Ranking the Best Songs on Notorious B.I.G.’s Life After Death

Twenty-five years ago today, I went to Camelot Music at Chesapeake Square Mall in Virginia to purchase what would be my favorite rap album of all time.

Two weeks earlier, the Notorious B.I.G. was murdered in Las Vegas, robbing us of future greatness. All we had left was, ironically, Life After Death – an album that would define Biggie’s career and reshape rap for generations.

Today, we’re putting a new spin on the Head to Head with Edd format. I’m joined by my good homie Troy Smith to rank and break down the tracks of one of rap’s most defining works.

Check out our song rankings from top to bottom below and sit back as we debate the best and worst of a 5-star classic.

Talk about your pick for best song.

Troy: “I Got A Story to Tell”

This is like picking a favorite child. I could have went with “Hypnotize,” “Notorious Thugs,” “Ten Crack Commandments” or “Kick In the Door” here. A different day of the week, it might be one of them. But I think “I Got a Story to Tell” is Biggie’s signature storytelling song, even beyond “Warning” from Ready to Die. Look at everything he covers in the first three minutes of the song. This is an emcee in complete control of his craft. It’s quite mind-boggling, considering half of us can’t tell stories this good, let alone one that rhymes. 

Edd: “What’s Beef”

I’ll tell y’all right now – I do a lot of rankings on this site and ranking this album probably was my most difficult challenge to day. I changed the order around at least five times and, like Troy, if you asked me to list the best songs tomorrow, you’ll likely get another order as well. But, as of today, the best track is “What’s Beef” for several reasons – Biggie’s storytelling is so vivid and visual (you can see your man passing the gat to BIG in your mind’s eye); it’s a masterclass in breath control and delivery (“Pardon my French, but uh/Sometimes I get kind of/Peeved at these weak MCs, with these” – EFFORTLESS); the haunting production is captivating; and then there’s the prophetic nature of the song itself, with BIG unable to escape the specter of the concept of beef in real life.

Who provided the best feature?

Troy: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

I’m tempted to go with Jay-Z here. His back and forth with B.I.G. is amazing on “I Love the Dough.” And shout out to Jadakiss for trying super hard to oudo Biggie on “Last Day.” But it’s Bone (and yes, I live in Cleveland). A lot gets made of how Biggie jacks Bone Thugs’ flow on “Notorious Thugs” and kills it (which he most certainly does). But the members of Bone are also on fire. When Bizzy Bone drops in on the second verse, get out the way! The entire songs gives you chills. 

Edd: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

It’s Bone and Biggie Biggie, playa, it’s Bone and Biggie Biggie. “Notorious Thugs” has become so synonymous with Big today that it’s hard to remember a time when such a collabo seemed unheard of. But I’m an old head so I remember very well. On paper this seemed like oil and water – Bone’s Barry Allen flows felt like the antithesis of BIG’s laid back delivery. But not only did they absolutely scorch the track, they encouraged Frank White to double time his own bars to keep it. The result is a classic.

What’s the best beat on the album?

Troy: “Kick in the Door”

When in doubt, go with a DJ Premier beat. I read a story once that Puff Daddy didn’t like the beat for “Kick In the Door” when he first heard it. He wanted something more like “Unbelievable.” Shame on you Puff (LOL). Premier’s beat is so menacing, fitting Biggie’s proclamation of being the king of the rap game perfectly. That beat is like the rap version of the opening scene from “The Godfather.” Kiss the ring. 

Edd: “Ten Crack Commandments”

An impossible question! This is another one that would have a different answer depending on the day of the week, but I’ll follow Troy’s lead and stick with Preemo – this time with “Ten Crack Commandments.” The production is so gritty – almost jarring – but it instantly pulls you in. Yet another classic moment in an album full of them.

Most underrated song goes to…

Troy: “Long Kiss Goodnight”

I’m not sure any song on this album is “underrated.” But “Long Kiss Goodnight” wasn’t a single and comes towards the end of a lengthy double album. But it’s one of my favorite Biggie tracks and one of his five best verses in my mind. Once I heard “I make yo mouthpiece obese like Della Reese,” it was a wrap.

