Ready to Die
It's from 1994, before you were born.
- Artist
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- Genre
- Hip-hop
- Released
- 1994
- Note
- landmark East Coast debut
As an Amazon Associate, OlderThan earns from qualifying purchases.
About
As of 2026, it's 32 years old.
Ready to Die announced The Notorious B.I.G. as one of the most gifted storytellers hip-hop had ever heard — his debut wove vivid, cinematic street narratives with effortless flow and a charisma that leapt off the record. It single-handedly helped recenter rap's spotlight on the East Coast.
'Juicy,' 'Big Poppa,' and 'One More Chance' showcased a rare blend of grit and pop instinct, and the album became a foundational classic, made all the more poignant by his death just three years later.
Vivid, masterful, and hugely influential, Ready to Die is the debut that proved Biggie was a generational talent and reshaped the sound of '90s hip-hop.
