| | Full Review | Ratings (968) |
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| 5.0 classic | Big Baby Jesus | May 12th 08 |
There is no such thing as a perfect Record. There never is, was, or will be. There's not even a such thing as a perfect record within the genre. But if there was, "Ready To Die" would be. With killer production (Mainly by Easy Mo Bee, including Lord Finesse and Dj Premier) and genius hook, this Record is "Ear Candy" in every sense of the word. But most importantly, Christopher is a beyond amazing lyricist. I have seen this album turn fans out of people that saw rap music as "Talking over stolen music". The best thing about the record are the the goosebumps that accompany it. Every word is spoken in a way that makes you understand what the man was going through when he created the album. It shows every side of a human being. The selfish, egotistic man who thinks he can beat any man and screw any woman. The Father who would give his life (and anyone else's) to put food on the table for his family, and the lost soul who is trying to make sense of everything in between. Sure, it has a few flaws, but they are all overshadowed by the genius of every aspect of the record. Be prepared before you listen to it. Because I wasn't. I was expecting a catchy album with cool hooks and nice beats. I ended up with an album that amazes me to my core to this day... Nearly a decade after I first heard it. I can honestly say that this album will stay in the back of my mind well into my 70s (Or whichever decade I end up dying in). His death has absolutely nothing to do with this Record's unreal reputation, and everything to do with the fact that you will never hear a rap album that commands as much attention or respect as this one.
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | thecreative0ne | May 26th 12 |
This album, by one of the best ever, put the east side of hip-hop on the map, and just put hip-hop on the map in general. This album showcases Biggies lyrical ability to be able to put comedy, raw lyrics, and storytelling all in the same song. This album has songs for any mood that you're in. This album contains stories of harsh street life. Ready To Die is the greatest album, by one of the greatest ever, that explains alot.
1. Intro: An interesting way to begin an album, it begins the theme of the album, it has him being born. Can't really rate it though since it's just an intro.
2. Things Done Changed: The album kicks off with one of the best songs by Biggie, which tells a story about life, with a great chorus, containing great samples. 5/5
3. Gimmie The Loot: Another great song. This one tells a story about robbing in an amazing way. He does the voice of two people in the way the Beastie Boys do, truly outstanding song. It also utilizes sampling in a great way. 5/5
4. Machine Gun Funk: Another song that truly shows Biggies skill, and samples Chief Rocka by Lords of The Underground in a brilliant way. 5/5
5. Warning: A great song, with great storytelling. 5/5
6. Ready To Die: The best album title song of all time, with great song. 5/5
7. One More Chance: A funny song, dedicated to the women, and you'll find a sample of Mind Playing Tricks On Me in there. 5/5
8. F*** Me: Skit.
9. The What: Two of the greatest ever going back and forth on the same track over a great beat. 5/5
10. Juicy: The best biggie song, and the most upbeat song on the album, Biggie raps about how hard it was growing up. 5/5
11. Everyday Struggle: One of the best songs by Biggie. 5/5
12. Me and My Bitch: Another song for the women. 5/5
13. Big Poppa: The best song for the women by Biggie. 5/5
14. Respect: Great chorus, with great lyrics. 5/5
15. Friend of Mine: The weakest song on the album, but still classic. 5/5
16. Unbelievable: One of the best Biggie songs of all time, with great production. 5/5
17. Suicidal Thoughts: What a great way to end an album. The album ends like it begins, with a heartbeat 5/5
Pros:
Great lyrics
Great beats.
No cons.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Masochist | February 16th 11 |
This is a transcendent album, plain and simple. For all the squalor Biggie was raised around, there's something far beyond hip-hop that is recorded on this album. Perhaps an alternate title could be, "An Autobiography of the Ghetto African American Drug-Dealing No-Life;" perhaps it's Biggie's perseverance and persistence for fame and comfort that shines through more than anything else and gives this album a life it might not otherwise have.
