• Ready To Die Lyrics

Ready to Die is the debut studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released on September 13, 1994 by Bad Boy and Arista Records. The album features production by Bad Boy founder Sean 'Puffy' Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, DJ Premier, and Lord Finesse, among others.

Ready To Die Lyrics

. ' Released: October 7, 2011. ' Released: December 30, 2011.

' Released: April 8, 2012. ' Released: June 22, 2012. ' Released: July 6, 2012. ' Released: March 1, 2013 Born to Die is the second and major label debut by American singer-songwriter. It was released on January 27, 2012.

Del Rey collaborated with producers including, and to achieve her desired sound. Their efforts resulted in music that incorporated elements of,.

After attaining online success after its initial premiere on June 29, 2011, ' was released as the from Born to Die on October 7, 2011; it peaked at number ninety-one on the US. Its follow-up singles ', ', ', ', ', and ' achieved varying levels of success. French producer ' remix of 'Summertime Sadness' was released on July 11, 2013 and became Del Rey's highest-charting single in the United States, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Del Rey promoted Born to Die with several televised performances, including a widely condemned appearance on. The album was on November 9, 2012 as an expanded version subtitled, which was packaged with Del Rey's third (2012). Born to Die has sold 7 million copies worldwide as of June 2014. Born to Die received generally mixed reviews from music critics; some commended its distinctive production, however, its repetitiveness and melodramatic tendencies were a recurring complaint.

The album debuted at number two on the US with first-week sales of 77,000 copies; it was later certified by the (RIAA) after selling one million units. According to the (IFPI), Born To Die was the fifth global best-selling album of 2012. Born to Die reached the peak positions on eleven international. As of January 2018, Born to Die is one of only three albums released by a female artist to have spent more than 300 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. Contents.

Background and development In 2007, Elizabeth 'Lizzy' Grant signed a recording contract with the 5 Point Records, and began planning for her debut studio album. However, after hiring new management services, taking an interest in adopting the Lana Del Ray, and a perceived lack of motivation during production, she found herself in conflict with the record label and her producer. The final product, was digitally released in January 2010, and her stage name was respelled Lana Del Rey shortly after its launch. Grant was successfully bought out of her recording contract upon the request of her manager; consequently, Lana Del Ray was pulled out of circulation before physical versions were produced. After settling with her current stage name, Del Rey signed a recording contract with Stranger Records in June 2011, and released the track '. Initially, she had released the song because it was her 'favorite' and had no intentions of releasing it as a, although the video went on after its premiere.

During an appearance on the French television series in November 2011, Del Rey announced that her second studio album would be titled Born to Die. The photograph used on the cover for Born to Die was shot by Nicole Nodland, while Del Rey and David Bowden oversaw the overall direction for its packaging. On behalf of, Dale Eisinger ranked the cover eighth on the magazine's list of 'The 50 Best Pop Album Covers of the Past Five Years', commending its usage of the typeface Steelfish and speaking favorably of the 'ominous' feeling it evoked, which he credited to 'the shadows or whatever the shapes in the background are and how properly Lana can affect her detached and still-flawless persona to a simple gaze'. The album's track listing was announced on January 9, 2012, while the record itself was released on January 31 in the United States; it became Del Rey's major-label debut after she secured a distribution arrangement with.

Composition. A 22-second sample of the song's chorus, features Del Rey incorporating a persona over a 'lush-strings-meet-hard-beats' background. Problems playing this file? In regard to the style of her vocals on the album, Del Rey stated: 'people weren't taking me very seriously, so I lowered my voice, believing that it would help me stand out. Now I sing quite low. Well, for a female anyway'. The singer's first singles, 'Video Games' and 'Born to Die' were described variously as 'quasi-cabaret balladry', 'woozy and sometimes soporific soundtrack soul', and 'pop'.

Del Rey described 'Video Games' as 'Hollywood sadcore'. Tim Lee of noted the songs are extremely similar, commenting that 'her (alleged) agents clearly having stumbled upon a formula with which they can (allegedly) print money and (allegedly) further consign Lana's secretive, (allegedly) real debut LP to the annals of history. You didn't hear it from us, right?' Del Rey was described as a 'gangsta ', although she cites, and as her musical influences.

When asked about her musical style, Del Rey stated: I would have loved to be part of the indie community. But I wasn't. I was looking for a community, I don't even know any people who are musicians. I never met that indie popular indie, whoever the fuck that is. Who IS indie?

