READY TO LIVE: The "Ready To Die" 20th Anniversary Thread

[mson]

Take the Ready to Die quiz

http://www.mtv.com/news/1927406/notorious-big-ready-to-die-quiz/



And tell Big I said he's Unbelievable

 

[Rapmastermind]

THE SONGS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT: Everyone knows "One More Chance Stay With Me Remix" wasn't on the album. As well as "Who Shot Ya" but they both ended up on singles. There were several songs that didn't make it. It was mostly cause of sample clearance and Puffy saying no. Here are are Great Cuts that missed the Cut on Ready To Die:


*"Dead Wrong" - Original produced by Easy Mo Bee, the was Biggie spitting over a laid back jazzy beat. A majority of fans only remember the remix from 99's "Born Again" especially cause of the Eminem feature. But this was the original version that didn't make the album:




*"nikkaz" This song was remixed on "The Bad Boys II" Soundtrack as well as "Born Again" but the original version was a raw underground cut.




"Whatcu Want" - This was remixed for the "Duets" album and featured Jay Z but the original was very raw and uncut.




"Dreams (Just Playin)" - One of the most infamous records in Biggie's career. His pissed so many RnB singers off he actually got calls from Patti and Regina Bell that he was out of line. Puffy got an ear full from the "Mariah Carey's kinda Scary" line Of course Xscape is still scared from his infamous "Raul Paul" line. The song ended up being the only unreleased left off "Ready To Die" song to be included on the 10th Anniversary album. It was underground while Biggie was alive though it was released on some Vinyl.




"House of Pain" - This was a track that Pac did with Big while they were both recording albums. It was remixed twice by Puffy. 1st on "Born Again" and it featured Joe Hooker but that was never released. Then on "Duets" with Stretch taken off and NaS and Mary J added produced by Just Blaze. Here is the original rumored to be produced by Easy Mo Bee




"Macs and Dons" - This record is pure "Ready To Die", from the production to Big's amazing style and flow. Out of all the unreleased tracks outside of "Dreams" this one stood out to me that probably shouldn't of been cut. Listening to it take you back in time to when the album dropped. The "Notorious" Movie was actually the 1st time the song was introduced to the public. Sample clearances why it didn't make the album.

The cassette and Vinyl versions.

 

[the cac mamba]

When you listened to the radio the majority of hip hop music was good. I.

cant even imagine this

 

[Rapmastermind]

AWARDS, REVIEWS AND SALES: "Ready To Die" was nominated and won many awards. It also sold very well. Here is the full listing:

"READY TO DIE" - 4x PLATINUM US (8 MILLION SOLD WORLDWIDE)
Juicy - Gold US 750k (Platinum Worldwide)
Big Poppa - Platinum US 1.3 Million (2x Platinum Worldwide)
One more Chance - Platinum US 1.7 Million (3x Platinum Worldwide)

*Grammy Awards: "Best Rap Solo Performance" - "Big Poppa" (Lost to "Gangster's Paradise", Tupac's "Dear Momma" was nominated in this category also that year.)



*Source Awards: "Best Album", "Best Artist", "Best Lyricist" and "Best Live Performer"



(During the After-show, Biggie admit he felt NaS should of won "Lyricist of the Year" at the Source Awards)

*Soul Train Music Awards: "Best Rap Single - One More Chance"




*Billboard Music Awards: "Rap Artist of the Year" and "Rap Single of the Year"

(Check out Bone Thugs In Harmony give Biggie his 2 Billboard Awards)

PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRank
About.comUnited States100 Greatest Hip Hop Albums[34]20085
Best Rap Albums of 1994[35]20082
10 Essential Hip-Hop Albums[36]20083
Blender500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die2003*
Dance De LuxSpainThe 25 Best Hip-Hop Records200121
Robert DimeryUnited States1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die2005*
ego tripHip Hop's 25 Greatest Albums by Year 1980-9819992
Entertainment WeeklyThe 100 Best Albums from 1983 to 2008200840
The GuardianUnited Kingdom1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die2007*
MojoMojo 1000, the Ultimate CD Buyers Guide2001*
The Mojo Collection, 3rd and/or 4th Edition2003*
Tom MoonUnited States1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die2008*
MTVThe Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time[37]20054
MUZIQFrance200 Records for a Dream Collection2007*
The New NationUnited KingdomTop 100 Albums by Black Artists20058
Pause & PlayUnited StatesAlbums Inducted into a Time Capsule, One Album per Week*
Pitchfork MediaTop 100 Favorite Records of the 1990s200332
Pure PopMexicoAlbums of the Year199418
QUnited KingdomThe Ultimate Music Collection2005*
Rolling StoneUnited StatesThe Essential Recordings of the 90s1999*
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time2003133
100 Best Albums of the Nineties[33]20118
SoundsUnited KingdomThe 50 Best Albums of the 1990s200937
The SourceUnited StatesThe 100 Best Rap Albums of All Time1998*
The Critics Top 100 Black Music Albums of All Time[38]20068
SpinTop 90 Albums of the 90s199927
Top 100 (+5) Albums of the Last 20 Years200530
The 125 Best Albums of the Past 25 Years201043
TimeTop 100 Albums of All Time2006*
Vibe100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century1999*
150 Albums That Define the Vibe Era (1992-2007)2007*
Village VoiceAlbums of the Year199438
VPRONetherlands299 Nominations of the Best Album of All Time2006*

 

[Rapmastermind]

THE FEATURES: "Ready To Die" was definitely The Biggie Smalls Show from beginning to End. But he let some people rock with him on the album and the singles:

TOTAL: Also a newly signed act to Bad Boy. Total sang on the Classic "Juicy" and the original "One More Chance". They also had some vocals on the Hip Hop "Remix" of "One More Chance" on the single.

FAITH AND MARY J: Faith sang the Hook along with Mary J on "One More Chance Stay With Me Remix".

DIANA KING: Before she had the worldwide smash "Shy Guy" on the "Bad Boys" soundtrack. She rapped with Biggie on the Jamaican influenced "Respect". Check the ending as it was the bases for her lyrics on "Shy Guy".

LIL KIM: She was actually featured on the "Intro" as well as the "F*ckin U" interlude. She even had a small line on "Friend of Mine".

JERMAINE DUPRI: On the B-side of "Big Poppa" single is a remix that was produced by JD. It's called "Big Poppa So So Def Remix". He doesn't rap but he does his own version of Puffy adlibs. The Beat was as smooth as the original and was fire and Biggie actually spits a new verse for the last verse:

PUFFY: He didn't have any verses but his Adlibs on this album are legendary. He also set the tone being on the other line in "Suicidal Thoughts" and being different characters in Biggie's life in "The Intro"

METHOD MAN: Even though a few members in Wu had a rocky relationship, Biggie always showed love. He gave Method Man the status of being the only rap feature on this Legendary Album. And Boy did he deliver. Flow for Flow, Bar for Bar he went toe to toe with Biggie. Because of Big's love and respect for Wu, some friends said he even felt Meth may have gotten him. But he was obviously being humble. No matte the case "The What" is a Classic Rap Record for the streets and the Motto is something we can live by, "Everything you get, YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD FOR IT!"

 

[god shamgod]

Am I the only person who remembers the original warning video when biggie says hold on I here somebody comin then goes out on the balcony of his crib wettin nikkas up.Then they edited that part out cuz of the violence It use to come on the box.This album being 20 years old is yet another reminder I'm gettin old,I copped this 1st day it dropped

I copped the juicy single a month or so before the album dropped and unbelievable was on the b side after that I was highly anticipating this album

 

[Knicksman20]

Gotta add this:

 

[bigbadbossup2012]

Lmao @ revisionist pretending illmatic could even remotely fukk with this album.

 

[mson]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/microphone...biggie-smalls-and-ready-to-die-20-years-later

 

[ManBearPig]

Lmao @ revisionist pretending illmatic could even remotely fukk with this album.

Illmatic better

 

[AkaDemiK]

I live for the funk, I die for the funk

 

[ucanthandlethetruth]

March 9th will be a day that lives in Hip Hop Infamy forever as that’s the day we lost the great Christopher Wallace. Canibus made the date even more Iconic with his Legendary bars on “2nd Round K.O.” But another date also holds that significance. September 13th has become one of the most famous dates in the history of Hip Hop. It’s the day that Iconic Rap Legend Tupac Shukar died from his gunshot wounds from the Las Vegas Shooting. This year in 2014 we celebrate the 18th Anniversary of his passing. Ironically this date is another Anniversary.

