Biggie’s ‘Ready To Die’ And Doug E. Fresh And Slick Rick’s ‘La-Di-Da-Di’ Enter The National Recording Registry

On Tuesday, Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, revealed the addition of 25 recordings to the National Recording Registry. In this year’s selection, hip-hop culture is celebrated with the inclusion of The Notorious B.I.G.’s culturally defining 1994 debut album Ready to Die and the iconic 1985 single “La-Di-Da-Di” by Doug E. Fresh and MC Ricky D. Ready to Die and “La-Di-Da-Di” are joining the 2024 National Recording Registry class alongside ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” Bill Wither’s “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Blondie’s “Parallel Lines,” and other recordings. In a statement, Hayden commended the 25 new titles for their significance in music history, describing them as valuable recordings recognized by the American public. “The Library of Congress is proud to preserve the sounds of American history and our diverse culture through the National Recording Registry,” said Hayden. “We have selected audio treasures worthy of preservation with our partners this year, including a wide range of music from the past 100 years, as well as comedy. We were thrilled to receive a record number of public nominations and we welcome the public’s input on what we should preserve next.” (L-R) English American rapper and record producer Slick Rick and Barbados-born American rapper, … [+] record...