The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die (9.5/10)

Ready to Die (1994)
The Notorious B.I.G.

"It was all a dream,
I used to read Word Up Magazine..."

It goes without saying that hip hop in the ‘90s was something extraordinary. As key participants in the genre began to cover more politically and socially conscious topics in the 1980s, in the latter part of the decade, the west coast gave birth to gangsta rap. Popularized by groups like N.W.A. , this aggressive and confrontational brand of rap was—and still is—inherently controversial. Although artists have staunchly defended their method of interpreting gang life in poverty-stricken neighborhoods as nothing more than realism, the fact stands that much of the content in this kind of hip hop is incredibly violent, misogynistic, and sexually explicit (to varying degrees, of course). But in regards to artistic merit, the gritty commentary from artists deeply entrenched in this way of life (for better or for worse) is an important vocalization from areas of urban America that otherwise wouldn’t get many chances for unique creative expression, especially in the rough world of pop music. I use “rough” specifically in reference to ascent; perhaps even more evident in today’s world, breaking out is hard enough, but gaining and maintaining popularity as a recording artist is always a difficult task.

That being said, one of the most self-conscious and lyrically gifted performers to hit the mic in any genre was Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G. Before Ready to Die, Biggie Smalls (as he was also known) made a name for himself through guest appearances here and there alongside Mary J. Blige, LL Cool J, and Busta Rhymes. After years of West Coast dominance in hip hop, Biggie’s monumental multi-platinum debut album shifted attention back to the East Coast, the birthplace of hip hop itself. As an introductory recording, Ready to Die accomplishes an extraordinary level of thematic achievements. First and foremost, Biggie readily establishes his character and outlines his environment and life experiences with startling clarity. There’s plenty of bragging and threatening, but at the same time, Ready to Die is heavily tinged with guilt and regret. Biggie reflects on his life decisions and becomes deeply depressed, ultimately culminating in his suicide at the end of the album (but not really, of course). Every situation on the album is handled with an impressive level of lyrical dexterity, and Biggie’s effortless storytelling abilities still have few peers.

Opening with an intro that sets Wallace’s tumultuous upbringing against contemporaneous musical backdrops (such as Curtis Mayfield’s “Superfly” and the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight”), Ready to Die-proper opens with “Things Done Changed,” where Smalls expresses his discontent with how violent his environment has become, setting a tone of apprehension and unease. “Back in the days, our parents used to care of us/Look at ‘em now, they even f---in’ scared of us…Damn, what happened to the summertime cookouts?/Every time I turn around, a n---- gettin’ took out.” This theme continues on throughout the album in the songs “Ready to Die” and “Everyday Struggle,” and digging deepest in the aforementioned “Suicidal Thoughts.” Between these tracks are songs that are far less dark, but cover tangential topics. The rough-and-tumble dialogue between Biggie and his higher-pitched self in “Gimme the Loot” is nothing short of incredible. Smalls splits himself into two distinct characters in preparation for a robbery and leads listeners through every step of the plan with all the exhilaration of...well, actually getting robbed. But that’s besides the point; “Gimme the Loot” is a stand-out for its clever rhymes and steady pace.

Another great example of B.I.G.’s lyricism is “Warning,” where Biggie’s clued into the plans of a couple assassins who are ready to put him in an early grave. A barber named Pop calls up Biggie to warn him about “the intricate plot” to take him down: “They heard about the Rolexes and the Lexus, with the Texas license plate outta state/They heard about the pounds you got down in Georgetown/And they heard you got half of Virginia locked down/They even heard about the crib you bought your moms out in Florida/The fifth corridor.” To this, Biggie responds with, “Call the coroner/There's gonna be a lot of slow singin’ and flower bringin’/If my burglar alarm starts ringin’.” This interplay and ability for Smalls to work a story into rhymes that entertain a high level of practicality and creativity are some of Biggie’s prominent strengths on the album.

Something can be said against the amount of explicit sexuality and misogyny prevalent on the album, but it’s not like it isn’t expected. (Nonetheless, “One More Chance” still has the filthiest lyrics this side of “Sir Psycho Sexy.”) Ready to Die plays out like a montage of Biggie’s life on the edge. The period from when Smalls is released from the penitentiary at the end of the intro to when he blows his head off at the end of “Suicidal Thoughts” is a rollercoaster of emotion and a reflection on every aspect of his life thus far. Biggie contemplates his life decisions, from selling drugs to relationships, and in a way the record functions as a kind of catharsis. There are certainly elements that chiefly serve as entertainment (nothing wrong with that), but the themes that touch upon personal struggles and fulfillment in life—wonderfully captured in “Juicy”—are told with such sincerity that you wonder if B.I.G. really did want to act out the scenario in “Suicidal Thoughts,” in which he calls up Puff Daddy (his executive producer) to express his depression and dissatisfaction with his life before putting a gun to his head. “All my life I been considered as the worst/Lyin’ to my mother, even stealin’ out her purse/Crime after crime, from drugs to extortion/I know my mother wished she got a f---in’ abortion.” In strong contrast, “Juicy” contains some of the most self-confident lyrics on the album. “I never thought it could happen, this rappin’ stuff/I was too used to packin’ gats and stuff…Damn right I like the life I live/‘Cause I went from negative to positive.” It’s not clear exactly how B.I.G. feels about himself, but it’s this uncertainty and self-discovery that really characterizes the album.

It’s not all gloom and doom, though. Tracks like “Machine Gun Funk,” “The What,” and “Big Poppa” help to lighten the mood without sacrificing B.I.G.’s stellar lyricism. All of this comes together to form one of the greatest debuts ever released and one of the greatest albums ever recorded. It’s difficult to overstate just how good it is; it really needs to be experienced. I’d highly recommend this one to anyone interested in hip hop (and who also isn’t easily offended).

9.5/10

Stand-out Tracks:
“Gimme the Loot”
“Machine Gun Funk”
“Warning”
“Ready to Die” (FYI: The remaster replaces the original sample)
“The What”
“Juicy”
“Everyday Struggle”
“Big Poppa”
“Unbelievable”
“Suicidal Thoughts”
“Who Shot Ya?” (Bonus track included on the remastered version)