Reviews (page 10 of 13)
Definitely an essential listen for the cultural impact and classic jams. My complaints are only due to the culture of rap records at the time, skits really annoy me for the most part, and the album is overly long.
Effin and jeffin for ages. Lose half an hour, half the swearing and all the (hopefully) simulated sex and you’d have a cracking album.
by the end of this, so was I
Aika vaivaannuttavia nää skitit mutta itse musahan on hiphopin kaanonissa aika tärkeetä. Jotenkin oon pitänyt Biggietä aina vähemmän törkeenä kun muita aikalaisia, mutta onhan tää lyyrisesti aika tällästä uhoomista myös. Beateista tykkään paljon ja flowsta myös. Lyriikan kanssa tosiaan välillä vähän tökkii. 3/5
Kelpo räp-klassikko! BIG:llä on hyvä flow ja monesti kiinnostavat taustat. Ei ihan neloseen yllä mulla mut ansaitsee paikkansa listalla.
I liked that a lot more than the Marshall Mathers LP! Good tunes and raw emotion.
I've heard of this dude.
Classic Hip Hop, but overly long
I was enjoying this album but it was just too long for me. It really reminds me of what I felt about some previous rap albums. I just don't get the culture and am not appreciating the work. Good music
I heard this is Notorious BIG magnus opus - don’t know if it’s true because I am not a rap connoisseur. However, you can recognize the confidence of Notorious in this record. Unluckily, not my cup of tea.
I'm not a big fan of rap, but BIG is very good at what he does. As this album goes on, I'm losing patience. It's still very good rap, but as I said, I don't like rap. Things Done Changed and Big Pappa are standout songs.
Some good tracks on here. Not sure if I enjoyed listening to a whole album of it
Epic and massive. But I don’t want to listen to it again. It’s brutal. An endurance test.
This is good. I, however, am very tired and can’t keep up.
It was good, I liked it
3/5 Because the first half sucks, the second one would be worth a 5/5, but -1 point for way to many sex skits, I am no puritan, but I ain’t in the mood of hearing biggie get sucked off. And -1 because of Who Shot Ya? Because it’s an obvious Pac diss and for me pac is the GOAT.
Average
When a fish deserts its father for greener kale beds, it does something uncommon: claims its independence despite the consequences. Sure, it may meet a few fish along the way to give it guidance. And maybe one of them has a sexy facial scar. But at the end of the day, that father's heart will never be whole until its boy comes home. When I listen to this album, I feel like the father, watching my 7th grade music taste run away from home, claiming its independence. But as for this fish, I will not be chasing after him. I mean seriously, has the bloke never heard of natural selection? My 7th grade music taste can become shark bait for all I care. Ta Ta, Tuttle!
Classic rap album. Lots of 5 star moments but never fully worked for me: the dialogue between the songs is highly annoying (I know it is part of the story-telling concept, but it stops me from putting the record on again).
I can appreciate (but not more than that) this album because of its variety and skillful raps.
broadened perspective, good songs past the sexual ones
Again, didn't really love this album. It felt like it was too long and some of the interludes we're unnecessary.
Enjoyed this a lot, in patches. The guy is clearly really talented when he wants to be, the flow and rhythm is amazing and the stories are really well-crafted in patches. But, the skits are generally pretty awful (as they are pretty much invariably on any rap album), and there's a bit too much rapping about his dick for my liking... 3/5, 5/5 for his ability and most of the gang-related song, less 1 for the skits and another 1 for the really crude sexual stuff.
alright, not a biggie fan more into pac
OK, so gangsta rap is where hip hop took a turn that I couldn't follow. I could see where it was coming from, but the violence, misogyny and homophobia just gets really unpleasant. I never really listened to Biggie, beyond the big singles. This album certainly contains a lot of what I dislike about gangsta rap (see above), along with being overly long and sprinkled with obnoxious skits/interludes. But that being said, I found this more listenable than other examples of the genre. Biggie's flow is exceptional and the slightly old-skool production is pretty tasty. I wonder why I found this better than other equally violent records. There is a certain verité to his description of his criminal persona (based on his dealing past and sadly played out in his sudden and violent death) and a modicum of introspection (eg Suicidal Thoughts). This gives the album a bit more artistic weight than some of the empty posturing that followed in the genre (Eminem, I'm looking at you). But not an album I really need to listen to again.
Pretty good rap album
meh
seriously why do rappers think we want to hear skits where we hear them fucking
Could've done without the s*x interlude
Þessi gangster aesthetík er ekki að gera neitt fyrir mig, en heilt yfir finnst mér þetta ekki ekki leiðinlegt. Og reyndar heldur ekki eftirminnilegt. Fínt að renna þessu í gegn en ég þarf ekki að hlusta aftur.
Was better than I expected. Unfortunately Spotify only had some of the songs on the album.
Biggie had a really great flow, really convincing in his stories about death and sex. He also likes to talk about his penis a lot. Unlike it though, the album is just too long and there are 4 or 5 tracks that could have been easily removed to keep the album tight.
I was listening to this album when I was youger and wanted to feel badass. Really juvenile theme. NSFW album. Good flow, but there's more impressive stuff within this genre.
Usually I'm a big fan of 90s hip-hop/gangsta, but this album just doesn't appeal to me. That said, big classic, undeniable. The flow is excellent, good beats, without being exceptional. I'm not sure where to place myself to rate this album, so... A good old 3 stars will do.
Again, not my favorite genre. Loved the storytelling and excellent beat
October 23, 2022 I listened to this album with Kenny in Orlando.
3.5: Sound too consistent and lack of variation.
