Life After Death Totally Explained

Everything about Life After Death totally explained

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Life After Death (Originally titled "Life After Death...'Till Death Do Us Part") is the Grammy-nominated second album by East Coast rapper The Notorious B.I.G. (also known as Biggie Smalls) and was released posthumously on March 25, 1997 (see 1997 in music). A double album that acts as a sequel of sorts to Ready to Die (1994), Life After Death received a great deal of critical praise, if not quite on the same level as his debut. B.I.G.'s brief career was cut short by his murder on March 9, 1997 just before the release of Life After Death.
The album featured B.I.G.’s mafioso crime kingpin character living a Scarface/Casino-esque lifestyle (as opposed to Ready to Die, in which Biggie rapped about life as a young street hustler) while making numerous references to theatrical crime thrillers. Featuring collaborations with 112, Jay-Z, Lil Kim, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, R. Kelly, The Lox, Faith Evans, Too Short, DMC, Carl Thomas, Ma$e & Puff Daddy, among others, the album cemented Biggie's legacy as one of hip hop's most respected and successful Emcees, and is remembered as a classic of Mafioso rap. It was certified diamond by the RIAA in 2000 and is 1 of 7 hip-hop albums that has this status (though, this is slightly misleading, as it's nature as a double album causes each copy to be counted twice - once per CD). The Album was nominated for 3 Grammy's in 1998 including Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance for "Hypnotize" and Best Rap Performance for a Duo or Group for "Mo Money, Mo Problems".
The Edited Version of this CD is only one disc and only has the songs: "Hypnotize", "Notorious Thugs", "I Love the Dough", "B.I.G. Interlude", "Miss U", "Mo Money Mo Problems", "Playa Hater", "Another", "Sky's the Limit", "Nasty Boy", "Going Back to Cali", "You're Nobody (Til' Somebody Kills You)", and "Fucking You Tonight" (re-titled as "Lovin' You Tonight").

Conception

Background

One year prior to the album's release, The Notorious B.I.G. had married Faith Evans, become East Coast's icon in the East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry and made guest appearances on albums by Jay-Z and Luke amongst others. Two weeks prior to the album's release, The Notorious B.I.G. was shot and killed. The album sold 690,000 copies in its first week.

Impact and influence

Though released in the wake of B.I.G.'s fatal shooting, Life After Death signaled a stylistic change in gangsta rap as it crossed over to the commercial mainstream. After the release of Life After Death, Puff Daddy’s Bad Boy Records continued to bring pop and gangsta rap closer together: the references to violence and drug dealing remained, as did the entire "gangsta" rhetoric, but the overall production style changed from the previously darker sound to a cleaner, sample-heavy, more upbeat sound that was directly fashioned for the mainstream pop charts, as seen in the single "Mo Money Mo Problems". The Notorious B.I.G. is often credited with initiating this transition, as he was among the first mainstream rappers to produce albums with a calculated attempt to include both gritty and realistic gangsta narratives as well as more radio-friendly productions. Much of the album is produced by Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Carlos "July Six" Broady, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, and Nashiem Myrick. However, other notable hip-hop producers such as DJ Premier and RZA contributed beats to the album as well.
Various artists were specifically influenced by several songs on Life After Death. Evidence's "Down in New York City" is essentially "Going Back to Cali" from the perspective of a West Coast artist. Jay-Z borrows four bars from "The World Is Filled..." in his song "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)," as well as the chorus from his song "Squeeze 1st" from "Hypnotize" and a line in "The Ruler's Back" from "Kick in the Door." Ice Cube borrows the chorus from his song "Child Support" from "Kick in the Door."

Beef references

It should be noted that many songs on both discs contain subtle references to B.I.G.'s rivals. "Kick in the Door" is directed at Nas, Jeru the Damaja, Raekwon and even the track's producer DJ Premier according to speculative listeners. In the song "Notorious Thugs" B.I.G. refers to 2Pac in the line "so called beef with you-know-who." While Bone Thugs make disses towards Three 6 Mafia, Twista and Do or Die. It is also speculated by many listeners that the song "Long Kiss Goodnight" is a diss track towards 2Pac and Suge Knight although the members of Junior M.A.F.I.A. have denied this. "My Downfall" also contains lyrics allegedly aimed towards 2Pac. Many believed that "What's Beef" also contains lyrics likely aimed towards 2Pac. It is worth noting however, that Biggie said in an interview that he never recorded any diss song against 2Pac because he didn't want to heighten East Coast-West Coast tensions.

