Ready to Die: 25th Anniversary Edition

This 25th Anniversary Limited Edition, Individually Numbered Boxed Set celebrates the Multi-Platinum album with nine 7” 45 rpm colored-vinyl singles (3 black, 3 white and 3 red) that feature every song from Ready to Die, PLUS two bonus tracks.

The Notorious B.I.G. helped reinvent and revitalize East Coast hip-hop 25 years ago with his 1994 debut, Ready to Die. Today, the album has been certified platinum six times and is regarded as not only one of the best hip-hop albums ever made, but also one of the best albums of all time.

Individually numbered and limited to 3,500 copies, the set is presented in a cigar-style box with metallic and gloss accents, and includes a booklet filled with liner notes by veteran hip hop journalist and author Kathy Iandoli, never-before-seen photos from the era, as well as exclusive stories by Easy Mo Bee and Chucky Thompson, who helped produce the album.

After earning acclaim for his guest appearances on other artists’ songs, Biggie (born Christopher Wallace) began recording his own album in New York City in 1993. Ready to Die was eventually completed in 1994 and released on Bad Boy Records, which was founded by the album’s executive producer, Sean “Puffy” Combs.

Mainly an autobiographical album, Ready to Die showcases Biggie’s immaculate storytelling on 17 tracks that explore his life and experiences as a drug dealer. It takes listeners on a journey that spans from the character’s birth, to his time on the streets, and ultimately ends with his suicide.

The album’s first single, “Juicy,” was certified gold and reached #3 on the Hot Rap Singles chart, crossing over to the Billboard Hot 100 chart to peak at #27. The second single, “Big Poppa,” was an even bigger hit, topping the Rap and R&B charts and reaching #6 on the Hot 100. Certified platinum, “Big Poppa” was also nominated for a Grammy® Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. A remix of “One More Chance” once again topped the Rap and R&B charts while peaking at #2 on the Hot 100.

Sadly, this would be the only studio album released during Biggie’s lifetime. He was killed on 9 March, 1997, just 16 days before the release of his second album – Life After Death.