I was excited to see this album, as I have never taken the time to listen to a Biggie album. I did not fall in love with it. There were some very jarring tracks and the even the bright spots would start to drag on a bit much for me. I appreciate Biggie's skills, but I think not as an album listen on any kind of regular basis.
Well. This was hard to listen to. It's nihilistic, misogynistic, and violent. It made me feel sick to my stomach most of the time. And yet...there were moments where I was in awe and even felt a sort of delight at some of the genius rhymes. I can see why he was considered one of the greatest rappers. And I think I've heard enough.
Good
17th October 2022 Started on the Monday evening finished Tuesday morning. First touch rugby session Monday evening. Enjoyed parts of this and I get where he fits into the rap cannon, but I don’t really get the hype.
Pretty fun album, comedy in the songs, enjoyable beats
esta suave
Really amazing beats and Biggie just has a great flow. Lyrical content is a bit heavy and super misogynistic. It's hard not to just appreciate this album for when it was created but I have to fold the content in with modern times and base my rating on all of it. Standout Tracks: Things Done Changed, Juicy, Big Poppa, Respect
It's cool but I really didn't need to hear Biggie getting his dick sucked. Fellatio doesn't make for the best musical experience in my honest opinion - it's kind of droopy, drizzly, maybe a tinge yoinky, too sploinky and icky, truly hacky, smacky, very acky, creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky and all together ooky. Oh yeah the music. It's pretty good. Not my favorite rap album or anything, but Biggie is an undeniable legend in the genre. Strong three out of five.
Like the flow and the beats but the lyrics and skits just killed the pace which is a shame because there was lots to love about the songs. A decent record.
Very interesting storytelling, really enjoyed the intro sequence too, the music itself I could take or leave, there was some interesting beats but on the whole didn't do much for me
brilliant flow and gangsta storytelling, lots of filler; not much replay value for me personally because of the content, but i respect the talent
Biggest draw of this important album was definitely Biggies flow and rhymin skills. Even without being an expert onRap Lyrics, one could notice that he had the ability to make everything sound like a mean bar. Asides from this though, the album was rather long and for me didn't have enough stand out songs to warrant more than a standard 3 stars
Pac better
We all know this is a classic. I don’t think the singles accurately reflect the sound of this record. Biggie tells of his experiences as a young criminal, and his life before getting rich. This record seems more as a precursor to drill rap, similar to Wu-Tang’s 36 Chambers. There are some great vulnerable moments on this record as well. The only thing keeping it from a higher score is the sheer size of this record. It clocks in at 1 hr 16min. Lots of skits throughout the record also made it age a bit badly in that regard. Overall, this is a must listen for any rap/hip hop fan
It was OK
I've heard Big Poppa but that's It, I'm excited to hear the rest This album is like watching a gangster movie and it's pretty interesting, funky After listening to it all, It has been a journey, My favorite is still Big Poppa
Steady, thought I'd enjoy it more but the majority isn't really my thing
I've heard Biggie come up often in the gym or around. There's so much of his music that is of the moment and a deeper piece that extends beyond the trappings of a particular time. An album with a legacy that is both a reflection of survival and a clear look at rebellion without the Hollywood mask--a different mask still.
I appreciated the music. I understood how influential this record was. I liked seeing or hearing some of today's icons in their earlier days. I found it sad that some of the realities he talks about are still true to this day. I thought Big Poppa, Respect and Everyday Struggle were strong tracks. All that said, couldn't really get into this album as a whole. And the skits went on for way too long.
The skits were too much, I liked a couple of the songs
I wasn't into B.I.G. when he was alive, aside from Hypnotize. Listening more closely, I can see why he was considered one of the all time greatest lyricists. Now that I'm older, I can't get into the more materialistic and misogynistic lyrics - BUT the vulnerability he shows in other songs is very revealing and compelling. The resentment towards his mother, the overwhelming sense of hopelessness leading to a life of risk and excess, and the suicidal compulsions all seem to be overlooked when people talk about him (at least from what I've read). Still not my favorite, but you can't deny his brilliance.
It's rap
Ready to Die The Notorious B.I.G. 3.7 4 Not entirely one's joint, but one likes the mix of East Coast attitude with West Coast vibes and the uniqueness of the voice, as well as the leanness and tightness of the overall mid-tempo mood. One can speak to the authenticity or the credibility of the tales of hustling and sexcapades.
Good beats. I'm not a fan of rap but if I was this would be nice. 2.5/5
The language and topics were too much, but if I could ignore that, I actually enjoyed the music.
Hailed as a classic although in my opinion Biggie was always an average rapper at the time before his early demise. Not saying it’s a bad album, just feel that a lot of other rappers around the time had a lot more to offer and get a feeling that his popularity arose more from his early death rather than being judged on his talent
Classic gang rap
BIG’s storytelling is fantastic
Good, general culture
listened to again there's some classics here, but the gratuitous content takes away from the music for me
I had to skip a couple of skits - nobody wants some of those sounds in their ears (if you know, you know). And I don’t know what makes artists like this different but their music is somehow more accessible. I liked, I enjoyed, but it won’t be going on a playlist anytime soon (also, could only listen to some of the songs on the Spotify).
good BIGGG
Dit album heeft geinige samples en relaxte beats, maar rap is niet zo mijn ding. Voor mij dus een hoge score van 3 sterren voor dit soort muziek. Top album! ***
I enjoyed this - yes some sketchy elements but as a lot of reviews say, a lot of head bobbing, and some great rhymes
Big Poppa and Juicy remind me that I sure am white.
I can't relate to most of the album, but I listened to it end-to-end. Not my thing, though I didn't dislike it. The lyrics are brutal, but maybe that's the point here.
I really like Biggie's flow, but I was not a fan of the lyrics. I can definitely see how influential this album was though.
