In the first episode of our new series, Elements, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ready To Die by The Notorious B.I.G.! You'll hear from those who were part of the album's creation—producers, engineers, and collaborators who helped craft its unique sound. We'll also bring you trusted voices from the community and people who lived the same experiences Biggie rapped about, offering a firsthand view into the world he depicted. And we'll hear from scholars who will deconstruct the social, political, intellectual, philosophical and psychological depths of Ready to Die.
Special guests include:
- Prince Charles Alexander (Recording Engineer and Lecturer who recorded several songs on the album)
- Donald Harrison (Legendary Jazz Saxophonist who taught Biggie about musical performance and poetic devices)
- Justin Tinsley (Journalist and Author of It Was All A Dream: Biggie & The World That Made Him)
- Shakir "Biz" Willis (Former Bad Boy Records Marketing Executive)
- Skyzoo (Rapper, Writer and Artist from Brooklyn who was one of Biggie's neighbours)
Join us as we unpack the human experience through the lens of one of hip-hop's greatest storytellers.
Produced by Sumit Sharma and Chris Mitchell for Breaking Atoms.
Special thanks to Dart Adams for linking us up with Prince Charles Alexander. Respect every time.
Connect with Breaking Atoms
Follow Sumit
Follow Chris
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.