The Notorious B.I.G. -1994- Ready To Die (Promo / O.G. Edition RECTIFIED) (Hit Factory / Bad Boy / Mixtape Marvel)

• 1993 -  1994 : original recordings, alternate and unreleased tracks, demo version of the Ready To Die album, before Puffy's final mixdown.
• Sources : Advanced Press Copy, Hit Factory's Promo of the 26th of July '94 ; Promo of the 1st of August of '94 ; The O.G. Edition

Biggie by David McIntyre, summer of 1994

### - The O.G. Edition is a fanmade improved version of the leaked "Advanced Press Copy", an early version of Ready To Die. It follows the same tracklist (without "Big Poppa" nor "Unbelievable") but replaces some tracks - with same mix than the retail - by alternate versions to refresh the listeners experience. We chose to update some elements and to change some bonus tracks to keep on that perspective. - ###

Advanced Press Copy, c. June '94 (?)

Ready To Die (The O.G. Edition)

1. Intro [original with uncleared sample]
2. Things Done Changed [original]
3. Gimme The Loot [uncensored]
4. Machine Gun Funk [DJ Premier's version] *
5. Warning [original]
6. Ready To Die [Easy Mo Bee's original with different beat] *
7. One More Chance [original with sample not replayed]
8. Fuck Me (interlude)
9. The What feat. Method Man [original with unheard lyrics] *
10. Juicy [Pete Rock's version] *
11. Everyday Struggle [original demo mix]
12. Me & My Bitch [original with different beat]
13. Respect [original extended mix]
14. Friend of Mine [original demo version]
15. Whatchu Want [unreleased original version]
16. Suicidal Thoughts [Pete Rock's version] 
17. Dreams [demo mix with intro] **  ----  RECTIFIED  -----
18. Come On feat. Sadat X [unreleased original version] ***
    
    
    * the original tracks of the promo are very close to the retail versions.
    ** this track from the Promo was not included in the O.G. Edition. We chose to re-add a slightly different mix of the song (which is probably from another Promo).
    *** the original track of the promo tape was just the instrumental of the song. The O.G. Edition gives the recorded song.
    
    

    

    Advanced Press Copy, circa June '94,
    "Come On" instrumental is not listed.

     

     
    

    
    The O.G. Edition Bonus Tracks :
    
    
19. Who Shot Ya ? [unreleased original verse]
    Who Shot Ya ? feat. Keith Murray [unreleased original version]  ----- RECTIFIED  -----
20. For The Macs And Dons [unreleased track]
    Stick Up feat. Jesse West & Troo-Kula [unreleased "gimme the loot" first take]  -----  RECTIFIED  -----
21. Let Me Get Down feat. Craig Mack [unreleased original version]  -----  RECTIFIED  -----
22. Pepsi Freestyle [unreleased track]
    Biggie Got The Hype Shit (1991 demo track)

Note : so, we simply re-added a version of "Dreams" which was in the original promo, we updated "Who Shot Ya ? (Original)" with the Keith Murray's verse and we added two leftover tracks considered for the album (instead of the random early tracks included in the O.G. Edition).

We chose to add Craig Mack's featuring and Jesse West's one mainly because there are two versions of these songs - so we kept the other versions for our Biggie's Big E Smallz Demo Tapes (1991-1994) compilation. And also because in a way, they are among the first recorded things for the album (and it makes a strong link with Jesse West who helped Biggie from the beginning but wasn't in the final album) and one of the lasts (among the leftovers). 

Clarance Davis for NY Daily News, '94

Unused Tracks recorded during Ready To Die sessions, and very probably considered for the album :
. Stick Up (Second Version) feat. 3rd Eye, Capital LS, Troo-Kula & O.D.B.
. Party & Bullshit (Demo Mix)
. Can I Get With Ya (Original)
. Niggaz (Original)
. Dead Wrong (Original)
. You're Nobody (Original)
. House of Pain (Original) feat. 2Pac & Stretch
. Let Me Get Down (First Take) feat. Craig Mack
. Everyday Struggle [alternate demo mix with sax]
. Party & Bullshit (Lord Finesse Remix)
. Party & Bullshit (Puffy Remix)

O.G. Edition by The Mixtape Marvel

Why "Fuck Me" is the perfect interlude of Ready To Die ?

Because it perfectly illustrates Biggie's style as a rapper ! The rhymes, the deep voice strongly hit the listeners hears in the same rhythm than a brutal coitus. It lasts a few minutes and it ends up brutally in one final decisive shot, and the victim who received the rap falls on the floor...

Promo versions of Ready To Die

What's the interests of this promo version of the album ?

The official album is for sure way better than a low quality and unfinished work. Nevertheless, this promo purposes a different side of the album. Firstly, the slightly altered mix of the demo allows you to listen with a new hear. And also, the final mixdown leaded by Puffy was sometimes criticized, wanting to polish a bit the songs in order to have radio airplay. 

Then some little surprises give a refreshing air to the album : different sample in the beginning of the introduction ; the original sample in "One More Chance" ; the original whole different Biggie verses in "The What", the different version of the "Juicy" beat by Pete Rock...