Good album minus the story tracks. Dumbest shit ever especially when you have to picture his fat ass.
Another that came up for me before starting a group, here's what I said earlier: This is a difficult one for me. It's so often regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, and it's impossible to deny the influence and impact this record has. However no matter how many times I listen, something just doesn't click with me and I just feel underwhelmed. There are some good songs on here, and the closing track especially is so remarkable with its honesty and vulnerability, but the record as a whole just fails to resonate on the same level
Big Poppa is a classic and a couple of other catchy songs.
Better than I thought it might be at first, but it quickly became unlistenable. Who wants to hear other people having sex?
BIG is pretty incredible at what he does but what he does is pretty off-putting. 5 stars for style and flow, 1 star for the horrifying content. The last song of the album added a star but the audio of him getting a sloppy beej lost him a star.
Classic hip-hop, from one of the greatest, but not enough variety in sound and subject matter in my opinion. Also, the last track on the remaster, "just playing (dreams)", is so sexist and misogynistic it meant the album finished on a very sour note
Such a monumental album. I just feel opposed to the themes and tone.
The meanest, cleanest penis. Looses steam after Big Poppa. Forgot how dark this album gets.
This is a tough one. I am not a big rap person so the album isnt super appealing to me. Plus the whole gansta rap aesthetic is just nothing I relate to and this album is full of it. I dont think some of the lyrics have aged well and misogyny is pretty bad. Nonetheless the album is super influential and some of the beats are good. Happy to have crossed this off the list but I probably wont be returning to it again.
Skits were terrible, songs in general okay.
A bit rude!
Most of the songs are okay.. But songs like Juicy and Big Poppa bump it up a lot.
I liked the rap style, beats and production but as usual, I dislike rap lyrics.
This is a difficult one for me. It's so often regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, and it's impossible to deny the influence and impact this record has. However no matter how many times I listen, something just doesn't click with me and I just feel underwhelmed. There are some good songs on here, and the closing track especially is so remarkable with its honesty and vulnerability, but the record as a whole just fails to resonate on the same level
Hip hop en toda regla. Ritmos tranquilos, buenas bases, letras callejeras. Para amantes del género
Nice, 6,5 points, not my preferences, but enjoyable and fun listening
Influential record but much yikes, this did not age well at all.
Interesting. A bit too aggressive on the profanity for my taste. "One More Chance" is a crazy song...
Not really a huge rap fan but I can see why this was so influential.
Gangsta rap isn't generally my thing, but this was mostly a fun listen! The production was great, and the flows smooth. Deducting a star because the misogyny really started to grate as the album went on. Fave track - "Intro" - I really liked all that story telling compressed into 3 and a half minutes - I coulda gone for a lot more of that...
Might be blasphemy, but as good as BIG is he's slightly overrated due to his tragic death. Still he has a style all of his own and it's still a good album with great beats.
xx
Better than most of the East Coast rap I've heard (Wu-Tang etc.). Biggie's flows are great, though the subject matter is ridiculously repetitive once you get past the shock factor.
Rap. Lot's of swearing, haha. Not bad. Liked a few songs
Yttligare ett stereotypiskt tidigt rapalbum. När jag hör artisten sjunga om alla dessa narcisitiska idéer om sig själv hör jag bara hans patetiska strävan att bevisa sig själv. Och det instrumentala var ungefär lika givande som vilket annat tidigt hip hop-album som helst. Albumet hade ett antal märkvärdigare instrumentala kompletteringar. Bland annat stack låten Warning ut. Under den låten var det instrumentala banalt men extremt effektivt.
This is the debut album from the rapper Notorious B.I.G., and his only album released during his lifetime - because he was murdered just before his second album dropped. This album was popular and successful at release, and is now certified 6 times platinum. The music was simply head-bobbing bass beats that allowed B.I.G. to eloquently rap over them. His lyrics are easy to follow and can tell a great story, but the skills of quick bars and great rhymes are still apparent. Overall, this may be one of the greatest rap albums of the past decades and everyone should give it a listen!
I did not hate it. I can understand why people like his music - he has good flow. I didn't pay much attention to the actual lyrics though
A classic gangster rap album. I like the beats but some of the lyrics are yikes
I've never heard Notorious BIG before, he's an undeniable talent but this overly long album lacks variety and it's not long before fatigue sets in. Would have been ⭐⭐⭐⭐ if it was shorter.
Biggie gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️ it’s all pretty decent but gets dull quick and suffers for its length
La supposée série dorée m'attendant ce lundi matin à mon bureau tourne ne eau de boudin. En effet, je me reveillais ce matin avec la perspective de pouvoir enchaîner les 4/5, voir même peut-etre de pouvoir atribuer la note suprême, grâce à un enchainement Pink Floyd - Notorious Big - Bruce Springsteen - Michael Jackson - The Beatles. Pour l'instant c'est une catastrophe, d'autant plus que mon derneir commentaire sur l'album de merde des Pink Floyd a entraîné des poursuites judiciaires à mon encontre, sous l'impulsion d'un dénommé "R. Teillère". Je ne sais pas qui est ce petit connard mais j'espère le retrouver rapidement.
This is a rough album but still alright. 4RS
Ah, Mr BIG. I listened to some of his albums a long time ago when I was trying to catch up on rap that I missed and I wasn't a huge fan. Listening to it again, I still am not a big fan. There were some good ones one here like Ready to Die, Me and my Bitch and Big Papa but I'm just not a big fan of this big man. I don't doubt this album belongs on this list, and I recognize the significance but there is so much rap and hip hop that I enjoy far more than this notorious rapper.