First of all, I can't really get my head around what indie music is. Because if you've heard of it, it's sort of pop music, right? Because it's, like, popular? Or is it just that it's not on the radio?

It's not like I was in an indie community and then I blew up. It's like, I was living on the street and I'm not – like, for real, you know what I'm saying?

The lyrics of ' have been described as 'a freak show of inappropriate co-dependency', with a chorus that recalls 's 'down and out drunken loner persona' in her 1994 single '. Pryia Elan of noted that the track 'almost falls under the weight of this persona. There's none of 'Video Games ' measured, piano-led reflection. Instead the psychosexual rumblings of the lyrics and the dual voices she uses off set the comparatively simple musical shades on display.' Del Rey's vocals on 'Off to the Races', ', and 'Diet Mountain Dew' were described as 'chatty' and 'almost rapping'. Del Rey's vocals on 'Million Dollar Man' were likened to those of 'a highly medicated '.

Compared to soundtracks for films, Born to Die contains beats and a cinematic sound reminiscent of the 1950s. Thematically, Born to Die refers to sex and drugs, with Del Rey playing a -esque persona.

Bill Lamb, a reviewer at, wrote that 'National Anthem' 'seems lost in a messy blend of money, sex, and corporate greed, but it is the rousing yet graceful arrangement that solidifies the song's point of view as a clever critique of a society that is just as messy as these words'. 'National Anthem', Lamb says, fits into the lyrical structure of Born to Die in that the theme, as a whole, is that of a 'bitter, albeit narcotized, criticism of all of the wealth and emotional artifice Lana Del Rey is accused of embracing'. Observed that Del Rey sings like a 'perfect mannequin' on 'National Anthem', criticizing the track for baldly revisiting the beat-driven chorus of '. Promotion.

Del Rey performing during a promotional concert held in Amsterdam, 2011. 'Video Games' was featured for the first time on 's on September 28, 2011 during a pivotal scene, propelling Del Rey into the mainstream. Del Rey also promoted the album with performances in a number of live appearances, including for, and at the, where, according to Eliot Glazer of New York, 'the polarizing indie hipstress brought her 'gangsta Nancy Sinatra' swagu'.

Matthew Perpetua of commented that, despite Del Rey being nervous and anxious while performing her songs live, she 'sang with considerable confidence, though her transitions from husky, come-hither sexuality to bratty, girlish petulance could be rather jarring'. Del Rey also performed 'Video Games' on Dutch television program, on British music television show, and on a show at in. Del Rey also gave several interviews for newspapers and online magazines such as, and, while creating her own music videos for several tracks such as 'Blue Jeans' and 'Off to the Races'. On January 14, 2012, Del Rey appeared on to perform 'Blue Jeans' and 'Video Games'. Her performance soon came under scrutiny, and was criticized by anchor, who referred to the performance as 'the worst in SNL history'.

Hosts and came to her defense, with the latter stating that the criticism towards her was less about the performance and more about 'her past and her family'. Ringer played another Del Rey song, 'Blue Jeans', on February 14, 2012 during the last scene of episode 13. 'I feel like 'Video Games' and 'Blue Jeans' and 'Born to Die' are all like part of a trilogy; I had met this guy and I was really struck by him visually and when it became clear that we couldn't be together anymore, I just knew in my heart that I would still honor that relationship for a long time.

It was just more about living in the memories of the best of the past and just honoring that time.' —Lana Del Rey ' was released as Del Rey's debut single on October 10, 2011. The song received mostly positive reviews from critics, who praised Del Rey's vocals and considered it as one of the best songs of 2011. 'Video Games' attained worldwide success, reaching number one in Germany and top-ten positions in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Netherlands, Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

An accompanying music video, directed and edited by Del Rey, contained video clips of skateboarders, cartoons, shots from old afties, and paparazzi footage of falling down while intoxicated. The music video helped increase Del Rey's online popularity. The second single and title track, ', was released as a digital download on December 30, 2011. The music video for it leaked on December 14, 2011, and was based on a concept created by the singer, while being directed.

Gave the music video a generally favorable review. Del Rey announced ' as the third single from the album following 'Video Games' and 'Born to Die'. It was officially released on April 6, 2012.

