The Notorious B.I.G.

There's nothing in hip-hop that has the impact of Biggie's voice. Instantly familiar yet always awe-inspiring, his deep baritone is the sonic equivalent of a mean mug, seemingly sneering at his enemies and critics. But there is also a sensuality there. While it's hard to believe a 300-pound, cross-eyed ex-crack dealer from Brooklyn could be a sex symbol, "Big Poppa" and "One More Chance" are among hip-hop's smoothest hustles, layering silk-sheet tenderness on top of swaggering braggadocio. This comp was released on the 10th anniversary of his death, and he'll be forever missed.

What's the point? If you like hip-hop, you probably already own the two albums Biggie
Smalls recorded during his lifetime, i.e. the great Life After Death and the greater Ready to
Die -- both of which this collection draws from while tossing in some "duets" and other
posthumous junk. If you're just getting started, buy those two classics, download the
Eminem-assisted "Dead Wrong" and you're good to go.