A staple in "classic" hip hop album discussions. I've never been a big fan of Biggie; he was an undeniably talented rapper, but there didn't seem to be a great deal of variety to his style or substance. Plenty of excellent songs on this album, great beats and flows, but given the length it doesn't remain too exciting. I can co-sign the classic status, though I have to say that the sex skits are frankly unbearable. One of the worst habits of '90s rappers is sex skits--nobody wants to hear that. That alone prevents this from being perfect or anything close to it. I can recognize the greatness of this album, but it doesn't call to me as much as many others do. Favorite tracks: Gimme the Loot, The What, Big Poppa, Who Shot Ya, One More Chance. Album art: Another iconic cover. I don't think I know any other Biggie covers. But this surely inspired a lot of other baby picture covers for hip hop (and hip hop adjacent) albums. Looking at you, Lil Wayne. 3.5/5
YO! C'mon!
Den Namen kennt man. Aber ich habe ihn nie bewusst gehört. Klare Aussprache. Krasse Leistung für das Alter.
There's a lot of great stuff in here, but jesus, if I gotta hear one more time about Biggie bustin' a nut... I mean, I don't really need to hear about that shit from anybody. Songs about how many "bitches" you "bust a nut" in are automatic zeroes for me.
The comedy sex bits are a bit tiresome, but the actual tracks are a great listen. This passed me by first time around, glad I got to hear it via albumsgenerator.
3.75
I've never listened to this. But I've seen the cover so many times. I remember seeing it around during high school. One thing I really love about rap records is how everything bleeds from one track to the next. That's really cool. The mixing process must be so great for these records. Regarding the intro, I don't really know what's happening there. Must be a concept thing. Is it his life before the record? I don't know, but when that first sample starts on "Things Done Changed" I'm hooked. I can't really evaluate the quality but this seems like a certainty on the 1001 list. I liked it more than I thought I would.
Intro is interesting. In fact this whole album is something.
great flow, terrible content
Alex: supa, 7/10.
I think this is a pretty good album; has some nostalgic value for me because I was listening to some of these songs in high school. Still really like "Big Poppa" and a few others. Not sure that the album is aging super well overall though.
Don't love the dramatizations and skits throughout. Particularly at the beginning -wish it just went straight into the music. I really like "Juicy" alot but the album is CD-era bloated. I also don't love Puff Daddy's weak backup vocals throughout. Can't ignore the misogyny and the graphic sex stuff is a pretty big turn off. I like his voice alot and I like the beats/samples but as an album it doesn't gel for me.
The beats and flow are great, but lyrics and themes are gross gansta rap that I can't get behind too much. If it had a bit more lyrical depth I'd be more into it.
Great hip hop album. The start is better than the end! Won’t be for everyone and there are thousands of hip hop albums better than this! But it is pretty bloody good!
Wat dis? It's not in my bag, but fair play to him.
Honestly the beginning of this album was great and got into some very important discussions. Then it became very violent. Great sound and rhythms though
Some great songs, class backing tracks. Too many sex noises
Pretty decent and could get into it with a few more listens
When listening to albums like this I think to myself, am I enjoying this song or am I liking it because of the samples being used. Would I rather listen to the song the sample came from? Yes. Does that mean I'm not enjoying this song? Kinda. As hippity hoppity albums go, I can see why this is regarded so well. Just not my thing
cool vibes. if you don't know now you know. feels repetitive rhythm-wise over the album, but listening to it in one sitting becomes all the more pleasant. very autobiographic. not my favourite music genre though
ganz ok
Meh. I don't get the hype, hooks are THAT good and the lyrics aren't THAT profound.
Great.
It’s ok. Probably needs more attention than I could give it to be honest. I will go back though.
3/5 good..ish one but too bitch-y
Interesting albumn, not really my thing.
Serieus, wat is dat toch met die seksgeluiden op albums? voor de rest is het een goed album.
Het is wel leuk maar ik merk niet zo veel verschil met vergelijkbare artiesten
Too many songs about bitches, skits are shit, but when its being serious it's not that bad
Fine for what it is
Maybe if you lived in a 'hood in the mid90s NYC this is a masterpiece, who knows...
Okay, 2,7
Good sound, a lot of foul words.
It was good, a bit graphic and monotonous but that is just hip hop. He’s got flow.
Pretty rappy. He's in Tamy's shocks :)
Not my style of music
I appreciate his significance and cultural relevance but I just didn't connect with this album in any way.
Genius intro track perfectly setting up the journey of the album. Expert use of samples for effect and to connect different tracks. And Hamilton influences everywhere. Lyrically, there’s a lot of misogyny and homophobia to unpack throughout, which I don’t care for at all. Biggie gave us a STORY in this album. It’s an interesting listening experience with a tragic ending.
Solid album. I liked the storytelling aspect of it. It is a clear product of it time though. It was interesting to see how many modern day references are made in relation to this album.
Not my type of music
The album aged mostly well, the interludes are corny and cringe now but they kinda were then too. Mostly reminds me of college parties, I wasn’t exactly the target audience of this one.
Very funky and cool flow, just not my kinda rap. Definitely more like 7.2/10 than 3/5 though. Wouldn't complain if it was playing, but wouldn't seek it out
Production: 13/20 Songwriting: 12/20 Innovation: 10/20 Bangers: 10/20 Emotional response: 12/20 =57 Yeah not bad
can hear how influential this has been on the whole rap scene for better or worse.. raisea alot of moral questions regarding lyrical content. want to give it less but that would be somewhat disingenuous
good album. first few songs I loved but the rest were okay.
думал посчитать сколько раз будет "нигга".. у меня нигга оверфлоу
Not for me
gillade detta. vill ge en fyra men det är för långt och för mycket mellansnack.
Solid.
