The All-TIME 100 Albums: Ready to Die by The Notorious B.I.G.

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The All-TIME 100 Albums

19 of 101

By Josh Tyrangiel Published: November 13, 2006

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ALBUM: Ready to Die

YEAR RELEASED: 1994 LABEL: Bad Boy ARTIST: The Notorious B.I.G.

TIME 100 ALBUMS PODCASTS

PODCAST: Welcome to the All-TIME 100 Albums - the musical compilations of the last half-century that need no introduction. That said, listen in below as music critics Josh Tyrangiel and Alan Light introduce the list and talk about the top albums of the 1950s and '60s.

PODCAST: We know. Twenty-nine of the 100 greatest albums of all time come in the 1970s, and Pink Floyd isn't there. Play this podcast to learn why we picked the titles we did, and if you have something to say, tell us about it using the talkback link below.

PODCAST: Maybe it's a Sign O' The Times that you're listening to critics' audio recordings about great music, but this podcast about how we chose the best albums of the 1980s really is a Thriller. Give it a listen below.

PODCAST: Here's music even the younger set will know by heart. Listen to selected clips from the 1990s through present day as music critic Josh Tyrangiel discusses his picks.

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Christopher Wallace was a Brooklyn drug dealer, and, if his early interviews are to be believed, not a very nice one. Luckily, this was not his signal accomplishment. On Ready to Die Wallace took his street corner experiences and filtered them through his considerable charm. The result was a record that mixed long stretches of menace ("Things Done Changed," "Everyday Struggle") with romance ("One More Chance") and lots of humor. No rapper ever made multi-syllabic rhymes ("Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis/ When I was dead broke man I couldn't picture this") sound as smooth.