Of course, the main interest could be the exclusive leftover tracks. The promo had "Whatchu Want" and the beautiful "Come On" instrumental. Mixtape Marvel gave the complete song but the instrumental was maybe even more interesting than the recorded song itself.... We added two other leftover tracks : one which was finally given to Craig Mack and was included in promo of his album. And the first song presumably recorded for the album with a verse Biggie will reuse for "Gimme The Loot". But among them, we have to admit that only "Whatchu Want" could really compete with the released songs of the album with his dark dirty beat & angry flow.

But the jewel of this promo tape was for the die-hard fans the most wanted track "Me & My Bitch (Original)" with a totally different beat. The song is incredibly more dirty funk and powerful. There are another jewels in the O.G. Edition of the Tape : the original funk version of "Ready To Die" and an exclusive DJ Premier's boom bap version of "Machine Gun Funk", probably made for a B-Side.

Clarance Davis for the Daily News, '94

In terms of featurings... already in a competition with Nas ?

When Biggie was asked about the fact he had only one featured artist in his album, Biggie said he recorded other songs with guests but they finally chose to take them off and have mainly him with the beats. Exactly like Nas in Illmatic (April 1994), who had only AZ and some backing by Q-Tip... Nas was considered as the ultimate MC, self-sufficient. Biggie as a competitor could do as well as him and stands almost solo for a whole album.

In a way, 2Pac will try the same kind of things - very few featurings - for his second Death Row solo album short lived project : Me Against The World pt. 2 (3 or 4 rap guests, depends). And it also sounds like that in the Makaveli album Killuminati where there is only one featuring (Bad Azz), but if we except the Outlawz on four songs...

Biggie enumerates the featuring songs he recorded for the album : 2Pac and Stretch, Sadat X, Craig Mack, ODB, Capital LS, 3rd Eye and Troo-Kula... 

For the Jesse West's "Stick Up" with ODB, Troo Kula & Capital LS, the song is obviously a cacophony... Jesse and Troo-Kula being not that good. And Biggie re-used the verse of the other version for "Gimme The Loot"...

Considering Craig Mack's "Let Me Get Down", it is obviously the same music vibe than "Come On"... On the other hand, this smoke anthem would have given another side for the album... But maybe it was said to Biggie to not promote smoke and drugs with his troubles with that for the justice...

"Come On", despite a good training chorus, is kind of strange. Sadat X gives a weak verse.

by McIntyre, 1994 

The exclusion of "House of Pain" ?

Puff Daddy probably didn't want a 2Pac track...

After having met in July 93, maybe the day after Poetic Justice premiere, 2Pac & Biggie started to hang up and smoke together a lot. The 23 of July, they gave a freestyle together at the Palladium (Tunnel ? Amazon Club ?), in front of Nas, Chuck D, Redman... Maybe the next day, they were drinking & freestyling at the Royalton Hotel. A few days later you see them together on stage with Snoop and the Chronic team... Then maybe in early August, 2Pac was backing Biggie in a concert... Then 2Pac invited Biggie to go on tour with Thug Life...

Logically Biggie introduced 2Pac to his producer Easy Mo Bee and they soon recorded "Runnin' From The Police" together with Stretch circa the 30th of October 1993, originally intended for 2Pac's third album then titled Out On Bail. In return, Biggie invited 2Pac and Stretch in late November to record a song for his album : "House of Pain", produced by his friend Jesse West. The concept probably came from 2Pac who had just recorded "Pain" with the same topic.

But the justice case 2Pac was accused in December of 93 probably started to separate them. Puffy was working at protecting his key artist from the problems he already had with the justice. And the fact that Haitian Jack, friend of Jimmy Henchman and Puff Daddy, was also implicated in the rape case could have participate to this. According to 2Pac declarations, he let the girl in the bedroom with the other guys - so Haitian Jack - and went to sleep in the living room... Could they be angry at 2Pac for that ?

Anyway, for sure, Puffy didn't want to have 2Pac - a name associated to controversy and rape women - as featured artist in the album of his protégé...

Craig Mack & Biggie, 1994

Clarance Davis for Daily News, 94

So... Who shot him ???

Firstly : there are TWO VERSIONS of the song... one before 2Pac was shot, one after.

As we can understand, the original version of "Who Shot Ya ?" was recorded for Mary J Blige's new album My Life, released the 29th of November, so one day before the Quad ambush... So, circa late summer of 94, Biggie would have given a verse for an interlude of the album - over that beat. The verse being too harsh, they asked Keith Murray to record a verse too. Parts of each appear in Mary J Blige's Promo version of the album (cf. Discogs), maybe even the full Biggie's verse if we consider the duration of the interlude. So, nothing to do with 2Pac...

But... Biggie recorded a new version in early 1995 for a B-Side. He added a second verse, and modified the last line of his 1st verse... "representin for the Queen, her royal highness" to "You rewind this, Bad Boy's behind this"... Seriously, Biggie carefully chose his rhymes... He perfectly knew it will sound exactly like an answer to 2Pac's allegations ! like a provocation at least. 