2 Years before Pac’s death, an up and coming underground emcee from Brooklyn New York unleashed his debut album on the world. “Ready To Die” was released September 13th 1994 and Hip Hop has never been the same sense. This thread is give a full history on the lead up to the album. The Legendary XXL “Making of Ready To Die” and why 20 years later it can be debated as the greatest rap album of all time.

(At a young Age Biggie proved to be gifted and a natural rapper and emcee)


*READY TO SUCCEED: Biggie was an underground Legend before Puffy even met him. Rapping on Video Music Box as a teen. Battling cats on the corner. The streets of Brooklyn knew Christopher before anyone else did. But it was Big Daddy Kane’s DJ Mister Cee and DJ 50 Grand that got the ball rolling for Big. After Matty C got the Biggie Demo and featured it in the Unsigned Hype. He got a call from Puffy looking for new artist. Matty then passed on Big’s demo to Puff and the rest is history. Biggie meanwhile was on the streets selling drugs still after being kicked out of his mother’s house.

(In the beginning Biggie did use to write lyrics down but during the "Ready To Die" recording process he learned to memorize his bars in his head. This technique is now being used by many popular rappers in the game)


*READY TO RECORD: After Big’s demo was a hit it was time for him to get in the studio and put some songs on wax. Biggie was originally signed to Uptown but Puffy was fired and he was in limbo. While selling drugs cause “Nicks move for 20’s down south” Big got locked up in North Carolina and did a 9 month bid. While behind bars he decided he would pressure his rap career full time. Once Puffy got his Bad Boy Label everything changed. Biggie’s earliest solo recording on record is the underground cut “Biggie got the Hype Sh!t”.

He would follow that up with a series of collabos starting with a feature with Aaron Hall called “Why you trying to play me” where he was credited as “Christopher Wallace”. By 93 he would release his very 1st single on the “Who’s The Man” Soundtrack called “Party and Bullshyt”. That song got the streets hot but didn’t perform on the charts. Biggie also appeared on title track of the soundtrack “Who’s the Man”. His 1st album feature came on Heavy D’s “Blue Funk” on the track called “A Bunch of N!ggas” which featured Guru and Busta Rhymes as well.

Next think you know artist were contacting Biggie to get on remixes and that proved to be a success. He remixed Neneh Cherry’s “Buddy X” but Biggie didn’t enter the charts until he was featured on the remix to Super Cat’s “Dolly My Baby” which was his 1st Hot 100 appearance. He followed that up with the remix.to the Mary J Blige Classic “Real Love”. By the end of 1993 Biggie was one of the hottest underground rappers in New York. During this time he got the attention of another New York born Emcee by the name of Tupac Shakur who took him on shows and even recorded with him. "Flava in Ya Ear" Remix also fueled the buzz for Biggie's debut as his verse is considered the most memorable on the posse cut.

(The Westcoast dominated Hip Hop Critically and Commercially until "Ready To Die" brought the final shift)


*READY TO COMPETE: “The Chronic” and “Doggystyle” were still burning up Hip Hop Airwaves and charts. On the Eastcoast there were a few groups still selling but there was no dominate New York act that could compete with The West Coast. By the time 1994 rolled around New York had dropped Masterpiece’s from both Wu Tang and NaS with “36 Chambers” and “ILLmatic”.

Wu’s album was able to go Platinum within a year and propel them as one of Hip Hop best new groups. NaS “ILLmatic” got the critical acclaim but wasn’t able to have the same commercial success. Quality wasn’t an issue for New York at the time. It was sales. No Eastcoast album could compete with Dre and Snoop. Then out of nowhere came other hit West Coast album with Warren G’s “Regulate”. By this point it seemed the West Reign on the Top was never going to end. That was until a certain Single dropped.

(Biggie climbed the ladder to success escalator style after his debut came out)

*READY TO TAKEOVER: “Juicy” was released on August 8th 1994. The song was an INSTANT Hit burning up the charts and radio not just in New York but all over the country. The single had a sample from the Classic RnB song “Juicy Fruit” by Mtume. It was a rags to riches story about Big’s life from street corners to interviews by the pool. The song felt autobiographical. With Pop Culture references and shout outs to Hip Hop DJ’s and Pioneers. Biggie made a single everyone could enjoy. The Single was a success going Gold and by the time the album was released it had set the streets and the charts on fire.

