achieving Gold certification. In 1995, it was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),[1] and has since reached a certified quadruple platinum with sales. It was significant for revitalizing the East Coast hip hop scene, amid West Coast hip hop's commercial dominance.[2] The album's second single "Big Poppa" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards. Ready to Die has been regarded by many critics as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time, as well as one of the best albums of the 1990s.
1. "Intro" Christopher Wallace, Sean Combs Sean "Puffy" Combs 3:24
2. "Things Done Changed" Wallace, Dominic Owen, Kevin Scott Darnell Scott 3:58
3. "Gimme the Loot" Wallace, Osten Harvey Easy Mo Bee 5:04
4. "Machine Gun Funk" Wallace, Harvey Easy Mo Bee 4:17
5. "Warning" Wallace, Harvey Easy Mo Bee 3:40
6. "Ready to Die" Wallace, Harvey Easy Mo Bee 4:24
7. "One More Chance" Wallace, Norm Glover, Reginald Ellis, Chucky Thompson, Combs Bluez Brothers, Chucky Thompson, Combs 4:43
8. "Fuck Me (Interlude)" Wallace, Combs Combs 1:31
9. "The What" (featuring Method Man) Wallace, Clifford Smith, Harvey Easy Mo Bee 3:57
10. "Juicy" Wallace, Peter Philips, Combs, Jean Oliver Poke, Combs (co.) 5:02
11. "Everyday Struggle" Wallace, Glover, Ellis Bluez Brothers 5:19
12. "Me & My Bitch" Wallace, Glover, Ellis, Thompson, Combs Bluez Brothers, Chucky Thompson, Combs 4:00
13. "Big Poppa" Wallace, Rudolph Isley, O'Kelly Isley Jr., Ronald Isley, Ernest Isley, Marvin Isley, Chris Jasper Chucky Thompson, Combs (co.) 4:13
14. "Respect" Wallace, Diana King, Harry Casey Poke, Combs 5:21
15. "Friend of Mine" Wallace, Harvey Easy Mo Bee 3:28
16. "Unbelievable" Wallace, Christopher Martin DJ Premier 3:43
17. "Suicidal Thoughts" Wallace, Robert Hall Lord Finesse 2:50