We were looking for producers hot enough to improve on perfection: in other words, Ready to Die 2004. Easy Mo Bee said he knew some people...

On September 13th, 1994, the Notorious B.I.G.’s monumental debut was released; Ready to Die changed how hip-hop albums were produced. It balanced smooth R&B melodies and hard-core, b-boy beats. Hip-hop mogul Sean “Puffy” Combs crafted the album’s most commercially viable joints, while veteran producer Easy Mo Bee provided its gangsta backbone, with his deep bass lines and signature boom-bap drum patterns. What if, 10 years later, a remixed version of the original classic was released? An album combining Big’s most celebrated verses with the hottest beats from hip-hop’s greatest producers. Today Mo Bee has been given the task of recruiting only the most worthy beatsmiths… “It was all a dream.”

Things Done Changed
Big’s lyrics on here are timeless; it reminds me of Marvin Gaye’s social commentary. I’d give this one to Dr. Dre.

Gimme the Loot
Give that to DJ Scratch, he really understands this hip-hop shit, plus his drums are crazy.

Machine Gun Funk
Get Just Blaze on that one, because I could’ve heard Big rapping on that “Public Service Announcement” [on Jay-Z’s The Black Album].











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