An accompanying music video, directed by, premiered around the web on March 19, 2012. ' was released as the fourth single on June 22, 2012.

The official music video was released on July 20, 2012. ' was announced as the fifth single and was released on July 6, 2012. The music video for 'National Anthem' was released on June 27, 2012.

' was released as the final single on March 1, 2013 only in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Poland. 'Radio' charted at number 67 in France.

'Without You' debuted at number 121 in the UK. ' was released as a promotional single in The Netherlands on January 6, 2012. A music video, directed by Del Rey, was released on December 22, 2011.

'Carmen' was released as a promotional single in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland on January 26, 2012. On February 27, 2012, Del Rey revealed through her Facebook profile that the video for the song 'Carmen' was shot and would be finished being edited that day. The video for 'Carmen' was released on April 21, 2012.

Critical reception Professional ratings Aggregate scores Source Rating 6.2/10 62/100 Review scores Source Rating C+ 8/10 5.5/10 6/10 At, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 62 based on 37 reviews, indicating 'generally favorable reviews'. This however makes Born to Die Del Rey's worst reviewed album to date, since all of her later albums were better received by critics. Jaime Gill of commented that the album 'isn't perfect', criticizing the production of songs such as 'Dark Paradise'. However, Gill concluded that Born to Die is the most distinctive debut album since 's released in 2008.

Writer Sal Cinquemani commented that several tracks had their production changed for the album, making tracks such as 'National Anthem' and 'This is What Makes Us Girls' less 'radio-friendly'. Cinquemani stated that, 'ironically, the album's sole weakness is the strength of its immaculate production, which can be a bit overwhelming over the course of 12 tracks.' Of said that Born to Die is 'beautifully turned pop music, which is more than enough', with most melodies 'constructed magnificently', while also stating that Del Rey 'doesn't have the lyrical equipment to develop a persona throughout the album.' Of the gave a negative review, and highly criticized the repetitive production.

Of declared that the lyrics, with their 'pop-trash perversity', were the strength of the album but that Del Rey had a voice that was 'pinched and prim' and that she 'wasn't ready to make an album yet'. Sheffield concluded, 'Given her chic image, it's a surprise how dull, dreary and pop-starved Born to Die is.'

Critic John Bush wrote: 'There is a chasm that separates 'Video Games' from the other material and performances on the album, which aims for exactly the same target—sultry, sexy, wasted—but with none of the same lyrical grace, emotional power, or sympathetic productions. An intriguing start, but Del Rey is going to have to hit the books if she wants to stay as successful as her career promised early on'. Channing Freeman of disliked the album, saying 'The worst thing about Born to Die is that even its great songs contain problems'.

's said that, unlike pop singers and and their 'hedonic outpourings', 'Lana Del Rey's partying is fuelled by a knowing sadness, and sung in that laconic, hypnotic voice, which ultimately saves this thoroughly dissolute, feminist nightmare of a record for the romantics among us'. 's Evan Rytlewski panned the album, calling it 'Shallow and overwrought, with periodic echoes of 's aloofness, the album lives down to the harshest preconceptions against pop music'. Randall Roberts of also noted that the singer's vocals have 'so much potential and yet are unrefined', and said that despite having stand out tracks like 'Summertime Sadness' and 'Dark Paradise', listening to the album 'has become tiring and woozy, like if you'd taken a half-dozen Ambiens when you'd put the record on – and now you're getting very, very sleepy'. 's Lindsay Zoladz commented: 'The album's point of view—if you could call it that—feels awkward and out of date. it never allows tension or complexity into the mix, and its take on ends up feeling thoroughly tame. For all of its coos about love and devotion, it's the album equivalent of a faked orgasm—a collection of torch songs with no fire'.

Alex Denney of gave a positive review, saying: 'Although it's not quite the perfect pop record 'Video Games' might have led us to wish for, Born To Die still marks the arrival of a fresh—and refreshingly self-aware—sensibility in pop.' Critics' lists Publication List Rank Ref. 50 Best Albums of 2012 45 The 50 Best Albums of 2012 19 Best Albums of 2012 17 Uncut 's Top 75 New Albums of 2012 51 The 20 Best Albums of 2010s (So Far) 20 The 50 Best Albums of 2012 4 Commercial performance In the United Kingdom, Born to Die sold 50,000 copies on its first day of release. It debuted at number one on the and sold 116,745 copies. By accumulating digital sales of 50,007, the album became the fifth album ever to sell upwards of 50,000 downloads in a single week. Additionally, it was the fastest selling album of 2012, becoming the first album to reach 100,000 copies sold in that year. Born to Die remained atop the chart in its second week, selling an additional 60,000 copies.