Within 2 Months the album was Gold, with in 6 months it was Platinum. By 1995 it was multi-Platinum. “Juicy” got the fire started but “Big Poppa” took Biggie even further up the charts. The Overweight Lover anthem with the Classic Isley Brother’s sample set clubs ablaze and took Biggie from a regional New York Underground Act to a Pop Sensation. The song ended being a Top 10 hit for Biggie and went Platinum. It earned Biggie his 1st Grammy nomination. The last single from the album ended up making history. The Remix for “One More Chance” tied Michael and Janet Jackson’s “Scream” as the highest debut for a single in History breaking The Beatles record. The single ended going Platinum and earned Biggie two Billboard Awards for Biggie Rap single and Artist of the year.

(Before Biggie called himself "The Hitchcock of Hip Hop" he proved his storytelling abilities on his debut)

*READY TO TELL A STORY: What made “Ready To Die” work was the fact it plays out like an audio movie. You could literally “SEE” Biggie’s words in your mind. From the beginning of the album “Intro” Biggie was in Storytelling mode as it starts from his birth. The baby on the album cover actually symbolizes Biggie‘s birth, through his teens up until his prison sentence. As he’s leaving Jail you hear a Snoop Dogg Classic “Da Shizit” playing in the back. As the 1 song “Things Dun Changed” began you hear a sample from “The Chronic” “Lil Ghetto Boy”. It was if Biggie was subconsciously or consciously telling us there’s a New Sherrif in town after the West’s Dominance.

He even ended the Intro with “I got Big Plans”. The album then goes on to give you stories like “Gimmie The Loot”, “Warning” and “Me and My B!tch”. Even on songs that weren’t stories Big always told them in story form. “Everyday Struggle” is a story of the trails and tribulations of the Drug Game. “Respect” Biggie gives us a 3 act story about his life before and after birth. Even “One More Chance” is a story of Biggie’s sexual exploits. The to accent the audio movie concept the album ends with the haunting “Suicidal Thoughts”. You really felt Puffy was terrified on the other line and the “THUMP” at the end accepts that shot himself. “Ready To Die” isn’t just a Classic album cause of the great rhymes, production and songs but because it told a cohesive story. In that story Biggie explained that this lifestyle has two endings. Dead - Suicidal Thoughts or In Jail - The Intro. He gave you a moral lesson that his surroundings made him feel that death would solve his problems cause life was hell on those streets.

*READY TO INSPIRE: By 1995 Biggie was on top of the world and crowned The King of New York (Which is also his nickname). Touring the globe. Collaborating with rappers from the underground to commercial. To Pop Acts as big as Michael Jackson. “Ready To Die” dominated the charts, airways and the streets. Because of this the album created a new Blueprint for Hip Hop. Biggie made an LP that appealed to not just his boys at the bodega in Brooklyn but also that white kid in the suburbs. The album gave the streets what they wanted but it also gave the clubs something too. What LL did in the 80’s and early 90’s. Biggie took it to another level. His success lead to bringing out his crew Junior Mafia which lead to discovery of one of the greatest female rappers ever in Lil Kim. It also made Bad Boy records one of the most Successful and historic labels in rap History.

20 Years later “Ready To Die” is one of the most sampled rap albums of all time. “Juicy, Warning, Big Poppa and One More Chance” are still all staples on radio. Lyrics have been sampled from this album from rap, pop, rnb and even rock stars. The album as been on several of greatest of all time list including Time Magazine Top 100 albums ever. It even spanned the Blockbuster Diamond Selling Classic Masterpiece follow up “Life After Death”. Which literally acts as a sequel to “Ready To Die” which it begins at the end of “Suicidal Thoughts”. So on this Legendary Anniversary. What's your favorite song from the album and what's your opinion of it all these years later? 20 years ago Biggie may have been “Ready To Die”, but the music he made was Ready To Live. FOREVER.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ready_to_Die

http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/09/the-making-of-ready-to-diefamily-business/15/

THE Goat

 

[bigbadbossup2012]

Illmatic better

Not at all

 

[prophecypro]

Lmao @ revisionist pretending illmatic could even remotely fukk with this album.

Cats where giving Illmatic 5 mics and RTD 4.5 so its anything but revisionist to say it was better. Both had their place in history as commercial and underground achievements that helped push NY back in the era so I dont know why people cant enjoy both unless they got limited a taste

 

[mson]

Why bring up another album in this thread?