''Born Again'' is the first posthumous

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

by American rapper the Notorious B.I.G., released by Bad Boy Records and

Arista Records Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainmen ...

on December 7, 1999. It is composed primarily of early recorded verses with newer beats and guest rappers. The album debuted at #1 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart with 485,000 albums sold in the first week, and was certified 2× Platinum by the

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

on January 14, 2000 and has sold over 2,350,000 copies in the United States. ''Born Again'' received generally mixed reviews from music critics.

Critical reception

The album generally received mixed reviews from critics. In a contemporary review for '' Rolling Stone'', Touré wrote that the "album won't damage his legacy. But ''Born Again'' won't improve that legacy much, either." Rob Sheffield later wrote in '' The Rolling Stone Album Guide'', "the posthumous ''Born Again'' proved Biggie was still dead, but his place in the MCs Hall of Fame remains untouchable."

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...

, who gave the release a "dud" rating, later wrote, "Remember that posthumous outtakes CD Bad Boy attributed to Biggie? No? Good then—it was foul, not just ill shit but stupid ill shit."

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. Notes * signifies a co-producer * signifies an additional producer * signifies a vocal producer * signifies the original producer Sample credits * "Notorious B.I.G." contains samples of "

Notorious Notorious means well known for a negative trait, characteristic, or action. It may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Notorious'' (1946 film), a thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock * ''Notorious'' (1992 film), a TV film re ...

", written by

John Taylor John Taylor, Johnny Taylor or similar may refer to: Academics *John Taylor (Oxford), Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, 1486–1487 *John Taylor (classical scholar) (1704–1766), English classical scholar *John Taylor (English publisher) (178 ...

, Nicholas Bates, and

Simon LeBon Simon John Charles Le Bon (born 27 October 1958) is a British singer. He is best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the new wave band Duran Duran and its offshoot Arcadia. Le Bon has received three Ivor Novello Awards from the Britis ...

; performed by

Duran Duran Duran Duran () are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer and bassist Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist John Taylor (bass guitarist), John Taylor. With the addition of drummer Roger ...

. * "Biggie" contains samples of "Hang Your Head in Shame", written by Wes Farrell and John Bahler, performed by New York City. * "Big Booty Hoes" contains samples of "Crab Apple" written by David Mathews, performed by

Idris Muhammad Idris Muhammad ( ar, إدريس محمد; born Leo Morris; November 13, 1939 – July 29, 2014) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He had an extensive career performing jazz, funk, R&B, and soul music and recorded with musicians such a ...

. It also contains samples of "Bust a Nut", written by Luther Campbell, Christopher Wallace, ,

Frankie Cutlass Frank Javiel Malave (born January 16, 1971), better known by his stage name Frankie Cutlass, is an American award- winning platinum DJ, Artist, Producer, Writer and Remixer from Harlem, New York, United States. He is best known for his hits "Pue ...

and

Allen Toussaint Allen Richard Toussaint (; January 14, 1938 – November 10, 2015) was an American musician, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was an influential figure in New Orleans rhythm and blues from the 1950s to the end of the century, descri ...

; performed by

Luke People *Luke (given name), a masculine given name (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Luke (surname) (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Luke the Evangelist, author of the Gospel of Luke. Also known as ...

. * "Come On" contains samples of "For Mama", written by Charles Aznavour, Don Black, and

Robert Gall Robert Gall (27 May 1918, in Saint-Fargeau, Yonne – 16 May 1990) was a French lyricist. He married Cécile Berthier, daughter of Paul Berthier, co-founder of Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois. Robert and Cécile are parents of singer Franc ...

; performed by

Doc Severinsen Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen (born July 7, 1927) is an American retired jazz trumpeter who led the NBC Orchestra on ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson''. Early life Severinsen was born in Arlington, Oregon, to Minnie Mae (1897–1998) a ...

. It also contains re-sung elements of "

Theme from Mahogany "Theme from ''Mahogany'' (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" is a song written by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin. It was initially recorded by American singer Thelma Houston in 1973, and then by Diana Ross as the theme to the 1975 Motown/Par ...

", written by

Gerry Goffin Gerald Goffin (February 11, 1939 – June 19, 2014) was an American lyricist. Collaborating initially with his first wife, Carole King, he co-wrote many international pop hits of the early and mid-1960s, including the List of Billboard number-one ...

and Michael Masser. * "Rap Phenomenon" contains samples of "Keep Your Hands High", written by Thom Bell, Roland Chambers, Kenneth Gamble, Ike Lee, Tracey Lee, and Christopher Wallace; performed by Tracey Lee. * "Let Me Get Down" contains samples of "Love Serenade", written and performed by Barry White. * "Tonight" contains samples of "Just Say Just Say", written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, performed by

Diana Ross Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown's most successful act during the 1960s and one of the world's best-selling girl groups o ...

and

Marvin Gaye Marvin Pentz Gay Jr., who also spelled his surname as Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo ar ...

. * "Who Shot Ya" contains samples of "I'm Afraid the Masquerade is Over", written by

Allie Wrubel Elias Paul "Allie" Wrubel (January 15, 1905 – December 13, 1973) was an American composer and songwriter. Biography Wrubel was born to a Jewish family in Middletown, Connecticut, United States, the son of Regina (née Glasscheib) and Isaac ...

and Herbert Magidson, performed by David Porter. * "Can I Get Witcha" contains samples of "Livin' It Up (Friday Night)", written and performed by

Bell and James Bell and James were an United States, American soul music, soul musical ensemble, group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania formed by LeRoy Bell (drums, guitar) and Casey James (guitar, bass guitar, bass, keyboard instrument, keyboards). Career Both ...

. * "I Really Want to Show You" contains samples of "Charisma", written by Ed Fox and Alan Scott, performed by Tom Browne.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{Authority control The Notorious B.I.G. albums 1999 albums Albums published posthumously Bad Boy Records albums Arista Records albums Albums produced by Sean Combs Albums produced by DJ Premier Albums produced by Mannie Fresh Albums produced by Nottz

Critical reception

Track listing

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

See also

References