247 Album Verdict
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Ready to DieThe Notorious B.I.G.
Hip-Hop · 1990s

Ready to Die

The Notorious B.I.G.
Released 1994Hip-Hop
Start herePicked by a lifelong record collector

Biggie's debut pairs cinematic street narratives with effortless flow and undeniable hooks, balancing menace and humour. The storytelling and presence are extraordinary for a first album. A New York cornerstone. Released in 1994, it's an early landmark for The Notorious B.I.G..

On vinyl: Vinyl can be scarcer than the CD from this era, so it's worth looking for a recent repressing.

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Tracks from this album on our lists

We don't reproduce full tracklists — only the songs from this record we've featured in our best-of lists.

More from The Notorious B.I.G. — where to go next

If you have Ready to Die, these are the The Notorious B.I.G. records worth reaching for next.

  1. 1
    Ready to Die1994 · you're viewing this one
    Start here
  2. 2
    Life After Death1997 · Hip-Hop
    Classic
More Hip-Hop Best Hip-Hop of the 1990s Best of the 1990s Albums from 1994 The Notorious B.I.G.

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