Let's be clear, we don't think Biggie has directly anything to do with 2Pac being robbed at the Quad Studios. But he could be angry against 2Pac (for suspecting him and Puffy), at the time he re-wrote the song and deliberately throw some provocative lines. At the same time, if he would have something to do with it, if he would have known Puffy or Henchman & Haitian Jack were implicated, he could have written exactly like that... giving some subliminal words against him... 

We know there is a strong probability for Haitian Jack (implicated in the same rape case than 2Pac) and his protector Jimmy Henchman (same Haitian mafia, close to Puffy) to be the origin of this robbery... Maybe Stretch was also kind of implicated : a debt he could have... It was said that the goal was just a robbery and not to shoot at 2Pac... In order to afraid him ? But the main question remains : was Puffy aware of the thing ? 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

• Gimme The Loot, late 1992. Prod. Easy Mo Bee.
• Included in Uptown Promo Sampler, Biggie probably used his verse for the "Stickup" first version, presumably recorded in December of 1992. For the beat, Easy Mo Bee recycled the drums pattern of Biggie's '91 demo "Guaranteed Raw".
• Warning, mid 1993. Prod. Easy Mo Bee.
• Considering the tracklist of the Uptown Promo Sampler, with a song titled "Hot Butter Soul" (title of the famous Isaac Hayed album with no eponymous song but the track "Walk On By", what Easy Mo Bee had produced the song "Warning" with), it could indicate that the song "Warning" was about to be recorded at the time Puffy was fired from Uptown Records.
• The What (Biggie Original Verse), first half of 1993 (?). Prod. Easy Mo Bee.
• Biggie said he didn't really know Meth when he came for recording the song (Enter The Wu was released only in Nov. 93). That first take should come from that Uptown Promo Sampler tape. Biggie admitted Meth totally destroyed him and so he recorded another verse instead of the first one... maybe in late '93. That recording could be in relation with ODB recording "Stick-Up" circa late 92 (ODB, Wu-Tang founder could have pushed his friend to go and record with Biggie).
• Juicy (Pete Rock Original Mix), first half of 1994 (?), Prod. Pete Rock.
• Remade for "Juicy" 12'' B-Side as "Pete Rock Remix". Pete Rock claims Puffy stole him the beat and didn't credit him as being the originator. One can say Puffy made a more polished mix. The Pete Rock Original could possibly be in Biggie's "homemade" Demo Tape of the album (with "House of Pain" for instance).
• Whatchu Want, late 1992 - early 1993. prod. Easy Mo Bee.
• Biggie sings the first verse of the song in a park at Brooklyn. There is a radio freestyle where Biggie sings the two other verses. Then he sings it song live on stage with 2Pac backings. 2Pac had the same black leather vest than at the Royalton Hotel and at the Palladium, so it should be from July-August of 1993.
  
• Dreams (with intro), mid 1993. Prod. Rashad Smith.
• Included in Uptown Promo Sampler. Biggies said it was just a joke, recording that small song as a bonus after a session for Mary J Blige's "What's The 411 ? (Remix)" - which had the same Biggie first verse - in mid 1993
• Come On (Original), demo in 1993, second version first half of 1994 (?). Prod. Lord Finesse. 
• Remixed in Born Again (1999) but initially recorded for Ready To Die but only the instrumental was included in the Advanced Press Copy of the album... So the song could have been recorded around the time of that promo. The song was published in an unofficial 12'' in 2008. Another version of the song with a different mixdown was released in Lord Finesse's Rare Selections Vol. 1 (2008), with written Demo 1993 on it. Sadat X has a whole different verse but the song is shorter...
• Who Shot Ya ? (Original), Sept.-Oct. 1994 (~). Prod. Nashiem Myrick, Poke & Puffy. 
• Biggie's original first verse - with small differences, ending dedicatory to the queen (Mary J) - was early leaked by Mister Cee, but the full Keith Murray's one came much later from an unknown source. It is said the two recorded in late summer of 94 for Mary J Blige album My Life (released the 29th of November 94), the promo of the album had Biggie's verse. but only very small parts of it (22 secs. of the instrumental in the intro and 22 secs. of Keith Murray's verse in the interlude). So the original Biggie verse was clearly written way before 2Pac was shot at the Quad studios... but Biggie chose to re-record the song with the same title and a very small difference, ending his first verse "Bad Boy's behind this"... How to not know it would be misinterpreted ?
• Stick-Up (First Take), Dec. 1992. Prod. Jesse West. 
• This version seems unfinished as a first take. Biggie uses the same verse than in "Gimme The Loot" first verse. Maybe he decided to re-use temporarily a verse from the song he recorded around that time, waiting to write a new one. And so he recorded a whole new verse for the final extended version with ODB and Capital LS.
• Let Me Get Down (Original), early 1994 (~). Prod. Easy Mo Bee. 
• Biggie said the song was originally intended for his album. This version was included in Craig Mack's Promo for his own album in 1994. It is said that during the same session, he (or they) recorded "Blazing Chronic" and eventually an unleaked "Feel The Funk". There is an alternate longer mix with alternate vocals by Craig Mack which is supposedly the first take of the song.
• Sprite Commercial, 1993-1994 (?). Unknown producer.
  

by Clarance Davis for Daily News, 94