1. All Eyez On Me Zip

Ready to Die, The Notorious B.I.G.’s debut studio album, was released on September 14, 1994. It was also Bad Boy Records' first release, produced by founder Sean “Puffy” Combs. The project is Biggie’s only album to be released during his lifetime; his sophomore project, Life After Death, dropped just days after his murder in March 1997.

Sep 13, 1994  Sprinkled with cinematic grandeur and held together by that unassailable flow, Ready to Die represents Biggie—and hip hop—at its contradictory best. Ready to Die - The Remaster The Notorious B.I.G.

1. Juicy is the first single from Notorious B.I.G.‘s debut album, Ready To Die. It contains a sample of Mtume ‘s “ Juicy Fruit “, but is directly sampled from the song’s “Fruity Instrumental” mix, and has an alternative chorus sung by girl group Total.
2. Excuse Christopher Wallace -- aka the Notorious B.I.G. And aka Biggie Smalls -- for not sounding more enthused. While recording his debut album, Ready to Die-- released 20 years ago this week, on.

Production of the album took place in two waves. After Puffy was fired from Uptown Records in 1993, the project was only half finished. Biggie resumed production the following year under the auspices of the newly-founded Bad Boy Records. According to several sources, he recorded the latter half by freestyling from memory.

“Big Poppa” was nominated for “Best Rap Solo Performance” at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards, losing out to LL Cool J’s “Hey Lover”—but it earned a Billboard Music Award later that year. The album also made Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, landing at #133. The record was certified gold by the RIAA two months after its release, and went double platinum in 1995.

In The Source magazine’s October 1994 issue, Ready to Die was given a rating of 4½ mics out of five.

All Eyez On Me Zip