Edd: “My Downfall”

I’m only going with “My Downfall” because of how high I ranked it on my list – which even surprised me. Carlos Broady is one of the unsung members of Puff’s Hitmen production squad and he crafted up an incredible backdrop for Big on this one. Biggie’s peers have been swiping bars from this track for decades (every rapper’s mom and pops mixed them with [add ingredients here], thanks to Biggie’s inspiration) and despite another stellar lyrical performance, this song is rarely mentioned among Big’s most notable works. Even the beat has been sampled multiple times. It’s much more influential that it gets credit for.

And what’s the most overrated song?

Troy: “Sky’s the Limit”

I know, I know. This is blasphemy no matter what I choose. But I like the hardcore rap side of Biggie more than anything and this album is dark. The big two big singles balance that out from a mainstream standpoint. So, I could do without “Sky’s the Limit.” It’s by no means a bad song. It’s just a little too happy for me. I prefer 112’s guest appearance on “Miss U” more anyway.  

Edd: “Hypnotize”

Y’all are gonna be pissed at me – like every day of the week ending with the letter “y” – but I’m gonna go with “Hypnotize.” NO, I’M NOT SAYING HYPNOTIZE IS TRASH. Far from it, I remember where I was when I first heard it (on my headphones while in the bathroom if you want to be exact with the TMI) and I love it. But since it was Biggie’s last real video appearance, I feel like it’s quality has been elevated a weeeeee bit higher than it deserves. It’s a really good single with a memorable video but it never felt as groundbreaking as it’s rep later portrayed it to be.

Which song deserved to be a single?

Troy: “I Love the Dough”

Had Biggie not been murdered, this surely would have been a single just to capitalize on the video opportunity (Someone call Hype Williams). B.I.G. would have been there for Jay-Z’s assent and a video with the two of them going back and for with iconic punchlines would have been historic. 

Edd: “I Love the Dough”

Yep, “I Love the Dough” for sure would have had some weirdly off-topic 1997 video, like Jay and Big as the dudes from Men in Black flying around in a Hype Williams spaceship or something. Also, “F*** You Tonight” seemed tailor-made for the Video Soul countdown, with some edits of course. They played a version on local Va radio called “Lovin’ You Tonight,” so there’s that.

Is this Biggie’s best album?

Troy: No, but it’s a close call. Ready to Die has a more historic feel, even though I’ll admit B.I.G. on Life After Death is, perhaps, the most complete emcee we have ever heard in the history of hip hop. The reality is while there are a couple tracks on Ready to Die that aren’t necessarily 10’s, there are a couple tracks on Life After Death I would remove entirely, including “Nasty Boy” and “Player Hater.” Both are skips upon repeat listening. Ready to Die is simply tighter. 

Edd: Troy and I have gone to war over this topic before and I gotta disagree with the homie CUZ HE’S WRONG – this is Biggie’s best work. By no means does that discredit Ready to Die though, a classic in its own right. The second half of that album just isn’t as air-tight as legend proclaims, while Life After Death, despite its heft, maintains consistency pretty much till the end. It’s by no means a perfect album (the two tracks Troy mentioned are among the missteps) but I think as an overall package it slightly edges out the debut.

Is this hip-hop’s best double album?

Troy: Yes. And it’s not really close. Out of respect, we tend to put 2Pac’s All Eyez on Me on the same level as Life After Death. But in reality that’s a stretch. All Eyez on Me has forgettable material (and the awfulness that is “What’s Your Phone #?”). Nothing on Life After Death is forgettable because of just how in the zone Biggie is. The features are astonishing, the hooks are incredible and the beats are undeniable. All Eyez on Me is a great album. But Life After Death just feels so methodical; the work of a true genius. 

Edd: Seriously, what comes close? Maybe Wu-Tang Forever? DEFINITELY not All Eyez On Me, but I’ll save my usual “Pac is overrated” rants for another forum. Take away the nostalgia, take away the emotional ties of this album dropping a mere two weeks after Biggie’s untimely death – from its concepts to its incredible consistency, this release is truly unmatched. I’ve also written in the past about how this LP helped drive the rise of the super-producer-helmed albums that we’d see for the next two decades. But this album’s greatest achievement is that we got to witness the greatest rapper of all time in his prime making this rap thing look so, so easy. A true hip-hop classic.

Whose ranking did you agree with more? Share your own ranking and Biggie memories below.