This is hard to evaluate. I cannot relate to the subject matter, and the content was indeed extremely heavy. At times I was overwhelmed, but I think that this was incredibly well-done and told a story. Plus, the beats and the vocals (sometimes) were excellent. 3.5?
1994. Key Songs: Big Poppa, Juicy
I usually don't like rap, and this album is the epitome of why I don't. There's no denying that Biggie has talent, but he wastes it on gross, sexist, immature lyrics, the kind of which I would have written at 14 years old and be eternally embarrassed by. There ARE some genuinely good songs here and there, like Juicy, but even that one lacks self-awareness on a very deep level. Becoming rich and famous isn't the gotcha to his teachers he seems to think it is. Bro, you write songs about your penis, sit the fuck down, that's not success, that's being a cringelord.
This is 393rd album on the list and the amount of misogyny and dumb skits I have had to hear from the same like 6 year span of rap. It is so tired and it's dragging my star count down for each subsequent one. So the order I had to listen to 90's rap needs to be taken into consideration here. The bonus stars for this album come from the fact that there's at least a few rhymes on here about depression which is at least a welcome change from the same 3 subjects. The beats were fine.
It's got some jams but overall don't put it on in front of anybody who doesn't want to listen to a porn on audio. Completely dirty and classless.
DIABOLICAL TRANSITIONS 2/5
2/5
A few good moments, he has a good flow, but some of the lyrics make this a relatively poor listening experience
I was, to be honest, Ready To Die, for quite a bit of this. It was so needlessly aggressive in the beginning, although I would say did settle into more of a groove by the end - or else I got beaten into submission maybe. Whatever, it was broadly fine, but not doing anything to shift the rap dial for me.
Was by the end mate
I get the importance of this album, but it's not my thing.
I can see why this is influential, but it's just not for me.
I’ve had quite a bit of rap from this era lately, and this didn’t rank as one of the best for me. It has familiar problems of being overly long, violent, and misogynistic, but lacked the lyrical or musical quality of other albums of this type (NWA, Eminem). Juicy is a better song, but not much else I enjoyed here.
What started off as a fairly solid 3-star hip-hop album, albeit with all my common reservations about the genre, felt like it dragged on for SO LONG and became so samey that by the end I was really sick of it. There were some positives: I generally enjoyed Mr Wallace’s laid-back delivery, his flow and rhymes, and the backing beats on some tracks were pretty good too. ‘Things Done Changed’ and ‘Juicy’ were probably the best tracks. Unfortunately, however, the album was marred by irritating sex skits and misogynistic, sex-obsessed, bragging lyrics. Overall, I found this one really hard work.
Didn’t need to hear Biggie have sex.
Anyone who says that Raps Renaissance was in the 90s and not the 2010s is lying to themselves.
“I'm a man who believes that I died 20 years ago. And I live like a man who is dead already. I have no fear whatsoever of anybody or anything.” - Malcolm X "We're all sensitive people with so much to give" - Marvin Gaye “When the Bible says black, I say white. When it says good, I say evil. When it says Behold, Jehovah is a God of Light, I say, Behold, He is the Lord of dark places, for his children gnash their teeth and cry unto him and are not heard.” - Hal Bennett "Memories don't leave like people do They always 'member you Whether things are good or bad It's just the memories that you have Memories don't leave like people do They always 'member you Whether things are good or bad It's just the memories that you have" - Beenie Man
eh
Look, there are some rap albums that stand out as excellent critiques of the state of society of the day over masterful flow; aka great rap albums. This isn't that. It's frequently misogynistic and violent braggadocio delivered with admittedly masterful flow and excellent sampling. And excellent musical bones do not a great rap album make, especially when the lyrics are this gross. I mean, the literal interlude of moaning in the middle of the album kind of gives away that it's not very good. Also, in what world is an 80-minute album really going to hold my interest when its content is this lacking. So in the end, this album did not age well at all despite its reputation among rap fans. It's worth listening to once, but I will never listen to it again.
I'm sorry I can't
I thought I was going to like this one more than I did. There are two decent/good songs on here: Big Poppa and Respect. The others were just meh.
Album #105: Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G. Genre (W): East Coast hip-hop Singles: Juicy, Big Poppa / Warning, One More Chance I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: Disclaimer: I’m trying my best to separate the art from the artist, case in point, Diddy. This review may be biased as a result, but I will do my best to keep a levelheaded perspective. I think Biggie is a talented rapper. His ability to craft internal rhymes and tell stories is something pretty amazing. The aggression and misogyny is appalling and it repulses me, but, ironically, I think that’s the appeal of it. I’m gonna study this further. Another thing I enjoy are the beats by Easy Mo Bee. I think “Juicy” has the greatest hip hop songwriting ever too! Honestly, “Suicidal Thoughts” is such a heavy song. Wow. Favorite songs: Gimme the Loot*, Warning*, Ready to Die-*, Juicy-*, Respect-*, Suicidal Thoughts*
one of the better rap albums, but I still have my problems with it. Some of it does just come down to not being a big fan of rap in general, just not my thing
la verdad solo escuche los primeros dos temas pero parece estar bueno. Prometo escucharlo en un futuro y veo si se puede cambiar la reseña
A definite classic but too crude for me I guess. Call me a prude idk.
