Neither a tribute album nor a best-of project, Born Again amasses several cuts, verses, outtakes, and guest appearances themselves necessary to flesh-out tracks: one Francis M. White didn't leave too many unfinished masterpieces behind for the vultures to prey upon. Guest stars on Born include some help from a who's who of today's hot hip-hoppers: Meth and Red, Hot Boys and Big Tymers, Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes, Nas, Mobb Deep, Too $hort and Eminem.
Sticking out like areola on a cold day teased to attention by a brisk breeze are the Puff Daddy and Lil' Kim tracks "Notorious" and the ironic "Would You Die for Me." Lil' Cease navigates the verses on "Can I Get Witcha" and Junior M.A.F.I.A. checks in on the thoroughly satisfying title cut. The album's centerpiece, however, is "If I Should Die Before I Wake," featuring the storytelling tactics of Black Rob, (the underrated, for now) Beanie Sigel, and a reinvigorated Ice Cube, sounding more refreshed--and retro--than he has in some time, unifying and reverent in one tight verse.
Born Again is not the album that Big was conceptualizing when he passed. Nor is it some hodgepodge or mishmash of crudely thrown together demos or a "best of" collection--that's probably comin' soon. It is a reminder of the considerable talent and personality the young Christopher Wallace was able to focus on and reveal in his short life. He died for what he lived, and that was his music--this music. What a price to pay.
The Notorious B.I.G.: All recordings courtesy of Bad Boy Entertainment. ÒNotorious B.I.G.Ó written by C. Wallace, S. Combs, K. Jones, D. Vanderpool, J.Taylor, S. LeBon and N. Rhodes, courtesy of Big Poppa Music, Justin Combs Publishing, administered by EMI-April Music, Inc./Colgems-EMI Music Inc. (ASCAP)/Essential Vibe Music/Janice Combs Publishing, administered by EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc./Undeas Music, administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI). ÒDead WrongÓ written by O. Harvey Jr. and C. Wallace, courtesy of Bee Mo Easy Music, administered by EMI-April Music, Inc./Big Poppa Music, Justin Combs Publishing, administered by EMI-April Music, Inc. (ASCAP). ÒIf I Should Die Before I Wake,Ó written by D. Angelette, R. Ross, E. Matlock, H. Charlemange, O. Jackson and D. Grant, courtesy of Deric Angelette Music, administered by EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc./Diamond Rob Music, Justin Combs Publishing, administered by EMI-April Music Inc./Coptic Soundstation/Johnny Handsome Music (BMI)/Gangsta Boogie Music/WB Music Corp./Shakur Aldin Music Publishing (ASCAP).
