Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Ready To Die" Review, September 4, 2004
"Ready To Die" is arguably one of the hottest debuts in hip-hop history. You can argue whether it is better than "Doggystyle", "Illmatic", or the select few other solo debuts to make such a list but there is no arguing its influence on the rap game. With that being known, it's not much of a surprise that P. Diddy and his Bad Boy label decided to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the album by re-releasing it in all its glory with a remastered sound, two bonus songs, and a DVD of its hit videos.
"Ready To Die" sounds better than ever. All the hits are here still, from "Big Poppa" to "Juicy". And for those who might be wondering, the controversial "blow up like the World Trade" line that has been edited on the radio since the 9/11 attacks stays intact on "Juicy". Big's influence on the modern MC is noticeable in nearly every line he drops (and there are some hot ones). His superb duet with Method Man, "The What", which has never gotten as much love as it should, really showcases the two soon to be superstars when they were at their most powerful. Biggie touches many different subjects with "Ready" as he is able to swing back and forth from hustling ("Gimme The Loot") to steady-mackin' ("Me & My B*tch", "One More Chance") and still speak on his paranoia of death ("Ready To Die", "Suicidal Thoughts").
"Ready To Die" was a classic album. It's been one for ten years and will continue to be one so the addition of new material really shouldn't hurt it, right? My only problem is including two new songs at the end does somewhat change the format of the album. The first bonus song, "Who Shot Ya?" was already included on Big's poorly-organized posthumous LP, "Born Again". A better choice could have been the remix to "One More Chance". The second added track, "Dreams" works because unlike the previous one it has never been comercially released. The DVD that comes included with this re-issue features four music videos of the singles from the album and some bonus camcorder footage of Biggie performing "Unbelievable" at a concert in Atlanta. If for some reason, you still don't own "Ready To Die", this is as good a reason as any to go pick it up.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sound Quaulity is better than ever!, August 13, 2004
I just have to commend the team who actually worked on getting the release for te fans. It's a perfect element to any hip hop follower. The quality on this new release of ready to die is uncany and the DVD make it even better as a bonus. The videos add to the perfection that this modern day street poet gave to the hip hop world. Rest in peace to the greatest MC to do it in such a short time, The Notorious B.I.G.
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13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Greatest CD Of All Time Just Got Better..., December 5, 2004
In my opinion, Ready To Die was the greatest rap album of all time. Maybe it's because i'm a huge Biggie fan, but I favor this over Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, Illmatic, and all of the other all time great CDs. If you don't have Ready To Die, then GET THE RE-RELEASE! It's remastered, and includes the classic Who Shot Ya, and Just Playin (Dreams).It also comes with a DVD featuring the music videos from Ready To Die. PICK THIS UP!
1.Intro
2.Things Done Changed-produced by Darnell Scott-5/5-Great production. Definately an impressive song to start off the album. (Samples Dr. Dre-Lil Ghetto Boy)
3.Gimme The Loot-produced by Easy Mo Bee-6/5-Either this, or Slick Rick's Children's Story are my favorite songs of all time. The great production doesn't even matter in this song, because of Biggie's tremendous duel-role playing and storytelling skills shown in this song. Perfect song...
4.Machine Gun Funk-produced by Easy Mo Bee-5/5-Another classic song. Big chose this as the first single, but Puffy thought that it would be a better idea to put out Juicy. More nice production and Biggie's flow is just amazing. (Samples Lords Of The Underground-Chief Rocka)
5.Warning-produced by Easy Mo Bee-5/5-Big keeps coming with the classics, and probably my favorite video of all time. Big's storytelling on this one goes perfect with this beat.
6.Ready To Die-produced by Easy Mo Bee-5/5-Easy Mo Bee's run of 4 amazingly produced songs ends here. Biggie shows off some of his lyrical ability here.
7.One More Chance-produced by Norman & Digga/Bluez Brothers, Carl "Chucky" Thompson & P. Diddy-5/5-Classic, and named one of XXL's 69 most Freek-A-Leekiest songs of all time for a reason. Personally I like the remix better, but still a great song.
8.#!*@ Me-Interlude (Yeah, thats Lil Kim)
9.The What ft. Method Man-produced by Easy Mo Bee-5/5-The only guest apperance on the album is a well-worthy one. Meth and Biggie feed off of eachother perfectly.
10.Juicy-produced by Jean "Poke" Oliver & P. Diddy-5/5-Biggie's first ever single, and most people would agree it's one of the best songs of all time.
11.Everyday Struggles-produced by Norman & Digga/Bluez Brothers-5/5-I love this song, some of the best production I've ever heard and Big's verses are just amazing (its extremely hard to believe that he didn't write his verses, but just recorded them off the top of the head)
12.Me & My B*tch-produced by Norman & Digga/Bluez Brothers, Carl "Chucky" Thompson & P. Diddy-5/5-A little bit of a darker feel (production-wise, and Biggie's verses) but a great song anyway
13.Big Poppa-produced by Carl "Chucky" Thompson & P. Diddy-5/5-Classic song, and feels kind of out of place on this album, but Puff had to find a way to have Biggie appeal to the mainstream.
14.Respect-produced by Jean "Poke" Oliver & P. Diddy-5/5-I have no idea who that is on the chorus, but the Reggae feel goes great with the beat and Biggie drops a life-story type song
15.Friend Of Mine-produced by Easy Mo Bee-5/5-The worst track lyrically on the album, and I was going to give it a 4.5, but I realized that I would give it a 5 if it was on any other album
16.Unbelievable-produced by DJ Premier-5/5-Once again, another classic. This song is truly Unbelievable, just like every time Primo and Biggie got together (Samples R. Kelly-Your Body's Callin)
17.Suicidal Thoughts-produced by Lord Finesse-5/5-This song is genius. A very dark feel (see the title), and is a perfect closing track to a perfect CD, but there are....
Bonus Tracks
18.Who Shot Ya-produced by Nasheim Myrick & P. Diddy-5/5-As if this album needed more amazing songs. Definately a classic, and started the infamous 2Pac-Biggie beef. This song was obviously not directed to Pac, as most people except for ignorant 2Pac fans know. If you have the original version, then at least download this song if you dont have it.
19.Just Playing (Dreams)-produced by Rashaad Smith-4.5/5-This song was going to be on the original Ready To Die, but it mentioned artists on the label, and the label didnt think it should be released. If you havent heard this song, the chorus (Dreeeaaams, of f***in an R&B b*tch) might help you figure out why they left it off
Also, check out Biggie's biography, Unbelievable by Cheo Hodari Coker, which i would reccomend to any Biggie fans
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