It doesn't hurt that Biggie's a phenomenal rapper, either.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | cjstunna | July 29th 07 |
I remeber being captivated by this album when I bought it in '96 when I was in 5th grade. I think this was the first rap album I ever bought. Now for some inexplicable reason I feel it's the most overrated hip-hop album ever, it has alot of great to classic tracks but I find myself skipping through many of the songs through sheer boredom partially due to the pointless introductions contained in some of them. The singles like Big Poppa and Juicy are immediately accessible and classics of the genre and are probably recognizable to even the recreational hip-hop listener. And this isn't the greatest hardcore rap album of all time, Mobb Deep's The Infamous is, though this did popularize Diddy's signature R&B hooks that can be heard on many of the popular rap songs played on the radio today.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | hummer | October 18th 06 |
Amazing rap from my favorite MC of all time, Biggie crafts stories relating to his life on the streets, and his rhyming is absolutely amazing, going from his distrust for women (Friend of mine), life on the streets (Everyday struggle), the all time player's anthem (Big Poppa), and quite possibly the greatest hip hop song ever written (Juicy). Easily one of the greatest albums ever created.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Nick Butler STAFF | June 26th 06 |
From the ages 12 through 16, I was an absolute 2Pac fanatic. So much so, that I routinely dismissed Biggie as inferior. And, in ways, he is - he's not as enthralling a personality as 2Pac, his voice is slightly inferior, his records rarely have a message in the way Pac's best moments did. But the bottom line is simple - 2Pac never made an album that can even TOUCH Ready To Die. This isn't just better than any individual Pac moment, it's the defining moment of gangsta rap, and arguably, of post-1990 rap in general. Welding Wu-Tang aesthetics to G-funk, it's practically perfect. "Juicy", "Big Poppa", and "One More Chance" were all hits, and "Things Done Changed", "Machine-Gun Funk", "The What", and "Ready To Die" SHOULD have been. A dark, coherent worldview articulated with a storyteller's panache; even Randy Newman called this one of the best records ever made.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | David Zamarripa-Shippey | January 25th 11 |
amazing... i don't understand how 'real' hip hop fans nowadays (like TheIllmatics) don't even bother to listen to a full Lil Wayne album and judge his entire career based on intentionally bad pop singles then call him "the worst rapper alive". honestly?
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | 808muzik | June 15th 10 |
No one can match Biggie's flow. The true king of New York.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | dub sean | February 22nd 10 |
Ready to Die is and was what hip-hop should be. Hands down the best work of Mr. Christopher Wallace, the black Frank White, Biggie Smalls, the Notorious B.I.G. Though I caught onto hip-hop long after the release of this album, the beats here are classic, memorable, and timeless. And the rhymes? Well, it is clear that no one's got flow like Big Poppa. And I doubt anyone ever will. Modern day hip-hop can't touch the unmistakable lines that are contained in each and every track. One final comment: Gimme the Loot is just downright unfuckingbelievable.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | BRENTthewalrus | November 13th 09 |
The greatest hip-hop of all time. Every track was lyrically flawless as puffy throws down. Mixed and mastered perfectly.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | sean.n.zelda | March 19th 13 |
This album is superb. Biggie Smalls knew how to write a good hip-hop song.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | NagasakiBomber | December 7th 12 |
A marvelous rap album, not quite as good as it was when i first heard it but definitely worth anyones investment. This is a briliant album chock full of good tracks and some of the best lyrics ever written
Bump |
| 0.0 | souleater | November 8th 12 |
About as good as rap gets save for one or two little gems
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | ganjakush56 | October 19th 12 |
Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die....A brilliantly composed album. Like Nas said on "Last Real Nigga Alive", Biggie was ahead of his time. There isn't much more that needs to be said.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Gor2615 | September 19th 12 |
Born & raised in Brooklyn. 3 years old when this album dropped. Instant classic. The album speaks for it self.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | alextheantichrist | November 27th 11 |
One of the greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All time hands down. Sure both 2pac's Me Against the World and Big's Ready to Die do sound like an amazing competion, I slightly like ready to die more mostly because of it's thought provoking, lyrically sound abd excellent hooks. Because of Biggie and 2pac, they've revolutionized rap forever.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | sithofheaven | October 20th 11 |
If he's wasn't the best damn rapper period, he certainly had the best flow and released arguably the best hip-hop album of all time.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Bulldog | December 23rd 09 |
The (fairly) simplistic, solid beats serve as nothing but a mere backdrop and his husky ‘big boss’ voice and middle-of-the-spectrum flow nothing but a mechanism to Biggie’s fantastic lyricism and storytelling. A ghetto baby, through and through, Biggie tells tales of the hood all the while being good lyrically “My life’s played out, like a Jheri Curl,” “I’m slammin’ niggas like Shaquille O’Neal.” Biggie’s depressed, sometimes suicidal, lyrics tell the tales of all the, well, fuckups he had as a youngster. He weaves cautionary tales of life on the streets, and sounds dang good doing it. Ready To Die is a tried and true ghetto gospel, and a must hear for any rap fan. 4.6/5
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | EJinHD | May 24th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Biggie | May 14th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Skoj | April 30th 13 |
| 3.5 great | ffs | April 28th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | SMK | April 22nd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ari | April 16th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | RFO13 | April 13th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | kn2985 | April 10th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | feargm | April 1st 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Jeff N | March 17th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | dobs | March 16th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | axelsev | March 13th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Riviere | February 28th 13 |
