Ready to Die
The Notorious B.I.G. entered The Hit Factory in New York City during 1993 to begin work on his debut album. Sean Combs signed the rapper to Uptown Records that same year before firing him shortly after. Biggie started recording darker tracks like "Gimme the Loot" and "Ready to Die" while sounding inexperienced and paranoid according to XXL magazine. His voice was higher pitched than what would eventually define his career. These early sessions captured a hungry artist still finding his footing within the industry. Combs left Uptown Records and took Biggie with him to launch Bad Boy Records. The rapper spent time dealing drugs in North Carolina between label changes. He returned to D&D Studios in 1994 with a smoother vocal tone and more confidence. This second phase of recording produced commercial hits like "Juicy" and "Big Poppa." Biggie shifted from writing lyrics in notebooks to freestyling them directly from memory during these later sessions.
Rolling Stone writer Cheo H. Coker described the album as having breathtakingly visual moments from birth to death. The lyrics mix autobiographical details about crime and violence with emotional honesty. Touré wrote for The New York Times noting how Biggie told stories about making a living as a drug dealer. The album contains homicide narratives in songs like "Warning" alongside braggadocious battle raps such as "The What." "Things Done Changed" deals with how life in the ghetto evolved since B.I.G.'s childhood years. One track titled "One More Chance" centers on the rapper's sexual prowess according to Steve Huey. The final song "Suicidal Thoughts" features Biggie contemplating and finally committing suicide within the narrative structure. AllMusic critic Steve Huey stated that his raps are easy to understand yet skillfully pile multiple rhymes together quickly. The source material notes that the album is firmly rooted in reality while playing out like scenes from a movie. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature included "Things Done Changed" among its few hip-hop selections.
Bad Boy Records faced a federal lawsuit on the 24th of March 2006 regarding copyright infringement over sampled tracks. Bridgeport Music and Westbound Records won damages totaling $4.2 million against Combs and Bad Boy Records. A jury decided that samples used in "Ready to Die," "Machine Gun Funk," and "Gimme the Loot" were illegal. Federal judge Todd Campbell enacted an immediate sales ban on the affected album versions. The Sixth Circuit Court later found the damages unconstitutionally high and reduced them by $2.8 million. All subsequent releases removed the disputed samples entirely. Lee Hutson filed another suit on the 2nd of April 2014 alleging his song "Can't Say Enough About Mom" was illegally sampled in "The What." That case was dismissed after the estate countersued claiming fair use. Easy Mo Bee and the Hitmen handled most production duties for the project. Steve Huey criticized some beats as getting a little samey but noted it hardly mattered since Biggie's voice carried the show. Pete Rock claimed he created the beat for "Juicy" without receiving credit during a visit with Puffy. The album relies heavily on samples ranging from funk percussion to hip-hop vocals.
Ready to Die shipped 57,000 units during its first week of release on the 13th of September 1994. The Recording Industry Association of America certified it Gold just two months later on the 15th of November 1994. Double Platinum status arrived on the 16th of October 1995 within one year and one month of launch. Triple Platinum certification followed on the 26th of August 1998 before reaching 4× Platinum by the 19th of October 1999. By April 2018 the album achieved 6× Platinum status according to RIAA records. Lead single "Juicy" peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It reached number 3 on the Hot Rap Singles list and shipped 500,000 copies domestically. "Big Poppa" hit number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over a million units. That track received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1996 but lost to Coolio. "One More Chance" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and went Platinum on the 31st of July 1995. The album itself peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart upon release.
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Common questions
When was the album Ready to Die released?
Ready to Die shipped 57,000 units during its first week of release on the 13th of September 1994. The Recording Industry Association of America certified it Gold just two months later on the 15th of November 1994.
Who produced most tracks on the album Ready to Die?
Easy Mo Bee and the Hitmen handled most production duties for the project. Pete Rock claimed he created the beat for Juicy without receiving credit during a visit with Puffy.
What legal issues affected sales of Ready to Die in 2006?
Bad Boy Records faced a federal lawsuit on the 24th of March 2006 regarding copyright infringement over sampled tracks. Federal judge Todd Campbell enacted an immediate sales ban on the affected album versions after Bridgeport Music and Westbound Records won damages totaling $4.2 million against Combs and Bad Boy Records.
How many times has the album Ready to Die been certified by the RIAA as of April 2018?
By April 2018 the album achieved 6× Platinum status according to RIAA records. Triple Platinum certification followed on the 26th of August 1998 before reaching 4× Platinum by the 19th of October 1999.
Which songs from Ready to Die peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart?
Lead single Juicy peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart while Big Poppa hit number six on the same list. One More Chance peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and went Platinum on the 31st of July 1995.