Reception

It's considered to be one of the greatest rap albums in hip hop history, and has also been a major influence on many rap artists.

Publication	Country	Accolade	Year	Rank
Blender Magazine	USA	The 100 Greatest American Albums of All time	2002	#25
Ego Trip	USA	Hip Hop's 25 Greatest Albums by Year 1980-98	1999	#1
Hip-Hop Connection	UK	The 100 Greatest Rap Albums 1995-2005		#14
Rolling Stone	USA	List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time	2003	#483
Rolling Stone	USA	The Essential Recordings of the 90s	1999	*
The New Nation	UK	Top 100 Albums by Black Artists		#60
The Source	USA	100 Best Rap Albums	1998	*
Vibe Magazine	USA	51 Albums representing a Generation, a Sound and a Movement	2004	*

(* ) designates lists which are unordered.

Track listing

Disc one

#	Title	Time	Songwriters	Producers	Additional Performers	Samples
1	"Life After Death (Intro)"	1:39	C. Wallace, S. Jordan, Sean Combs	Sean "Puffy" Combs & Steven "Stevie J" Jordan for The Hitmen	Puff Daddy	Contains a sample of "Suicidal Thoughts" by The Notorious B.I.G.
2	"Somebody's Gotta Die"	4:26	C. Wallace, Sean Combs, A. Hester, Nasheim Myrick, Carlos Broady	Sean "Puffy" Combs, Nashiem Myrick, & Carlos "6 July" Broady for The Hitmen		Contains a sample of "In the Rain" by The Dramatics
3	"Hypnotize"	3:49	C. Wallace, R. Alpert, D. Angelettie, Andy Armer, Sean Combs, Ron Lawrence	Sean "Puffy" Combs, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, & Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence for The Hitmen	Pamela Long, Puff Daddy	Contains a sample of "Rise" by Herb Alpert Contains a sample of *Interpolates "La Di Da Di" by Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh
4	"Kick in the Door"	4:46	C. Wallace, J. Hawkins, Chris E. Martin	DJ Premier	The Madd Rapper	Contains a sample of "I Put A Spell On You" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins Contains a sample of "Unbelievable" by The Notorious B.I.G. Contains a sample of "Get Money" by Junior M.A.F.I.A.
5	"Fuck You Tonight"	5:45	C. Wallace, Sean Combs, D. Jones, R. Kelly	Sean "Puffy" Combs for The Hitmen & Daron Jones	R. Kelly
6	"Last Day"	4:18	C. Wallace, Kejuan Muchita, J. Phillips, Dorothy Stiles	Sean "Puffy" Combs for The Hitmen & Havoc	The L.O.X.
7	"I Love the Dough"	5:12	C. Wallace, S. Carter, O. Harvey, R. Moore, Angela Winbush	Easy Mo Bee	Angela Winbush, Jay-Z	Contains a sample of *"I Love You More" by Rene & Angela
8	"What's Beef?"	5:15	C. Wallace, Carlos Broady, Nasheim Myrick	Nashiem Myrick & Carlos "6 July" Broady for the Hitmen	Puff Daddy
9	"B.I.G. Interlude"	0:48	C. Wallace, D. Angelettie	Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie for The Hitmen		Contains a sample of *"P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" by Schooly D
10	"Mo Money Mo Problems"	4:17	C. Wallace, M. Betha, Sean Combs, B.H. Edwards, S. Jordan, Nile Rodgers	Sean "Puffy" Combs & Steven "Stevie J" Jordan for The Hitmen	Puff Daddy, Ma$e, Kelly Price	Contains a sample of *"I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross
11	"Niggas Bleed"	4:51	C. Wallace, Sean Combs, S. Jordan, Nasheim Myrick	Sean "Puffy" Combs, Nashiem Myrick, Steven "Stevie J" Jordan, & Carlos "6 July" Broady for The Hitmen
12	"I Got a Story to Tell"	4:42	C. Wallace, A. Best	Buckwild for kurrup money entertainment co- produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs & Chucky Thompson for The Hitmen,		Contains a sample of *"I'm Glad You're Mine" by Al Green

