Claim: Life After Death is by the artist The Notorious B.I.G.

Ready to Die is the debut studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G. ; it was released on September 13 , 1994 , by Bad Boy Records . The label 's first release , the album features production by Bad Boy founder Sean `` Puffy '' Combs , Easy Mo Bee , Chucky Thompson , DJ Premier and Lord Finesse , among others . Recording for the album took place during 1993 to 1994 at The Hit Factory and D&D Studios in New York City . The partly autobiographical album tells the story of B.I.G. 's experiences as a young criminal . Ready to Die is his only studio album released during his lifetime , as he was murdered just days prior to the release of his second album , Life After Death -LRB- 1997 -RRB- .   Ready to Die was released to critical acclaim and became a commercial success , achieving Gold certification . In 1995 , after the release , the album became a certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America -LRB- RIAA -RRB- , and the album has reached a certified quadruple platinum with sales . It was significant for revitalizing the East Coast hip hop scene , amid West Coast hip hop 's commercial dominance . The album 's second single , `` Big Poppa '' , was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards . Ready to Die has been regarded by many music critics as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time , as well as one of the best albums of the '90s .