| Title | Year | Best For | |-------|------|-----------| | Greatest Hits | 2005 | Newcomers. Covers Ready to Die & Life After Death plus Dead Wrong and Nasty Boy. | | It’s Only a Game (Bootleg) | 1995 | Rare early freestyles & demos (unofficial, but historical). | | We Can’t Be Stopped (various artists) | 1998 | Includes Runnin’ (Dying to Live) with 2Pac (posthumous mashup). | | The King & I (with Faith Evans) | 2017 | Duets album with his widow – tasteful reworks of his vocals. |
"It was all a dream..." but the legacy Christopher Wallace left behind is very real.
In a career that spanned less than half a decade, The Notorious B.I.G. (aka Biggie Smalls) managed to redefine East Coast hip-hop, sell tens of millions of records, and establish a blueprint for lyrical storytelling that rappers still follow today. While his life was tragically cut short in 1997, his discography remains a flawless, compact timeline of genius.
Let’s take a trip through the official studio albums that cemented Biggie as the greatest of all time.
If you only have 1 hour:
Ready to Die (front to back) → Ten Crack Commandments → Notorious Thugs → Juicy → Hypnotize → Dead Wrong.
If you want the storytelling:
Gimme the Loot → Somebody’s Gotta Die → Suicidal Thoughts → You’re Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You).
If you want the hits:
Juicy → Big Poppa → Hypnotize → Mo Money Mo Problems → One More Chance (Remix).
The story of Christopher Wallace is one of extreme highs and devastating lows. While his physical life ended in 1997, his music lives through every bar spit by every rapper from Brooklyn to Brisbane. Whether you are a new fan listening to "Juicy" for the first time or a veteran reciting "The Ten Crack Commandments" by heart, the Notorious B.I.G. - Biggie Smalls - discography remains the golden standard.
Put on your headphones, press play on Ready to Die, and remember: It was all a dream. The Notorious B.I.G. -Biggie Smalls- - Discogra...
Do you think Biggie’s two albums are better than artists with ten albums? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The Notorious B.I.G. , born Christopher Wallace, left a monumental mark on hip-hop despite a solo career that lasted only a few short years. His discography is defined by unmatched storytelling, a smooth, laid-back flow, and a significant commercial impact that continues decades after his death in 1997. Core Studio Albums
Biggie's primary musical legacy rests on two foundational albums:
Ready to Die (1994): His debut transformed Bad Boy Records into a dominant force in rap. It features iconic tracks like "Juicy" and "Big Poppa". In 2024, the album was added to the National Recording Registry for being "historically significant".
Life After Death (1997): Released just 16 days after his death, this double album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. It achieved rare RIAA Diamond certification (over 10 million copies sold) and produced number-one hits like "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money Mo Problems". Posthumous Releases & Compilations
Since his passing, several projects have curated his unreleased verses and collaborations:
The story of Christopher Wallace , known as The Notorious B.I.G. Biggie Smalls
, is a quintessential hip-hop arc: a rapid rise from the streets of Brooklyn to global superstardom, cut tragically short just as he reached his peak. His discography, though brief, remains the gold standard for storytelling and lyrical flow in East Coast rap. Ready to Die | Title | Year | Best For |
Biggie’s journey began in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, where he honed his skills on street corners before catching the attention of Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs with a demo tape. His debut studio album, Ready to Die
, released on September 13, 1994, became an instant classic.
: It is credited with revitalizing East Coast hip-hop during an era dominated by West Coast "G-Funk". Key Themes
: The album featured a gritty, semi-autobiographical narrative of street life, punctuated by hits like "Juicy" and "Big Poppa". : It has sold over 6.3 million copies
and is often cited as one of the greatest rap albums of all time. The Climax: Life After Death Biggie’s sophomore effort, Life After Death
, was released on March 25, 1997, just sixteen days after his murder in Los Angeles.
The discography of The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) is defined by two legendary studio albums—one released during his life and one shortly after his death—followed by several posthumous collections that expanded his legacy. Essential Studio Albums
Ready to Die (1994): Biggie’s debut and the only album released while he was alive. It is widely considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, featuring classic tracks like "Juicy" and "Big Poppa". "It was all a dream
Life After Death (1997): Released just two weeks after his death, this massive double album debuted at number one and earned Diamond certification. It includes chart-topping hits like "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money Mo Problems". Posthumous & Compilation Albums
After his passing, several projects were released by Bad Boy Records using previously unreleased verses and new collaborations.
Born Again (1999): The first full posthumous collection, featuring remixed beats and guests like Eminem and Method Man.
Duets: The Final Chapter (2005): A star-studded tribute album pairing Biggie’s verses with contemporary artists like Jay-Z, Nelly, and Snoop Dogg.
Greatest Hits (2007): A definitive collection for casual listeners, featuring his most popular singles along with a few unreleased tracks.
The King & I (2017): A collaborative album with his widow, Faith Evans, featuring a mix of duets and rare recordings. Discography Summary Table Album Title Key Tracks Ready to Die "Juicy", "Big Poppa", "Warning" Life After Death "Hypnotize", "Mo Money Mo Problems" Born Again Posthumous "Dead Wrong", "Notorious B.I.G." Duets: The Final Chapter Posthumous "Nasty Girl", "Spit Your Game" Greatest Hits Compilation "Who Shot Ya?", "Unbelievable" The King & I Collaboration "NYC", "Legacy"
When discussing the pantheon of Hip-Hop royalty, one name is consistently placed at the very summit: Christopher Wallace, known universally as The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls. Despite a career that was tragically cut short after just two studio albums, his discography remains one of the most revered and studied in music history. To explore the Notorious B.I.G. - Biggie Smalls - discography is to take a masterclass in lyricism, storytelling, and raw emotional vulnerability.
In this comprehensive guide, we will break down every official release, posthumous compilation, and guest feature that solidifies Biggie’s legacy as the greatest rapper of all time (G.O.A.T.).
Following his death, several albums were constructed from demo tapes, unreleased verses, and guest appearances. These vary in quality due to the production often being modernized or changed to fit current trends.
No deep dive into the Notorious B.I.G. - Biggie Smalls - discography is complete without acknowledging his legendary guest verses. Biggie never lost when he stepped on a track.