"Ready to Die," the inaugural studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., burst onto the scene on September 13, 1994, through Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. Helmed by a lineup of acclaimed producers including Bad Boy founder Sean "Puffy" Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, DJ Premier, and Lord Finesse, among others, the album was crafted between 1993 and 1994 at The Hit Factory and D&D Studios in New York City. Partly autobiographical, "Ready to Die" chronicles the rapper's turbulent journey as a young criminal, serving as a poignant reflection of his life experiences. Tragically, it stands as the sole studio album released during his lifetime, as he was fatally shot just sixteen days before the release of his second album, "Life After Death," in 1997. The album boasts a guest appearance from Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man.
 
"Ready to Die" made waves, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and garnering widespread critical acclaim, swiftly becoming a commercial sensation. The album spawned three hit singles: "Juicy," "Big Poppa," and "One More Chance," alongside the promotional track "Warning." "Juicy," the lead single, climbed to number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Big Poppa" soared to number six on the same chart, earning a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards. Critics lauded The Notorious B.I.G.'s lyrical prowess and storytelling acumen, cementing his status as a hip-hop luminary.
In April 2018, "Ready to Die" achieved a 6× Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), underscoring its monumental impact on the East Coast hip-hop scene, which was experiencing a resurgence amid the commercial dominance of West Coast hip-hop. Revered by critics as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, as well as one of the greatest albums across all genres, "Ready to Die" continues to resonate with audiences. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the album 22nd on its updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and it claimed the top spot on their list of the 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time. In recognition of its enduring cultural significance, the album was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2024.