Avg Rating: 
4.4 ( 8 total votes )
It’s been more than ten years since Biggie was gun downed in Los Angeles. At the moment he drew his last breath he was instantly transformed from a rapper to an icon, from an artist to a legend, from a man to a myth. Ironically, violent death has a way of making musicians live forever (see Kurt Cobain and of course Tupac for more), but it also has a way of desensitizing us to their greatness. We’re so used to unquestioningly calling Biggie “one of the best rappers ever” that in our hearts we’ve forgotten … ...Read the full album review
Fans can also check out Notorious B.I.G.'s previous albums: Notorious B.I.G. - Duets: The Final Chapter
DJBooth Album Review
It’s been more than ten years since Biggie was gun downed in Los Angeles. At the moment he drew his last breath he was instantly transformed from a rapper to an icon, from an artist to a legend, from a man to a myth. Ironically, violent death has a way of making musicians live forever (see Kurt Cobain and of course Tupac for more), but it also has a way of desensitizing us to their greatness. We’re so used to unquestioningly calling Biggie “one of the best rappers ever” that in our hearts we’ve forgotten just how dope he was.
Today the new biopic of Biggie’s life, the aptly named Notorious, opens in theaters, and if it somehow manages to breathe some cinematic life back into Big Poppa it will exceed all expectations. But even if the movie flops, and if it does it will be because America can’t get past the fact that Jamal Woolard (aka “that guy who got shot in the ass”) is playing Biggie, the Notorious Soundtrack may just get the job done. Hearing over an hour of the man’s music reminds us of two things: Biggie made some of the best hip-hop ever, and Puffy talking on a track was as annoying in 1995 as it is now. Some things never change.
The essential appeal of the Notorious Soundtrack is simple - it’s every Biggie hit on one album. It’s basically a glorified greatest hits album. All the usual suspects are there: Hypnotize, One More Chance, Juicy, but you don’t need me to talk about how great these songs are. In fact, if I say, “Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, when I was dead broke…“ and you can’t finish that line, stop reading this review. Now. Seriously, just stop. What’s more impressive is just how good the lesser known tracks are. It’s easy to forget now, but at the time it dropped tracks like Warning were considered cause for parental advisory stickers. On Warning Biggie showcases his storytelling skills, hitting every line with laser-aim precision over a classic old-school beat. Hey, mo money mo problems. It’s a similar story on What’s Beef. Even with Puffy giggling like a 14-year-old girl at the end of the track, What’s Beef is Biggie at his best, proving he can flip the cadence with astounding lyricism: “this rap Alfred Hitchcock, drop top notch, play hatin gone stop.” How could I possibly criticize a rapper who delivers a line like that? In fact, my only real problem with this album is its shocking lack of Big Poppa. A Biggie collection without Big Poppa is like pancakes without syrup, like sex without an orgasm. I might be angry about this one for a while.
Just in case you already own every Biggie album the fine folks over at Bad Boy have included a few unexpected surprises. One of the only non-Notorious songs on the album belongs to fellow NY resident Jay-Z, who delivers an A Milli-esque performance on Brooklyn Go Hard. Jay adopts a strangely off-kilter Jamaican accent for his verses, and absolutely kills it. Let’s be real: the only reason Hova doesn’t get mentioned in the same breath as Big and Pac is he didn’t get killed in his younger years. The other original track is Letter to B.I.G., a softly paced track featuring raspy verses from Jadakiss and a touching chorus from Faith Evans. It’s not the crossover hit that I’ll Be Missing You was, but it’s much realer. Both tracks are better than good, but neither are good enough to convince a reluctant buyer to purchase the album.
Hardcore fans, however, may be persuaded by the inclusion of three previously unreleased demos. Now these tracks were demos for a reason; they’re rough and of questionable audio quality, especially Microphone Murderer, but they’re also a fascinating look at a time when Biggie rhymed like an amateur Slick Rick (see Love No Ho). There are certain album’s that you have to – I repeat have to – own if you want to call yourself a hip-hop fan. This is not one of them; Ready to Die is one of them. Still, Notorious is a worthy tribute to a true MC who laid the foundation for an entire generation of artists. Biggie is an icon, a legend, a myth, but most of all he was a man, a man who just so happened to be one of the dopest rappers to ever grace the mic. Rest in peace Christopher Wallace.
Listen to More: Notorious B.I.G. Written by Nathan S.
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Member Reviews and Ratings
Average Member Rating: Total Ratings: 8
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 4267 |
Rating:
 I hope this Movie gets released in India ....
RIP Christopher Wallace .... |
| Posted on Jan 15, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew |
Rating:
Thank God you actually brought fresh flavor into this review compared to other reviewers who annoying fail to focus on the soundtrack's new special additions buried in-between Biggie's classics.
Jay-Z and Jadakiss really put their hearts out in their respective tracks but I would have liked to see a couple more features and a little hits. Like you said, Bad Boy already dropped a greatest hits album for BIG and most hip-hop fans wouldn't feel the need to buy this one. What did you think about the "One More Chance" remix with Biggie's son? It sounded like a memorable idea on paper but after hearing the final product I don't think "One More Chance" was the route to go. |
| Posted on Jan 16, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 87 |
Rating:
There is nothing to think about
100% classic |
| Posted on Jan 16, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 433 |
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This is a great collection of Biggie tracks but I agree with Nathan and don't know what they didn't put "Big Poppa" in this mix. I can't wait to see the movie, and hope that it tells his story in an emotional way.
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| Posted on Jan 16, 2009 |
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| Posted on Jan 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 71 |
Apparently Lil' Kim was threatening to sue over libel about her characters representation. And because Biggie made that song about her, or so it seemed in the movie. They may have not released that song. Also, the song didn't play a big role in the movie itself either. Great movie, I'll never get tired of it.
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 125 |
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DAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
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| Posted on Nov 13, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 57 |
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RIP biggie
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| Posted on Apr 01, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 188 |
Rating:
I dont know how i'm supposed to rate this seeing as its pretty much Biggie's Greatest Hits with 2 new songs and a composition. RIP Big. He lives on through his music.
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| Posted on Apr 12, 2010 |
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