It's the 25th Anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.’s second & final studio album Life After Death, originally released March 25, 1997, and we are proud to release our next officially licensed, limited edition print by Anthony Petrie!
Only two weeks after receiving the news of Christopher Wallace’s death, grief now accompanied the anticipation for the long awaited follow-up to B.I.G.’s classic 1994 debut Ready to Die. With mixed emotions of enjoying B.I.G.’s signature lyricism and the expansive arrangement of the double LP, the experience of listening to the album was solemn, as the best moments solidified that we may have just lost the best to ever formulate rhyme schemes.
On the epic psychological urban drama Ready to Die, Biggie creatively meshed celebratory hustler anthems into the saga of a street level drug dealer whose mental deterioration leads to depression, and finds him frequently contemplating and ultimately committing suicide at the culmination of the album. With Life After Death, he returned to give listeners a view of his rebirth and new experiences after gaining success. Life’s tragic twist of irony would see the 24 year-old rap icon's life cut short before the release of his final display of brilliance.
Sky’s the Limit” challenges “Juicy” as the official autobiography of Christopher Wallace in his more mature recollection of his Brooklyn childhood:
“When I was young I had two pair of Lee’s, besides that / the pin stripes and the grey / the one I wore on Mondays and Wednesdays / While n****s flirt I’m sewing tigers on my shirt, and alligators / You wanna see the inside, I see ya later.”
Life After Death stands parallel with—and perhaps even eclipses—Ready to Die as the greatest testament to B.I.G.’s unmatched rhyming ability. If you are old enough to have lived through Life After Death’s posthumous release date of March 25, 1997, your memories are surely bittersweet. But in remembering the anticipation, controversy, and impact of this album, you’ll also recall that it is one of the salient moments that marked a shift in hip-hop culture and at its core, raised the bar sky high for lyricism and creativity. (article credit to Albumism)
I wanted to create a visual metaphor by depicting him receding into the darkness, and contrasted that with a vibrant-color patterned background representing his past. The artwork has references to some of his lyrics (“Hypnotize”), monikers (King of New York), and style, as well as various other graphic elements celebrating The Notorious B.I.G. and his music." -Anthony Petrie
Authenticity: Holographic sticker on back of print for authenticity
Leave a comment
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.