I literally just said I needed to listen to a full Biggie album the other day, and voila-this popped up! While there are some essential hits on this album, there is waaaay too much damn talking! Interludes, scripted endings and intermissions, and too many gunshots and pagers. Yes. I’m old now. I just wanna hear the music. Songs are good. Rapping is gold. Lyrics are thought provoking. It’s all ruined by the flow (or interruption of that) by the useless scripted talking. Listen again: probably, just skipping a lot Purchase for my collection: Nah, unless it’s thrifted. Favourite Song: Warning. Even with the pagers haha
Nope
Entiendo por qué a alguien le gustaría pero a mi no
Too many skits. Juicy and Everyday Struggle good. Other than that, nah
I just don't like rap very much
Ready to Die is probably an important album in hip-hop history, but it never really connected with me. It’s not an album I see myself returning to.
it was ok, pretty much understood some cultural pop references
I can hear he 's got the flow, but that doesn"t speak to me much
Aggression, homophobia, and misogyny. Musically engaging but not a great message to be blasting out. 2/5
eh not rly my taste
This album definitely had a tangible impact on influencing the later sounds of hip hop 90s and modern hip hop. The beats and rhythms of this album are incredible in some places, however unfortunately this is overshadowed by the blatant misogyny and derogatory acts towards women. Of course, across a wide range of genres and especially in hip hop this is has been the norm and unfortunately still is, however just because it was more accepted or unchallenged at the time doesn’t mean that we should ignore it or try to challenge it nowadays, and if we wish to see change in the way music and the music industry deals with women we should be more critical of lyrical context. An honourable mention is ‘things done changed’ because I liked the beat, it’s just sad hearing such normalised misogyny.
Listening to this album and there's no surprise how biggie died
A gangbanger's poetry, simple-minded thinking all about robbing, killing, stealing, and defending against his enemies, all in poetry with background music, vulgar and attractive to vulgar people
When will there be a full critical evaluation of the full social ramifications of late 80s-mid 90s gangter rap? Was the music just a symptom of society -- or do the music executives who got rich by greenlighting the artists eventually have to reckon with their effects?
Not my type but its okay
Some pretty silly lyrics in here, it was a decent listen but not one im likely to revisit
Just a bit dull. Couldn’t enjoy it despite trying.
what a tedious listen overall for something punctuated by such good hits
Another rap album. It's not my thing but at least I can understand what he/they are saying. Same old gangsta rap lyricus about guns, shooting people and fucking bitches gets old.
Look up the Thomas the Tank Engine mashups of this, those go a lot harder.
A good listen at times and would be higher if not for a lot of the uncomfortable misogynistic lyrics. I acknowledge his influence, but I'll probably not return to this one any time soon.
Hmmm
straight men are so gay theyd suck their on dicks if they could two hit wonder
Wow, yesterday MissE, today Notorious... It really takes the fun out of this project. Musically, both are still somewhat tolerable, but I feel deep pity for the people behind them and their extremely limited worldview. Because of that, the lyrics are just repulsive, but I feel so sorry for this guy with his completely messed-up life that I’m still giving it 1.5 stars.
Finns bra inslag, men överlag för töntigt. "Fuck Me (Interlude)" ett lågvattenmärke.
Not for me
idk. i just can't with 1990-205 rap and hip hop
Song after song about how powerful your gun makes you and how little you value the lives of others…willing to kill people for not looking at you right or for having something you want. I thought the misogyny common in this genre was off putting? The violence worship comes off worse. But don’t worry, this album turns to misogyny about 4 songs in. The music might be interesting, the lyrical styling and phrasing impressive, but the content says nothing to me and is simply bullshit. Looking at his life, perhaps there is a moral here. Plus 1 for the creativity. 2/5
Apparently he was quite the condom filler.
Didn't float my boat.
- he does not seem like a very nice person :( - I didn’t vibe with this very much - probably won’t listen through again
Another day, another simulated sex interlude. Highlights: "Gimme the Loot", "Juicy", "Everyday Struggle"
It's well known that this was the only album the artist released during his life, as he was killed just days before releasing his second effort. Unfortunately, it's not a very enjoyable rap album. While his flows are strong, and he has obvious storytelling abilities, he just stays in one mode for the bulk of the album. Even more damningly, that mode is "brag about shooting people and committing violent crimes", which does not make for an enjoyable listen. While I understand(or think I understand as much as I can, being a white teenager from suburban Florida) where it all comes from, I just don't want to hear it. That, ultimately, ruins the album for me, alongside the tedious length. It just gets boring after a while, and it wasn't great to begin with, so it gets a 2.
Two stars, all on the back of a single aong. The rest had nothing to offer me.
4/10 Musically, this album could push towards a 7 or 8, but the rancid nature of some of the lyrics really leaves a sour taste
I like some Biggie, but not all Biggie. This album is really hit and miss for me. Not to mention that lyrically, it's not aged super well. It's pretty misogynistic and the sexualized content is pretty gross. Plus, I really don't like skits, and I really don't like how many skits are on this album. I get that skits are done to make an album feel like an audio "movie" or act as a palette cleanser between songs. They give people a glimpse of the rapper's life and environment outside of lyrics and beats. Sort of a chance to show their personality and sense of humor. So I can get why skits exist but I also just don't like them. 2.5 rounded down
I'm rap curious, I'd say, at best. I don't think I am an authority on rap. I like what I like. This record feels lazy to me but maybe that's the point, I don't know. Anyway, I'm learning to save my 1's for Kid Rock tier garbage. BIG isn't on that tier but I just simply don't care for it, don't find it compelling.
Фигня
Oh sh*t, here we go again…. Violence, misogyny, excessive vulgarity once again ruins an otherwise great album. Just 3 days ago, I had to listen to NWA’s Straight Outta Compton. I loved it, except for everything listed above. Same thing here. Only this time, I won’t put myself through it all the way through. I liked NWA enough to suffer, but not Biggie, sorry. I read the reviews and can safely say I’m surprised at how well this was received and lauded for the lyrical content. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Bob Dylan and other great songwriters. I don’t get it. 2 stars.
