"Ready to Die" is the debut studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released on September 13, 1994, by Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. The album, produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, DJ Premier, and Lord Finesse, was recorded between 1993 and 1994 at The Hit Factory and D&D Studios in New York City. It offers a partly autobiographical look at the rapper’s life as a young criminal and was his only studio album released during his lifetime. He was murdered sixteen days before the release of his second album, "Life After Death," in 1997. The album includes a guest appearance by Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man.

"Ready to Die" reached number 15 on the Billboard 200 and received critical acclaim and commercial success. It spawned four singles: "Juicy," "Big Poppa," "One More Chance," and the promotional track "Warning." "Juicy," the lead single, hit number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 14 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, and number 3 on Hot Rap Singles. "Big Poppa" also performed well, reaching number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards. The Notorious B.I.G.’s storytelling on the album was highly praised by critics.

In April 2018, "Ready to Die" was certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album played a key role in revitalizing the East Coast hip hop scene during a period of West Coast hip hop dominance. It is frequently cited as one of the greatest hip hop albums and among the greatest albums of all time. In 2020, it was ranked 22nd on Rolling Stone's updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and 1st on their list of the 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time. In 2024, it was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, and/or aesthetically significant."

Tracklist:

Side A:

1. Intro

2. Things Done Changed

3. Gimme the Loot

4. Machine Gun Funk

5. Warning

Side B:

6. Ready to Die

7. One More Chance

8. !*@ Me (Interlude)

9. The What (featuring Method Man)

10. Juicy

Side C:

11. Everyday Struggle

12. Me & My Bitch

13. Big Poppa

14. Respect

Side D:

15. Friend of Mine

16. Unbelievable

17. Suicidal Thoughts

18. Who Shot Ya?

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