10. Ready to Die
Artist: The Notorious B.I.G.
Album: Ready to Die
Released: 1994
Points: 148.2
Ready to die is a song from The Notorious B.I.G.’s same-titled debut album that was released in 1994. The album is partly autobiographical as it tells a story about ex-drug dealer’s everyday life on the streets. In Billboard article, the album is described as a story about Biggie’s fearlessness, nihilism, and unique brand of New York City pragmatism. “Throughout these 17 songs, there’s a sense Biggie could go at any moment, and on tunes like “Everyday Struggle” and chilling closer “Suicidal Thoughts”, he welcomes the bullet as a source of relief.” On March 9, 1997 Biggie really received the fatal bullet, and his second album titled Life After Death was released only 16 days after his funeral.
As the song’s title tells, Biggie announces that he is prepared for dying. In other songs on this list, authors are afraid of dying and losing people they love, they attempt to escape the fear by imaging Heaven and the final reunion with God and loved ones. In Biggie’s song, there is no fear, no love, no Heaven. There is only a hunger for acquiring more wealth. But Rolexes and Lexus aren’t compensation, or attempt to fulfill the life depleted of joy or love. He raps: “Fuck the world, my moms, and my girl/ My life is played out like a Jheri curl / I’m ready to die.”
The album Ready to Die entered Billboard 200, hitting the 15th place, and it was also included on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, where it ranked at 133.
