Rap classic remastered

1994 was a pivotal year for rap music, as it saw the emergence of one of the genre's most enigmatic and lyrically dangerous stars, Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. the Notorious B.I.G. \n Two and a half years, a blistering debut and one monstrous double album later, Wallace was dead, and the rap game was bereft of a major asset.\nGenerally viewed as one of the few greatest hardcore rap recordings ever, Ready to Die was Biggie's debut, and certainly one of the most impressive debuts in rap, as well as all other forms of music. The album almost single handedly ushered east coast rap into the gangsta era and was the first major production by Sean (Puff Daddy/P-Diddy) Combs. Newly remastered and reissued 10 years after it first dropped, younger rap fans can now discover this classic for themselves.\nBiggie's flows here seem effortless and lived-in, and his storytelling prowess has been unmatched since his day. The chart entries "Big Poppa" and "Juicy" are recognized gems, but deeper album tracks like "Gimme the Loot," "Unbelievable," "Friend of Mine" and "Respect" showcase the combination of cathartic production and fierce rhymes that garnered Biggie endless respect from both coasts during the most heated period of the bi-coastal rap war. That said, war may have ended up signaling his demise and is endlessly tragic but somehow fitting.\nExtra material added to the remaster of Ready to Die" includes two bonus tracks recorded during the sessions. Both "Who Shot Ya" and "Just Playing (Dreams)," are typical showcases for Biggie's unique and thrilling rhyme skills. Also included is a DVD containing four rarely seen music videos and a long-buried, and somewhat prophetic, live performance of "Unbelievable."\nChristopher Wallace has been dead for seven years now, and the fact that he's still being discussed and listened to is a testament to his greatness. While his double album, Life After Death, is better known to many, Ready to Die is his masterpiece and absolutely essential listening for all serious, and even casual, rap fans.