| 3.5 great | jcjws | February 27th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | dogteal | February 22nd 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Aaron | February 22nd 13 |
| 5.0 classic | illogic | February 2nd 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Deuces | January 28th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | reef2 | January 24th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | aguzman | January 24th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | kb36 | January 22nd 13 |
| 5.0 classic | DOW. | January 19th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | paulxc | January 10th 13 |
| 2.0 poor | LPFTW | January 9th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | ryallba | January 6th 13 |
| 3.0 good | devon | December 30th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Zeg | December 30th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Milo | December 28th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | ABBIMM | December 23rd 12 |
| 5.0 classic | makana | December 17th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | urzadek | December 17th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | jtorres | December 17th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Dask | December 4th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Mojito | December 4th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | random | December 1st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | hermmess | November 20th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | br1nk | November 14th 12 |
| 3.5 great | porch | October 30th 12 |
| 2.0 poor | Tim00w | October 26th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jason S | October 24th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | JSW88 | October 17th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Peluca | October 16th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Melanin | October 11th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Derk | September 29th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Alex | September 18th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Khailen | September 13th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | steve. | August 31st 12 |
| 4.5 superb | steve. | August 31st 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Titan | August 26th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | j1myz | August 26th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Mike C | August 24th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | jayt851 | August 14th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | bleath | August 13th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | GenBK | August 1st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | rassiok | July 24th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Brumas | July 16th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Quinn | June 21st 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Riano | June 18th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Nick | June 16th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Behexen | June 13th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | akimbo | June 10th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | JThack4 | June 10th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Trail | June 10th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | hoepez | May 19th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Acorn | May 13th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | ANJ45 | May 8th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Viales | April 30th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Bessie | April 25th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Guzzo | April 19th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Beauers | April 17th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Waits | April 7th 12 |
| 3.5 great | nex77 | March 26th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Sayed | March 25th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aether | March 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | would | March 15th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Brink | February 24th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | DMEmery | February 22nd 12 |
| 5.0 classic | erdi | February 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dotcommy | February 12th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | nwagner | February 9th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Dunnus | January 23rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Djjakul | January 19th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Vyndax | January 14th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | JMH90 | January 3rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | gvogel | January 1st 12 |
| 5.0 classic | JPaller | December 27th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Turdles | December 23rd 11 |
| 5.0 classic | bnb96 | December 22nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | TheKing | December 11th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | DuMont | December 8th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jerbz | November 12th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | LiNaK37 | November 8th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | jg777 | November 6th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Kelly | October 5th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Cadda | October 1st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | fsharp | September 30th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Santeri | September 23rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | PacM4n | September 14th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Gunnar | September 6th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Nrap | September 2nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | freakout | September 2nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tulten | September 1st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Knave | August 26th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | iZac | August 2nd 11 |
| 5.0 classic | djejew | July 30th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Totes | July 20th 11 |
| 3.5 great | hughes | July 10th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | MalikC | July 8th 11 |
| 3.5 great | s796h | June 2nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | rumpus | May 26th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | BiOZed | May 17th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Ronen | May 15th 11 |
| 3.0 good | FearUs | April 22nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bill | April 20th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | shev | April 13th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Hocmat | April 6th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Plank | April 2nd 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Why | March 4th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Craig H | February 25th 11 |
