Life After Death cover art

  Studio Album · No. 2

Life After Death Songwriting Credits by The Notorious B.I.G.

1997 Bad Boy Records 24 tracks 109 min

Produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs, Stevie J, Nashiem Myrick, Carlos Broady, Easy Mo Bee, DJ Premier, Buckwild, RZA, Clark Kent, Havoc, KayGee, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Ron Lawrence

Bad Boy Records East Coast Hip-HopGangsta RapHardcore Hip-Hop
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 24 of 24 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 24 / 24 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 24 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Notorious B.I.G. carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
24 trackswritten by The Notorious B.I.G. 0 tracksoutside writers
The Notorious B.I.G.'s roles on this album

Share of the 24 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer8%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

24
Tracks
13
Lyricists
17
Producers
2
No.1 Singles
10 million
US Copies Sold
1997
Released
Data Insight

Life After Death keeps Biggie alone in the lyricist column on his solo tracks and adds the featured rappers, Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, the Lox, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, and others, who wrote their own guest verses. The composer credits are among the widest in the catalog because the double album draws on dozens of samples and interpolations: every track lists his legal name Christopher Wallace beside the producers and the original writers of the sampled records, from the Chic-sampling 'Mo Money Mo Problems' to the Dramatics-sampling 'Somebody's Gotta Die.'

Life After Death is the second studio album by The Notorious B.I.G., released in March 1997 as a double album on Bad Boy Records, sixteen days after Biggie was shot and killed in Los Angeles. Expansive and varied, it ranges from hardcore street records to polished crossover hits, with guests including Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Mase, R. Kelly, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Sean Combs again executive produced, with a deep roster of producers including Stevie J, Nashiem Myrick, Carlos Broady, DJ Premier, RZA, and Easy Mo Bee. Biggie wrote his own verses across all twenty-four tracks, with featured rappers writing their guest verses and the wide composer credits reflecting the album's sampled foundations. The singles 'Hypnotize' and 'Mo Money Mo Problems' both topped the Billboard Hot 100, and the album is certified diamond.

Track Listing & Credits 24 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Life After Death Intro
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceSean CombsSteven Jordan Sean "Puffy" CombsStevie JThe Notorious B.I.G. The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)
2
Somebody's Gotta Die
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceSean CombsNashiem MyrickCarlos BroadyAnthony Hester Nashiem MyrickCarlos "July Six" BroadySean "Puffy" Combs The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)
3
Hypnotize #1
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceSean CombsDeric AngelettieRon LawrenceAndy ArmerRandy AlpertRicky WaltersDouglas Davis Deric "D-Dot" AngelettieRon LawrenceSean "Puffy" Combs The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)
4
Kick in the Door
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceJalacy HawkinsChristopher Martin DJ Premier The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)
5
Fuck You Tonight
The Notorious B.I.G.R. Kelly Christopher WallaceSean CombsDaron JonesRobert Kelly Daron JonesSean "Puffy" Combs The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)R. Kelly (Featured Vocals)
6
Last Day
The Notorious B.I.G.JadakissStyles P Christopher WallaceSean CombsJason PhillipsDavid StylesKejuan Muchita HavocSean "Puffy" CombsStevie J The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)The Lox (Featured Vocals)
7
I Love the Dough
The Notorious B.I.G.Jay-Z Christopher WallaceOsten HarveyAngela WinbushRené MooreShawn Carter Easy Mo Bee The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)Jay-Z (Featured Vocals)Angela Winbush (Featured Vocals)
8
What's Beef?
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceNashiem MyrickCarlos BroadySean CombsBurt BacharachHal David Carlos BroadyNashiem Myrick The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)
9
B.I.G. Interlude
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceDeric Angelettie The Notorious B.I.G.Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)
10
Mo Money Mo Problems #1
The Notorious B.I.G.MasePuff Daddy Christopher WallaceSteven JordanSean CombsMason BethaBernard EdwardsNile Rodgers Sean "Puffy" CombsStevie J The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)Mase (Featured Vocals)Puff Daddy (Featured Vocals)Kelly Price (Featured Vocals)
11
Niggas Bleed
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceNashiem MyrickSean CombsSteven JordanCarlos Broady Nashiem MyrickCarlos BroadySean "Puffy" CombsStevie J The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)
12
I Got a Story to Tell
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceSean CombsCarl ThompsonAnthony Best BuckwildChucky ThompsonSean "Puffy" Combs The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)
13
Notorious Thugs
The Notorious B.I.G.Layzie BoneKrayzie BoneBizzy Bone Christopher WallaceSean CombsSteven JordanSteven HowseAnthony HendersonBryon McCane Stevie JSean "Puffy" Combs The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (Featured Vocals)
14
Miss U
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceKeir GistLionel RichieDarren Lighty KayGee The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)112 (Featured Vocals)
15
Another
The Notorious B.I.G.Lil' Kim Christopher WallaceSean CombsSteven JordanKimberly JonesBarbara MasonNorman IngramStanley Gelber Sean "Puffy" CombsStevie J The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)Lil' Kim (Featured Vocals)
16
Going Back to Cali
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceOsten HarveyRoger Troutman Easy Mo Bee The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)
17
Ten Crack Commandments
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceChristopher MartinKhary Turner DJ Premier The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)
18
Playa Hater
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceSean CombsSteven JordanWilbert Hart Sean "Puffy" CombsStevie J The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)
19
Nasty Boy
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceSean CombsSteven Jordan Sean "Puffy" CombsStevie J The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)
20
Sky's the Limit #4
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceSean CombsRodolfo FranklinRobert CaldwellHubert EavesJames Williams Clark Kent The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)112 (Featured Vocals)
21
The World Is Filled...
The Notorious B.I.G.Too ShortPuff Daddy Christopher WallaceDeric AngelettieSean CombsMason BethaKitt WalkerTodd ShawAsha Goldschmidt Deric "D-Dot" AngelettieSean "Puffy" Combs The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)Too Short (Featured Vocals)Puff Daddy (Featured Vocals)Carl Thomas (Featured Vocals)
22
My Downfall
The Notorious B.I.G.DMC Christopher WallaceNashiem MyrickCarlos BroadySean CombsDarryl McDaniels Carlos BroadyNashiem MyrickSean "Puffy" Combs The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)DMC (Featured Vocals)
23
Long Kiss Goodnight
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceRobert Diggs RZA The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)
24
You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)
The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher WallaceSean CombsSteven JordanBilly PrestonEphrem LopezGeorge JohnsonJean Louhisdon Sean "Puffy" CombsStevie J The Notorious B.I.G. (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 86 contributors

