"Kick in the Door" is directed at Nas, Raekwon, Jeru the Damaja, Ghostface Killah and even the track's producer DJ Premier according to speculative listeners. It should be noted that many songs on both discs contain subtle references to B.I.G.'s rivals. Jay-Z borrows four bars from "The World Is Filled." in his song " I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)," as well as the chorus from his song "Squeeze 1st" from " Hypnotize" and a line in "The Ruler's Back" from "Kick in the Door." Ice Cube borrows the chorus from his song "Child Support" from "Kick in the Door." Evidence's "Down in New York City" is essentially "Going Back to Cali" from the perspective of a West Coast artist.
Various artists were specifically influenced by several songs on Life After Death. However, other notable hip-hop producers such as DJ Premier and RZA contributed beats to the album as well. Much of the album is produced by Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Carlos "July Six" Broady, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, and Nashiem Myrick. is often credited with initiating this transition, as he was among the first mainstream rappers to produce albums with a calculated attempt to include both gritty and realistic gangsta narratives as well as more radio-friendly productions. After the release of Life After Death, Puff Daddy’s Bad Boy Records continued to bring pop and gangsta rap closer together: the references to violence and drug dealing remained, as did the entire "gangsta" rhetoric, but the overall production style changed from the previously darker sound to a cleaner, sample-heavy, more upbeat sound that was directly fashioned for the mainstream pop charts, as seen in the single "Mo Money Mo Problems". Though released in the wake of B.I.G.'s fatal shooting, Life After Death signaled a stylistic change in gangsta rap as it crossed over to the commercial mainstream. Two weeks prior to the album's release, The Notorious B.I.G. West Coast rivalry and made guest appearances on albums by Jay-Z and Luke amongst others. had married Faith Evans, become East Coast's icon in the East Coast vs. One year prior to the album's release, The Notorious B.I.G. Interlude", "Miss U", " Mo Money Mo Problems", "Playa Hater", "Another", " Sky's the Limit", "Nasty Boy", "Going Back to Cali", "You're Nobody (Til' Somebody Kills You)", and "Fucking You Tonight" (re-titled as "Lovin' You Tonight"). The Edited Version of this CD is only one disc and only has the songs: " Hypnotize", " Notorious Thugs", "I Love the Dough", "B.I.G. The Album was nominated for 3 Grammy's in 1998 including Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance for "Hypnotize" and Best Rap Performance for a Duo or Group for "Mo Money, Mo Problems". It was certified diamond by the RIAA in 2000 and is 1 of 7 hip-hop albums that has this status. Kelly, The Lox, Faith Evans, Too Short, DMC, Carl Thomas, Ma$e & Puff Daddy, among others, the album cemented Biggie's legacy as one of hip hop's most respected and successful Emcees, and is remembered as a classic of Mafioso rap. Featuring collaborations with 112, Jay-Z, Lil Kim, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, R. The album featured B.I.G.’s mafioso crime kingpin character living a Scarface/ Casino-esque lifestyle (as opposed to Ready to Die, in which Biggie rapped about life as a young street hustler) while making numerous references to theatrical crime thrillers. B.I.G.'s brief career was cut short by his murder on Majust before the release of Life After Death. A double album that acts as a sequel of sorts to Ready to Die (1994), Life After Death received a great deal of critical praise, if not quite on the same level as his debut. (also known as Biggie Smalls) and was released posthumously on Ma(see 1997 in music).
Life After Death (Originally titled "Life After Death.'Till Death Do Us Part") is the Grammy Nominated second album by East Coast rapper The Notorious B.I.G.