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.
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.
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.