TN
The Notorious B.I.G.
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album24 written
CW
Christopher Wallace
Writer
On this album24 written
SC
Sean Combs
Writer
On this album17 written
SJ
Steven Jordan
Writer
On this album8 written
NM
Nashiem Myrick
Writer · Producer
On this album4 written
CB
Carlos Broady
Writer · Producer
On this album4 written
DA
Deric Angelettie
Writer
On this album3 written
CM
Christopher Martin
Writer
On this album2 written
MB
Mason Betha
Writer
On this album2 written
OH
Osten Harvey
Writer
On this album2 written
PD
Puff Daddy
Writer · Vocals
On this album2 written
DJ
Daron Jones
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written

More from The Notorious B.I.G.

1994 100%
Ready to Die
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17 tracksProd. Sean "Puffy" Combs

Frequently Asked Questions Life After Death

Who wrote The Notorious B.I.G.'s Life After Death?
Biggie wrote his own verses on all twenty-four tracks. The featured rappers, including Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, the Lox, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, wrote their own guest verses, and the wider composer credits add the producers and the original writers of every sampled record.
Who produced Life After Death?
Sean 'Puffy' Combs executive produced it, with production from Stevie J, Nashiem Myrick, Carlos Broady, DJ Premier, RZA, Easy Mo Bee, Buckwild, Clark Kent, Havoc, KayGee, and others.
Is Life After Death a double album?
Yes. It was released as a double album of twenty-four tracks, his last record completed before his death.
What are the biggest singles from Life After Death?
'Hypnotize' and 'Mo Money Mo Problems' both reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, the second posthumously.
Why do the songs list so many writers?
Most tracks are built on samples and interpolations of soul, funk, disco, and R&B records, so the original songwriters of those samples are credited alongside Biggie and the producers.
When was Life After Death released?
It came out on March 25, 1997, sixteen days after Biggie was murdered in Los Angeles.
How well did Life After Death sell?
It is certified diamond in the United States, with over ten million copies sold.

Sources

Wikipedia: Life After Death MusicBrainz: Life After Death (release group) Cover Art Archive: Life After Death Cover Art Archive: Life After Death by The Notorious B.I.G.