Biggie's Lost Tracklist: Uncovering the Secrets of "Life After Death"

In a surprising turn of events, the original tracklist for The Notorious B.I.G.'s iconic album "Life After Death" has surfaced, revealing a treasure trove of previously unheard songs and unexpected collaborations.

The tracklist, unearthed by the Instagram account 92 Bricks, stems from a January 1997 listening party for the album, which was originally titled "Life After Death... Til Death Do Us Part." Attendees at the event were treated to a total of 28 tracks, four more than the 24 that eventually made it onto the final version of the album.

Among the previously unheard gems are "Once Upon a Time" featuring Fat Joe, "Stayin' Alive," and untitled tracks produced by RZA, Easy Mo Bee, and DJ Clark Kent. There's also a song called "Spanish Fly," which is most likely an early version of the track of the same name from Black Rob's 2000 album "Life Story."

The original tracklist also shows that some of the songs that did appear on "Life After Death" were listed under different names. For instance, "Comin' Out" featuring Ma$e became "Mo Money Mo Problems" (which sampled Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out"), "Bones Track" became the Bone Thugs-N-Harmony-assisted "Notorious Thugs," and "Mo Bounce" became "Going Back to Cali."

The revelation of this lost tracklist has sparked a renewed interest in the making of one of the most celebrated albums in hip-hop history. It's a tantalizing glimpse into the creative process behind "Life After Death" and the wealth of material that Biggie had in the works before his untimely passing.

Furthermore, this discovery lends credence to Fat Joe's previous claims that he and Biggie had plans to collaborate on an entire album together. According to Joe, the two had recorded around five songs, with the intention of even including diss tracks aimed at Biggie's then-rival, 2Pac.

As the hip-hop community continues to celebrate the enduring legacy of The Notorious B.I.G., this unearthed tracklist serves as a reminder of the immense talent and creativity that was cut short far too soon. It's an exciting prospect to imagine what other hidden gems may still be lurking in the vaults, waiting to be discovered and shared with the world.