Album of the Day

The Notorious B.I.G. rose quickly to the top of East Coast hip-hop with a brilliant debut; unfortunately, Biggie's reign was brief - he was killed in 1997 just weeks before the release of his follow-up album, LIFE AFTER DEATH. The acclaimed collection picks up right where READY TO DIE left off, and like its predecessor, is peopled with thugs and playas trying to survive some very mean streets. But for all its violent drama, the album also sets its sights on mainstream radio with the catchy beats of "Mo Money Mo Problems" and the unexpected optimism of “Sky's The Limit.” As befits its epic 24-track length, the set features a small army of talented producers (Sean "Puffy" Combs, RZA, Easy Mo Bee) and guest rappers (Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony) while remaining the product of a singular vision. To mark its 20th anniversary, the diamond-certified LIFE AFTER DEATH has just been re-released on vinyl.