The latest CD release reviewed

NOTORIOUS BIG
Greatest Hits Bad Boy ***

Given all the cash-ins bearing the name of slain gangsta rappers, it's surprising that it took a decade for

a compilation to appear spanning the life and times of Christopher George Latore Wallace. Better still, this 17-strong set of Biggie's best bits is nowhere near as rubbish or as reprehensible as last year's barrel- scraping duets album (basically, Biggie on wax with people he never met). So P Diddy deserves some plaudits for refusing to pimp out his old pal like poor Tupac. While those seeking the best of Biggie the street hustler should check out his peerless Ready to Die debut, this collection does work as a decent intro if you skip over the new tracks and the ones from Duets. Both Big Poppa and Unbelievable are still thrilling, while Hypnotise possesses a crowd-moving fresh- ness that reminds you of what the big man gunned down in 1997 was capable of producing.

Download tracks: Hypnotise, Big Poppa