| 3.5 great | kroglor | February 23rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Remer17 | February 18th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | tom79 | February 11th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | TAL | February 7th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | hankmac | January 29th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Nytro | January 25th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Narshh | January 22nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | mcsolar | January 17th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | peterRS | December 22nd 10 |
| 3.5 great | Ghrist | December 6th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Hawks | December 4th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ross22 | December 1st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | ZBJE | November 22nd 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Moy | November 21st 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Kmiller | November 18th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | thecof | November 17th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | crabman | November 13th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | LastEpic | November 11th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Tupik | November 4th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | goron72 | October 27th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Ethan | October 21st 10 |
| 4.5 superb | TAB | October 13th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Narsh | October 7th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | dgrona | October 4th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Ike | September 30th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Joel B. | September 22nd 10 |
| 3.0 good | rid | September 18th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | antism | September 15th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Koots | September 6th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | jsub1 | September 5th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | dackell | August 31st 10 |
| 4.5 superb | DayMan | August 25th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | bloc | August 22nd 10 |
| 5.0 classic | IAJP | August 13th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Jekub | August 1st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | droog | August 1st 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Julian | July 14th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Kleur | June 24th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Tyler | June 16th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | mobe9 | June 10th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | MTruth | May 26th 10 |
| 2.5 average | MCGF | May 22nd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Ewgads | May 12th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | HeavyB | April 30th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Greenz | April 28th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | jBoo | April 16th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Awaken | April 7th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Toy | March 31st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | C.F. | March 24th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | WooHa | February 27th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | rebreh | February 15th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | dch528 | January 22nd 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Apoc93 | January 22nd 10 |
| 5.0 classic | BigHans | January 15th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ali | January 15th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Eno | January 11th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | xSMDx | January 6th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | lolfurry | December 23rd 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Inveigh | December 17th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pizza | December 4th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | HanSOLO | December 3rd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Aziz CONTRIBUTOR | November 27th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Beorn | November 21st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | KILL | November 20th 09 |
| 3.0 good | Skyler | November 15th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | jpm224 | November 11th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | JoRos | October 5th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Smooz | September 28th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | John K | September 13th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Derrick | August 30th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Ubicuo | August 30th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | mooacow | August 25th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | 1zero | August 3rd 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Will IV | July 27th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Manic | July 20th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | sgrevs | June 4th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Mach | May 30th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | idbz | May 6th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Smiley | April 3rd 09 |
| 5.0 classic | drew | March 25th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Henry | March 21st 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Cipherz | February 14th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | kygermo | January 16th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | superae | January 13th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | mja1990 | December 22nd 08 |
| 5.0 classic | ratcfc | December 14th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Groink | October 25th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Cody | October 21st 08 |
| 4.5 superb | C.O.A. | October 2nd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | gafel | September 26th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | zach | September 23rd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | tyler | September 2nd 08 |
| 5.0 classic | TYRR | August 7th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Sean-C | June 26th 08 |
| 3.5 great | ncherf | February 27th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Fee117 | February 9th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Mungo | November 3rd 07 |
| 4.5 superb | CeeBone | October 31st 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Theo H. | October 8th 07 |
| 4.5 superb | ThaFlu | August 22nd 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hep Kat | June 19th 06 |
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