5/10 - Biggie is one hip-hops greatest talents. His voice is iconic, his flow is effortless and smooth, his ability to change his flow is unmatched. His sampling is excellent. His rhyming and his ability to play off words is genius. He would be on my personal Mt. Rushmore of rappers based off of ability alone. That being said, this album has not aged well. The skits detract from the album, its run time is too long, and the mysoginy/homophobia/violence doesn’t further a story or morale (think GKMC). There are some hits here, but too much of the album is unpalatable. I would save a handful of songs and not come back.
The hip hop is not know from me, but the album sound great
Some head nodding here. Some head shaking at some of the lyrics. Poor women. They've had it so bad in hip hop. It's hard to just shake it off and carry on nodding my head.
Another gangsta album from Biggy
It has a lot of personality. I already knew some of the songs, but none of them made me want to save them to listen to later. Personally, I didn’t like it that much. 4/10.
Some good tracks, but a lot of filler. Would be better for being half the length. And lyrically, not my cup of tea at all.
It’s not for me but I do quite like his voice/rhythm… some of it is great and some of it is unlistenable
Good enough album, too long maybe? Two stars.
I hate rap skits so much. Like it becomes impossible for me to tell if the album is actually good or not. Overall I did think this was really thematically and musically repetitive.
Gross and forgettable.
I agree to a lot of the existing reviews I read. This album didn’t age well and while I can still acknowledge Biggies legacy I found the lyrics very disturbing. Also in 2026 I can’t ignore his close relationship to Diddy which leaves at least a weird feeling. I stick to my rap queens of this time Lil Kim, Queen Latifah, Foxy Brown, Missy Elliott….
Some of the tracks are OK, but overall not something I would listen to again.
There’s a lot here that passes me by. And then there are a few tracks like Juicy, which are fantastic. Overall, it feels so bloated at 76 minutes long though.
Nn
It’s angry and raw but stylistically unimpressive
My usual gangsta rap review: love the beats and flow but can't get past the language and violence, which I know is not meant for me.
The beats are ok on this, pretty much what I'd expect - they roll along nicely. But do I really need to know that he had the "cleanest, meanest penis"? It's pretty laughable that the only thing I heard that they censored was where he said that he'd kill a pregnant woman and they censor the word "pregnant". Woah, step too far there boys. Wouldn't want to be too unpleasant. Also, who ever told Diddy that he could rap, he's so bad. When Method Man comes along, he's a cut above. Even if it still is gun loving nonsense. Skits are, as always, painfully embarrassing. And it's so long. Oo-er missus.
the misogyny really got to me. this lyrically doesn’t age well. beats and samples are cool, but i would not revisit this as a whole album.
Good flow and beats, but the lyrics make me cringe. The misogyny and sex is very hard to listen to.
Not too sure.
Hadn’t listened to it ever, P diddy on the tracks made me cringe, gangsta lyrics…Juicy was the only banger on effort
Plus 1 star for Good Times sample
I do not like gangster rap.
Gangsta' rap is not a genre I have any interest in. Not a fan of the non-stop cursing (it should be seasoning, not the main dish), slurs, misogyny, excessive violence, braggadocios machismo ('affectation' is a word that comes to mind). I appreciate a few of these tracks,"Everyday Struggle" and "Things Done Changed" for example, but not enough to listen to them for enjoyment. This just isn't for me and that's ok.
Another long album of my least favorite music, yayyyyy. This album was trying to tell a story I think, but there wasn't much to it. The interlude made me feel uncomfortable and I just wanted this album to be over as fast as possible. No matter how much this generator makes me listen to this genre, I will never like it. Every time the music dropped and there was some kind of talking it just made me want to stop listening more and more.
This one is tough because I feel it has a lot of ups and downs. Overall I could see myself listening to some of the tracks again and coming back to this project.
1. Intro: Okay wow, this is cool, this is so interesting, i kind of dig it. 2. Really catchy, but once again, maybe not really my thing. The first album if have to read the lyrics along with listening to the song. The lyrics are interesting. 3. UGGGH IM SORRYYYY, it started off good but i get bored easily SUE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. All the songs just sound the same I DONT KNOWWWWWWWWW. Gangsta rap just isn't my thing either. 4. Just not a very discernible melody I KNOWWWWW THAT'S THE GENRE IM NOT SAYING IT'S WRONG, it really just doesn't reach me. 5. Yeah every single song sounds exactly the same just with different lyrics. Sorry. Gets a 2 for the cool intro.
So does it biggie’s rapping flow? Yes. Is this tough to listen to also yes. Some of the over top sec stuff is just juvenile and misogynistic. I’d call this just ok. I like some hip hop but this isn’t really it for me. “Big poppa” is my fave.
Escuche solo algunos, me falta el disco completo
Some catchy tunes, and he’s a really talented rapper. But I just couldn’t get past all the terrible skits and misogyny.
Every song sounds the same. Good flow, production and beats, but god the lyrics are horrible to listen to. This whole album is a relic of its time, and I don’t think it translates well 30 years later, unless it gives a sense of nostalgia to the listener. Really just wanted it to be over after about 20 minutes. 2/5
I really respect his delivery and a lot of the beats but ultimately it’s not for me.
Not my thing
Jeugdherinneringen, maar niet mijn ding
its giving hamilton - IT INSPIRED HAMILTON I WAS RIGHT
that interlude was...quite interesting... But I lowkey kinda vibed to this album (not sure why is everything is blocked from listening to though) So far, juicy is my favourite, but that might just be because there's a direct reference to it in Hamilton. Overall, I don't think this album was for me. I liked some of the songs and the beats were kind of a vibe, but it's probably something I wouldn't listen to again
Close to a 3 but some of the interlude-ish bits dropped it
the lyrics and the sex cmon
Not my style
The thing about this project is that you’ll be going through the worst phase of your life and you’ll still have to listen to shit like this. (I’m kind of joking, I know this is optional and self-imposed torture.)
