Swimming in the Neighbor's Pool: Why I Don't Call Biggie's 2nd Album a Classic

I guess its time for me to step on some fingers here, start a meaningless debate that'll probably, nay, SURELY go on forever with no resolution because people are going to angrily deny what I'm saying. Before we get to that point, however, allow me to remind people that the title statement is an opinion alone and everyone is entitled to theirs. With that being said:

This probably isn't the best time to say something like this, seeing as the decent (transcended MY expectations) biopic of the late great artist is still in full effect. I find it interesting that the soundtrack for the movie would be a much better "greatest hits" album than virtually anything Diddy put out later... but that's irrelevant. Allow me to step on some fingers with this statement: Life After Death is not a classic album in my opinion.

Before I get the hate mail and death threats, allow me to explain. Too many people, hopefully nobody there will be on this thread, like to consider Life After Death a classic for two reasons. For one, it was the last new material released before Biggie's death. It was fantastic material mind you, virtually flawless (slightly but noticeably flawed) but classic? Not to me.

Reason two: it was the Notorious B.I.G. A lot of people consider him one of the greatest, and with good reason, I do to, but I can't go so far as to call him the greatest. Some of these people (dick riders and stans for the most part) get all defensive and bitchy when they hear someone not call their favorite rapper the greatest, but when it comes to arguments the usual rebuttal is a verse. In all seriousness, that's not a real argument; it's an example of lyricism.

Case in point, I can't call Life After Death a classic. Do I consider Ready to Die a classic? Yes, I do, because there was something... gritty? Yes, gritty about that LP. Part of me doesn't approve of the pop/mainstream crossover appeal of the second LP, and the other part of me appreciates the nearly guest less aesthetic that Biggie commanded with his debut. I'm a fan of Mo Money, Mo Problems, Hypnotize, and others, but hey, that's where some contradiction comes into play.

The Notorious B.I.G. was known for storytelling, and I'll be damned if he didn't do so with both albums. First album: hustler. Second album: hustler turned mafioso boss. The production compliments that nicely, beautifully in fact. The beats were made to compliment the rise of the hustler, and that's cool. I like that.

HOWEVER, personal feelings keep me liking the grittier sound of Ready to Die much more. I'm not going to say one sounds more real than the other, but Ready to Die keeps a grittier feel to it.

Ultimately I can say I like the story of the hustler more than the story of the kingpin, and I'm not trying to intentionally step on any toes by calling the second album from the late great artist a non-classic, but it's all how I feel about it. So...

Now that I'm tied to a wooden post, surrounded by flammable material, I await the torches and pitchforks. Have at it!