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It was never much of a contest, but with his second solo album, Puff Daddy retains his crown as the biggest ego in hip-hop, if not popular music. It's an arrogance that asserts itself in the over 20 pictures included in the album booklet (all with different poses and outfits) and in the opening track -- "Forever (Intro)" -- that updates listeners with all the sordid details of Puffy's personal life. With all this ego strutting around, Puffy's sizable production talents have consistently been underrated. The truth is, he's been one of the best hip-hop producers of the '90s, creator of countless solid party jams, heavy on the groove and quite creative for their crossover potential. Though most of the tracks on Forever are co-productions with young lieutenants from his Bad Boy organization, Puffy's productions shine through. And he's downplayed sampling obvious pop hits for the main groove of his songs, perhaps a response to the constant criticism of hip-hop fans. Puffy's also a better rapper than he used to be, almost up to the level of the MC superstars guesting here. There are no tracks as propulsive as the hits from No Way Out ("It's All About the Benjamins," "Been Around the World"), and the ballad track "Best Friend," which samples Christopher Cross' "Sailing," is a lame rehash of the Biggie tribute "I'll Be Missing You." The final track (and first single), the Public Enemy-sampling "P.E. 2000," is an apt metaphor for Puff Daddy's second album; it's a solid production, not quite as exciting as it should be, informed by a mindset that uses hip-hop as a ladder to pop success and wealth.
CONDITION: NEW, PROMOTIONAL IMPRINT ON UPC
TRACK LISTING
1
Forever
1:52
2
What You Want
4:30
3
I'll Do This for You
Puff Daddy Featuring Kelly Price
5:00
4
Do You Like It... Doo You Want It...
Puff Daddy Featuring Jay-Z
3:54
5
Satisfy You
Puff Daddy Featuring R. Kelly
4:48
6
Is This the End Pt. 2
Puff Daddy Featuring Twista
4:40
7
I Hear Voices
Puff Daddy Featuring Carl Thomas
5:14
8
Fake Thugs Dedication
Puff Daddy Featuring Redman
3:14
9
Diddy Speaks
1:11
10
Angels With Dirty Faces
Puff Daddy Featuring Bizzy Bone
4:09
11
Gangsta Sh*t
Puff Daddy Featuring Lil' Kim & Mark Curry
4:43
12
P.S. 112 - Interlude
0:59
13
Pain
Puff Daddy Featuring G-Dep
3:56
14
Reverse
Puff Daddy Featuring Shyne, G-Dep, Cee-Lo, Busta Rhymes, Sauce Money & Redman
5:07
15
Real N****s
Puff Daddy Featuring the Notorious B.I.G. & Lil' Kim
4:01
16
Journey Through the Life
Puff Daddy Featuring Nas, Beanie Sigel, Lil' Kim & Joe Hooker
4:53
17
Best Friend
Puff Daddy Featuring Mario Winans
5:34
18
Mad Rapper - Interlude
1:14
19
P.E. 2000
Puff Daddy Featuring Hurricane G
4:50
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