Disc two

#	Title	Time	Songwriter(s)	Producer(s)	Additional Performers	Sample(s)
1	"Notorious Thugs"	6:07	C. Wallace, Sean Combs, Al Henderson, S. Howse, S. Jordan, Bryon McCane	Sean "Puffy" Combs & Steven "Stevie J" Jordan for The Hitmen	Bone Thugs-N-Harmony	Contains a sample of "More Than Love" by Ohio Players
2	"Miss U"	4:59	C. Wallace, Kaygee Gist, Lionel Richie	Kay Gee	112	Contains a sample of "Missing You" by Diana Ross
3	"Another"	4:15	C. Wallace, Sean Combs, N. Ingram, K. Jones, S. Jordan	Sean "Puffy" Combs & Steven "Stevie J" Jordan for The Hitmen	Lil' Kim	Contains a sample and interpolation of "Another Man" by Barbara Mason
4	"Going Back to Cali"	5:07	C. Wallace, O. Harvey, Roger Troutman	Easy Mo Bee		Contains a sample of "More Bounce To The Ounce" by Zapp
5	"Ten Crack Commandments"	3:24	C. Wallace, Chris E. Martin	DJ Premier		Contains a sample of "Valantra" by Les McCann Contains a sample of "Shut 'Em Down" by Public Enemy
6	"Playa Hater"	3:57	C. Wallace, Sean Combs, W. Hart, S. Jordan	Sean "Puffy" Combs & Steven "Stevie J" Jordan for The Hitmen	Keanna Henson	Contains a sample of "Hey! Love" by The Delfonics
7	"Nasty Boy"	5:33	C. Wallace, Sean Combs, S. Jordan	Sean "Puffy" Combs & Steven "Stevie J" Jordan for The Hitmen		Contains a sample of "Cavern" by Liquid Liquid
8	"Sky's the Limit"	5:29	C. Wallace, Bobby Caldwell, Hubert Eaves, Clark Kent, J. Williams	Clark Kent	112	Contains a sample of "Keep On" by D. Train Contains a sample of "My Flame" by Bobby Caldwell
9	"The World Is Filled..."	4:54	C. Wallace, D. Angelette, Sean Combs, T. Shaw, K. Walker	Sean "Puffy" Combs & Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie for The Hitmen	Carl Thomas, Puff Daddy, Too Short	Contains a sample of "Space Talk" by Asha Puthli Contains a sample of "The What" by The Notorious B.I.G.
10	"My Downfall"	5:26	C. Wallace, Carlos Broady, Sean Combs, Darryl McDaniels, Nasheim Myrick	Sean "Puffy" Combs, Nashiem Myrick, & Carlos "6 July" Broady for The Hitmen	DMC, Karen Anderson, Deborah "Portia" Neeley Rolle	Contains a sample of "2 Wrongs" by Onyx
11	"Long Kiss Goodnight"	5:18	C. Wallace, Robert Diggs	RZA	Puff Daddy	Contains a sample of "The Letter" by Al Green Contains a sample of "The Letter" by Grant Green
12	"You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)"	4:56	C. Wallace, Sean Combs, Gary Johnson, S. Jordan, E. Lopez, B. Preston	Sean "Puffy" Combs & Steven "Stevie J" Jordan for The Hitmen, DJ Enuff, & Jiv Poss	Faith Evans, Puff Daddy

Songwriter(s) information taken from CD case.

Unused tracks

"Players Anthem" This track originally was by BIG with no Lil Cease or Lil Kim but later did it with Junior MAFIA and put it on Conspiracy (Junior M.A.F.I.A. Album). The original version featuring BIG rapping Lil Cease's verse can be found on DJ Smooth Denali's Still King of NY mixtape.

