Notorious B.I.G. - Born Again
Production: Puff Daddy, Deric
"D-Dot" Angelettie, Clark Kent, J-Dub, Daven
"Prestige" Vanderpool, Chucky Thompson, Manny Fresh,
Dominick "Nottz" Lamb, Nashiem Myrick, DJ Premier, Eric
"Coptic" Matlock
Executive Producers: Sean
"Puffy" Combs, Voletta Wallace, Faith Evans
Tracklist
1. Born Again
2. Notorious B.I.G. (w/ Lil' Kim & Puff Daddy) *
3. Dead Wrong (w/ Eminem)
4. Hope You Niggas Sleep (w/ Hot Boys & Big Timers) *
5. Dangerous MC's (w/ Mark Curry, Snoop Doggy Dogg & Busta
Rhymes) *
6. Biggie (w/ Junior M.A.F.I.A.)
7. Niggas *
8. Big Booty Hoes (w/ Too $hort) *
9. Would You Die For Me (w/ Lil' Kim & Puff Daddy)
10. Come On (w/ Sadat X)
11. Rap Phenomenon (w/ Redman & Method Man)
12. Let Me Get Down (w/ G-Dep, Craig Mack & Missy
"Misdemeanor" Elliot)
13. Tonight (w/ Mobb Deep & Joe Hooker) *
14. If I Should Die Before I Wake (w/ Black Rob, Ice Cube &
Beanie Sigel)
15. Who Shot Ya
16. Can I Get Witcha (w/ Lil' Cease)
17. I Really Want to Show You (w/ K-Ci & Jo-jo & Nas)
18. Ms. Wallace
* - Best Tracks
The rap community was rocked when
they learned of the tragic drive-by shooting of Christopher
Wallace on March 9, 1997. Now, with the release of this
posthumous album, he is Born Again. I, for one, was ecstatic when
I heard of this. The Notorious B.I.G. is one of my personal
favourite rappers. His songs all have this certain je ne sais
quois, this particular Biggieness to them. This album is no
exception.
When I started listening to this
CD, I was saddened. The intro is an excerpt from an interview
with Big Poppa. He is asked where he wants to be in ten years,
and the first thing he answers is, "just livin'."
Fortunately, it goes straight into one of the most upbeat,
catchiest hip-hop songs I have ever heard, Notorious. This song's
hook has been in my head since I first heard it. Every once in a
while, I start going "No, No, No, Notorious!" and
people think I'm insane or something. Nearly all the songs are
like this.
If you are fairly new to the rap
game, go buy this right now. It showcases nearly every popular MC
in the world. From Missy Elliot to Snoop Doggy Dogg, they're all
here. I noticed two particularly notable absences, however. Bad
Boy Entertainment promised verses from Lauryn Hill and Will
Smith, neither of which appears on here. Also missing is anything
from Bad Boy's Next Big Thing, Shyne. Since he sounds almost
exactly like Biggie, it would have been interesting to have him
rapping on here.
Everything about this album sounds
right. The Notorious' verses are tight, and his lyrics are
top-notch, if a little nasty. Some of the songs are a little old,
and one of them (Let Me Get Down) sounds just like Bad Boy's
first hit single, Flava in Ya Ear. This album has all kinds of
rap on it. There's some oldskool scratching (Rap Phenomenon),
some pop sampling (Notorious), and some disorganized shouting
(Tonight).
All in all, this is a landmark
album in hip-hop history that everyone should have in his or her
collection. I just can't think of a single bad thing to say about
it. Born Again is a true masterpiece.
Review provided by Innocent
Bystander
9.5 / 10