I like the flow on this album. The beats are undoubtedly catchy, but I just felt lyrically it was a bit lacking. There are just some lines that really didn't age well. I could look past that, perhaps, but then we get into the skits. I just do NOT like the skits in any of these old school rap albums. I still think there were good aspects to this album. It's just not one I can picture myself ever coming back to.
Ok groove and enjoyed the samples. Rapping was good but the lyrics were... well I could not relate to them. Also I think the album was too long. Best song was Suicidal Thoughts.
Even Biggie’s accomplishment can’t save this collection of 90s rap and sex skits.
Du rap
Fun times. Don’t know if I ever listened all the way thru. Btw don’t listen with your daughters in the car. Yikes. As mentioned by everyone else, Lyrics and “sounds” don’t hold up to today’s standards of respect.
Not really a rap fan. This was just ok for me.
“I got the cleanest, meanest, penis”. Actually made me laugh. This honestly felt like an album glorifying this man’s dick.
Who cares? It's not interesting. Over an hour of music with 2 decent songs.
Not a hip-hop buff, but worth the listen. I found it pretty repetitive (especially lyrically). I guess this may have been pretty provocative, but I found it kind of boring.
It was lowkey a bop but honestly I can't even believe I listened to this, basically just about shooting people down on top of some ridiculously uncomfortable theming that had me turning it off midway through
would have liked this album much more if the lyrics weren't so offensive. many songs in this album made me feel sick to my stomach. ignoring all the lyrics, the instrumentals and beat was good, but because of how offensive this is, I cant give it higher than a 2. 3/10
Interesting lyrics and music. Hard to get past the mysoginism.
His voice is good, his flow is good but as a non American this is so off my social understanding, I enjoy hip hop but don’t get the gangsta rap side of things, and I just wanted to skip tracks ( I didn’t as l am trying to do this list completely). But the ego big man shit wore thin after about 1 and a half tracks. And it takes on a whole darker tone and meaning with the P- diddy allegations. I have now heard a whole album of biggie instead of just hearing of him, musically I couldn’t get around the content, not in any way prudish but it just came over as grim, shitty and nasty, sorry but it was a stretch 2 Star cause he has talent and influencial but I a don't have hood fantasy so not my thing unfortunately.
It pumps you up, but emotionally it doesn’t always go anywhere new. After a while it starts to feel the same on repeat. Respect it, not emotionally attached.
I get nothing from lyrics but I suspect a bit of misoginy
Cooooool!
I’m definitely not the target demographic for this album, but it just wasn’t for me. Can appreciate it as a classic for rap music, but I would not revisit. The famous songs are great and famous for a reason, otherwise very bloated album with unnecessary interludes. Top Songs: Big Poppa, Juicy, Respect, Just Playing (Dreams)
Respect to the art and the genre! Diddy producing this makes me feel icky about the sex and blowjob interludes.
Man, if I want to be yelled at I’ll call my ex.
I can appreciate that this is a landmark record, but it's lacking musically. A hooky chorus would have been nice; even Juicy's isn't great. Some great story telling despite all the sexual objectification.
Musically good, awful skits and lyrics
not for me
eu já gostei mais de big, mas acho que nunca tinha escutado o álbum completo, só músicas soltas. entendo a importância do álbum pra cena, mas acho que não sou o público alvo.
I can recognize the impact of this. I feel like he would’ve been a fan of Doechii today. That said, it’s not for me. My favorite track was Juicy, and the back half of the album was more interesting to me than the front.
Just not my cup of tea. I’m sure it’s someone’s.
Niet voor mij
Too much rated
Voor mij veel te grof en heftig. Snap dat dit echt een ding kan zijn. Maar niet voor mij. Al zijn sommige beats wel vet.
The hits are fun, but rest of the album was meh
I liked the sampling but there was very little else I liked about this album. I only managed one listen and didn't feel inclined to listen too closely to the lyrics. Macho and quite possibly misogynistic. Musically this is not my thing at all but if it's made it to this list perhaps it is a very good example of this type of stuff.
not that bad
Muy sin mas, tiene canciones chulas y concoidas, pero que una cancion sola sea una escena de sexo no me incita mucho la verdad. Alguna se salva, pero no tiene pinta de ser el album que escucharia completo otra vez
Je trippe pas trop, ça sonne quand même cool, mais that's it.
this is on me because i go to music for the instrumentals more than the lyrics which is way less of the focus here. big poppa still hits tho
Like the fact there is a story line, but this is still not to my taste.
Ok. Not my thing
An accessible East Coast debut. Decent story-telling, but I found the beats repetitive and I don't feel that it was breaking new ground considering Dre's The Chronic and Wu Tang's 36 Chambers preceded this.
not my vibe.
The definitive collection of East Coast Gansta Rap cliches.
GOING IN: No strong feelings LISTENED WHILE: While working FAMILIARITY: Know the artist, not the album SKIP RATE: Played it straight through REPLAY VALUE: Once was plenty DISCOVERY CURVE: Still waiting ALBUM ARC: Solid all the way VERDICT: Fair enough BODY'S VERDICT: Toe tapping situation FAVOURITE TRACK: -- My Rating: 2 APPRECIATE: Beats. The brutal honesty and vulnerability of his lyrics about gang life and growing up poor. Some lyrics I applaud, and the way he delivered them was another level. PROBLEMATIC: The graphic depictions of violence, drug dealing, and casual misogyny. Sean Combs.