On the feature end of things, JAY-Z, 112, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, The Lox, Lil’ Kim and Ma$e popped out for the LP, with Big’s memorable Bone Thugs impression (“Notorious Thugs”) being a standout moment of the collaborations. RZA, DJ Premier, Puff Daddy (now known as Diddy), Easy Mo Bee, Havoc and others supplied Biggie with the very best that the worlds of boom bap and commercial production had to offer. Doubling down on Biggie’s strengths while expanding the scope of his sound, the project distills the Brooklyn rapper in all his ruthless, virtuosic grace, making it one of the rare posthumous albums to add a meaningful chapter to a late artist’s legacy.Ĭhecking in at 25 songs, the double album sees Biggie go any and everywhere sonically and thematically, merging luminous triple beam dreams with technicolor disco funk (“Mo Money Mo Problems”) and murderous overtures with dreary soul (“What’s Beef”). Released just over two weeks after his tragic demise - nearly three years removed from his seminal debut album, Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G.’s Life After Death is a historic cocktail of shapeshifting flows, Martin Scorsese-esque storytelling and dynamic hit-making.

Twenty-five years ago today, the rap world welcomed one of its greatest exceptions.

Life after death biggie smalls