"You'll See" (Featuring The Lox) This track was released on some Bad Boy mixtapes back in 96 and featured all 3 Lox Members rapping first with Biggie going last. Puff would use Biggie's verse on the "Duets: The Final Chapter" track "Hustler's Story" which features Akon, Bee-Gee and Scarface.

"Dangerous MC's" This track was remixed by Nottz on Born Again featuring Snoop Dogg Busta Rhymes and Mark Curry. The original version can be found on Mister Cee's Best of Biggie 10th Anniversary Mixtape and was produced by J-Dilla who discussed the track in a youtube video before his death. The original version was suspose to feature Busta and NaS but only Biggie put a verse down. In one of the few lyrics that Biggie was may have made references to Tupac. He ends the rhyme (singing) "Round and Round, Upside Down" which was the hook to Tupac's Classic song "I Get Around".

Album singles

Single information
*"Hypnotize"* Released: April 21, 1997 B-side: "I Got a Story to Tell"
*"Mo Money Mo Problems"* featuring Mase & Puff Daddy Released: July 21, 1997 B-side:
*"Sky's the Limit"* featuring 112 Released: November 25, 1997 B-side: "Kick in the Door" & "Going Back to Cali"

"Fuck You Tonight" is found on the A-Side of "Mo Money Mo Problems".

Chart positions

Album

Chart (1997)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200	1
U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums	1
Canadian Albums chart	3

Singles

Song	Chart (1997)	Peak position
"Hypnotize"	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
"Hypnotize"	U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	1
"Hypnotize"	U.S. Hot Rap Tracks	1
"Hypnotize"	Canadian Singles Chart	3
"Mo Money Mo Problems"	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
"Mo Money Mo Problems"	U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	2
"Mo Money Mo Problems"	U.S. Hot Rap Tracks	1
"Mo Money Mo Problems"	Canadian Singles Chart	2
"Going Back to Cali"	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	26
"Going Back to Cali"	U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	31
"Going Back to Cali"	U.S. Hot Rap Tracks	3
Song	Chart (1998)	Peak position
"Sky's the Limit"	Canadian Singles Chart	11

Credits

Barry White - Hair Stylist

Kit Walker - Sampled Keyboards

The Notorious B.I.G. - Vocals (background), Producer, Liner Notes

Karen Anderson - Vocals (background)

Easy Mo Bee - Producer

Michael Ciro - Guitar

Sean "Puffy" Combs - Producer, Mixing

DJ Premier - Producer

Ben Garrison - Engineer

Rich July - Engineer

Marvin Scandrick - Vocals, Vocals (background) (112)

Quinnes Parker - Vocals, Vocals (background) (112)

Daron Jones - Producer, Vocals, Vocals (background) (112)

Michael Keith - Vocals, Vocals (background) (112)

Clark Kent - Producer

Paul Logus - Mixing

Manny Marroquin - Engineer

Tony Maserati - Mixing

Axel Niehaus - Engineer

Michael Patterson - Engineer, Mixing

Herb Powers - Mastering

RZA - Producer

Eddie Sancho - Mixing

Richard Travali - Mixing

Doug Wilson - Engineer

DJ Enuf - Producer

Faith Evans - Vocals (background)

Carl Thomas - Vocals

Pierre Retrayt - Producer

Rasheed Goodlowe - Engineer

Nasheim Myrick - Producer

Michael Lavine - Photography

Camilo Argumedes - Engineer

Deric Angelettie - Producer

Stevie J. - Producer

Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander - Engineer, Mixing

Carlos Broady - Organ (Hammond), Producer

Lane Craven - Engineer, Mixing

Krayzie Bone - Vocals

Deborah "Portia" Neeley Rolle - Vocals (background)

Jiv Pos - Producer

Jleon6 - Executive Producer

Stephen Dent - Engineer

Lynn Montrose - Engineer

Steve Jones - Engineer

Bizzy Bone - Vocals

John Meredith - Engineer

Layzie Bone - Vocals

Diana Pedraza - Engineer

Mike Pitts - Assistant Producer

Kay Gee - Producer

Groovey Lew - Stylist

Ron Grant - Guest Appearance

Keanna Henson - Vocals (background)

Justin Cortinas- ProducerFurther Information

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