As of November 2013, the album had sold over 836,000 copies in the UK. In France, the album debuted at number one on the with sales of 48,791, whose 16,968 digital copies. The album remained at the top position the following week with 23,888 copies sold. As of June 2014, it has sold over 500,000 copies in France.

In New Zealand, the album debuted and peaked at number two on the charts, spending forty weeks in the chart. After the conjunction of, the album charted at number six. 'Born to Die' is the fifty-seventh best charting album of all time in New Zealand. In the United States, the album attained first-week sales of 77,000 copies, subsequently debuting at number two on the Billboard 200, behind 's, and shipped over 500,000 units in the country by January 2013, getting Gold certification. On the week ending August 31, 2013, though the album was over its 80th week on the chart, it re-entered the Top 20.

As of June 2014, Born to Die has sold 1,100,000 copies in the United States, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. In Italy, the album debuted at number five. The following week, it fell to number nine. In the first two weeks, the album sold 6,271 copies. As of June 2012, the album has sold 24,372 copies in Italy. After the re-release in November 2012, the album rose from 27 to 14.

The album has since been certified Gold. Following an iTunes discount, the album re-entered the iTunes Top 10 and jumped from 57 to 31 on the on the week-ending April 28, 2013. On the week-ending June 2, 2013, the album spent its seventieth week on the chart and fell ten spots to number 46. According to the (IFPI), Born to Die was the fifth global best-selling album of 2012 with sales of 3.4 million copies. As of January 2018, Born To Die is one of only three albums released by a female artist to have spent more than 300 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, along with 's and 's. Impact and controversy.

'It's common knowledge, at this point, that Lana Del Rey is Lizzy Grant's invented persona, an entirely new character that she created when her own music didn't seem to be going anywhere. But when 'Video Games' hit as hard and as early as it did, she suddenly had to rush out an album, and she didn't have the luxury of figuring out the different directions that this character could go.' —Tom Breihan of With the release of Born to Die, Del Rey became the main focus of attention of the press for her image as well as her music. Since her debut with 'Video Games', Del Rey had been causing many to begin to accuse her of trying to erase her past with a different type of songs and style. Considering the album's composition and her appearance, many tabloids began to question her authenticity and claim that her success was due only to her beauty. Also, speculation arose that Del Rey was just a character created by Lizzy Grant and pop music industry, with her label trying to get a place and audience within indie music. 's Kevin Lincoln commented that Lana was manufactured by her label and used 'Video Games' as a form of advertising.

In defense of the singer, Jaime Gill from wrote: 'If you want an explanation for the unlikely rise of Lana Del Rey, it isn't that hard to find. Ignore accusations of cynical marketing and inauthenticity, or speculation about surgery and daddy's money – that's not important. And don't get distracted by statistics or the hyperbole, this isn't about new media. It's about something older and more mysterious than that; the extraordinary, resilient power of pop music'.

Sasha Frere Jones of came out in defense of the artist as well, writing: 'The weirder strain of criticism concerns authenticity. Detractors cite a variety of presumed conspiracies, some involving the influence of her father, Rob Grant. The rumor of manipulative managers guiding her; the reality of professional songwriters working for her.

and how Grant's top lip got so big so fast. Surely no equivalent male star would be subject of the same level of examination.' Sharing a similar view, Ann Lee wrote in: 'I know it's fun to slate Lana but she's got a great voice – that's a fact'. Sal Cinquemani of also proved to be in favor of Del Rey, declaring: 'I was initially puzzled by the accusations of inauthenticity that were hurled with such vehemence and frequency at Lana Del Rey in the wake of her meteoric rise to status last year. And I guess we're supposed to lament the fact that, unlike, she doesn't appear to have a predilection for dope or booze to back up her supposed bad-girl bona fides.

But since when exactly has 'authenticity' ever been a criterion in pop music?' Despite years of personal criticism, including her performance being considered one of the worst of all time, music magazines such as, and listed Born to Die among the best albums of its decade. Track listing Credits adapted from the liner notes of Born to Die. Born to Die – Standard edition No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length 1.