2022 is a momentous year for the legacy of Christopher Wallace a/k/a The Notorious B.I.G. We will be celebrating his 50th birthday, as well as the 25th anniversary of his iconic posthumous release, Life After Death.

This day in Hip-Hop history 25 years ago, The Notorious B.I.G. released his second album, Life After Death. The double LP was released posthumously by Bad Boy Records. It was nominated for three Grammy’s for this project: Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance for “Hypnotize” and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Mo Money Mo Problems.”

Featuring artists like 112, Jay-Z, Lil’ Kim, Ma$e, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Too $hort, along with tracks like “Kick In The Door,” “What’s Beef,” “Notorious Thugs,” “Ten Crack Commandments” and “Sky’s The Limit,” it can be said that Life After Death is one of the greatest rap albums of all time.

The album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the US Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. It went diamond in the U.S. alone, double platinum in Canada, and platinum in the UK. Life After Death has also made appearances on top music charts across the globe. The album has been ranked by countless publications as one of the top rap and Hip-Hop albums of all time (The Source ranked it as #8 in 2005). In 2013, VIBE named Life After Death the greatest Hip-Hop/R&B album since 1993.