No Way Out is the debut studio album by American rapper Puff Daddy. It was released on July 1, 1997, by Bad Boy Records and Arista Records.

1. Puff Daddy The Saga Continues Full Album

A lot happened to Sean Combs during the two-year gap between Forever and The Saga Continues. Besides the obvious name change to P. Diddy and his daily appearances in the news, the overdramatic rap artist saw his popularity drop considerably during those two years -- a serious issue for someone as attention-hungry as Combs. So The Saga Continues signals to everyone that his Bad Boy empire is in fact still an empire. 'Bad Boy for Life,' the album's big, opening anthem, perhaps sums up the situation best: 'We ain't going nowhere/We can't be stopped.' It's a fairly simple claim, but this pretension towers largely over every single second of this album. Combs isn't just trying to make great music anymore; he's trying to reclaim his credibility. In his mission to do so, he has recruited the latest roster of Bad Boy talent, anchored by two stellar rappers, Black Rob and G. Dep, who are to be viewed as the successors to the departed Biggie Smalls and Shyne. Combs gives these two plenty of time in the spotlight here -- as much as himself -- and they definitely showcase their talent commendably, as do many of the other Family members. It's nice to see Combs stay in-house for this album rather than assembling a disparate best-of-the-best roster like he did on Forever. This decision helps give the album more of a cohesive feel, as these Family members, and also the often daring production, make this an impressive album at times. It's Combs himself, though, who mars what could be a solid album with his rhetorical swagger. When he's surrounded by his crew, he's fine, though you wish he could rap as well as he can present the talent of others. Rather, it's when Combs steps into the spotlight, particularly during the numerous interludes, that his swaggering often goes too far, teetering on the fine line between self-assurance and unintentional farce.

Forever is the second studio album of American hip hop recording artistPuff Daddy released on August 24, 1999 by Bad Boy Records.^[7] The album rose to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart.^[8]Forever has also been certified platinum in the US by the RIAA.^[9]

• 5Charts

Overview[edit]

This was the first Puff Daddy album released under just the name 'Puff Daddy' as his debut album was released under 'Puff Daddy & the Bad Boy Family'.

Forever received generally favorable to mixed reviews from most music critics, directed at the heavy use of sampling in Combs' work, as well as commercially changing hip-hop music simultaneously, which caused controversy at the time. To date, the album has received positive to mixed reviews from music critics, and has spawned three singles that have attained Billboard chart success. In 2006, Q magazine included Forever in their list of the 50 worst albums of all time.^[10]

Background and production[edit]

Nearly two years after Combs released his first joint collaboration album, No Way Out, which debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number one and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in February 1998, whereas Combs (under the name 'Puff Daddy'), was nominated for Best New Artist, which he lost. He also collaborated with Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, for the single 'Come with Me' for the 1998 film Godzilla. The song had sampled 'Kashmir' by Led Zeppelin, and reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart, whilst stalling at #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. He was also obligated to star as Willie Beamen in the motion picture, Any Given Sunday, the role however went to Jamie Foxx. During the summer of 1998, the recording for Combs' debut album began to take place, and then to commence on the following year.

Commercial performance[edit]

Forever debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 selling 205,343 copies behind Christina Aguilera's self-titled album with first week sales of 252,800 copies.^[11] The album opened at the top spot of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.^[12] In the United Kingdom, the album peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Chart.^[13] The album debuted at number one on the UK R&B Chart.^[14] In Canada, the album opened at number four on the Canadian Albums Chart, becoming Combs' highest charting album in the country. As of September 24, 1999, Forever has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for selling 1,000,000 copies.^[15] To date, the album has sold 1.4 million copies worldwide.

Track listing[edit]

1. Forever (Intro) - 1:51
2. What You Want - 4:30
3. I’ll Do This For You (feat. Kelly Price) - 5:00
4. Do You Like It… Doo You Want It… (feat. Jay-Z) - 3:54
5. Satisfy You (featuring R. Kelly) - 4:48
6. Is This The End Pt. 2 (featuring Twista) - 4:40
7. I Hear Voices (featuring Carl Thomas) - 5:14
8. Fake Thugs Dedication (featuring Redman) - 3:13
9. Diddy Speaks! (Interlude) - 1:11
10. Angels With Dirty Faces (featuring Bizzy Bone) - 4:10
11. Gangsta Shit (featuring Lil’ Kim & Mark Curry) - 4:42
12. P.S. 112 (Interlude) - 0:59
13. Pain (featuring G-Dep) - 3:56
14. Reverse (featuring Shyne, G-Dep, Redman, Cee-Lo, Busta Rhymes & Sauce Money) - 5:07
15. Real Niggas (featuring The Notorious B.I.G. & Lil’ Kim) - 4:01
16. Journey Through The Life (featuring Nas, Beanie Siegel, Lil’ Kim & Joe Hooker) - 4:55
17. Best Friend (featuring Mario Winans) - 5:32
18. Mad Rapper (Interlude) - 1:14
19. P.E. 2000 (featuring Hurricane G) - 4:52

Notes

• 'Forever' features uncredited vocals by Jennifer Lopez.
• 'I'll Do This for You' features uncredited vocals by Mase.
• 'Satisfy You' features additional vocals by Kelly Price.
• 'Pain' features uncredited background vocals by Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliott.
• 'Madd Rapper (Interlude)' features vocals by The Madd Rapper.

Sample credits

• 'Journey Through the Life' contains a sample of 'For the Good Times' written by Kris Kristofferson as performed by Al Green.
• 'I'll Do This for You' contains a sample of 'Get Off' written by Carl Driggs and Ish Ledesma as performed by Foxy.
• 'Do You Want It... Do You Like It...' contains an interpolation of 'Wanna Get Paid' as performed by LL Cool J and The Lost Boyz.
• 'I Hear Voices' contains a sample of 'Bamboo Child' by Ryo Kawasaki.
• 'Fake Thugs Dedication' samples 'Paper Thin' written by Lana Michelle Moorer and Freddie Byrd as performed by MC Lyte and 'Shining Star' written by Maurice White, Larry Dunn and Philip Bailey as performed by Earth, Wind & Fire.
• 'Angels with Dirty Faces' samples 'Fantasy' written by Maurice White, Verdine White and Eddie del Barrio as performed by Earth, Wind & Fire.
• 'Satisfy You' samples 'I Got 5 On It' written by Jerold Dwight Ellis III and Garrick Husbands as performed by Luniz, 'Why You Treat Me So Bad' written by Denzil Foster, Jay King and Thomas McElroy as performed by Club Nouveau and 'Sexual Healing' written by Marvin Gaye and Odell Brown as performed by Gaye.
• 'P.E. 2000' contains a sample of 'Public Enemy No.1' written by Carlton Douglas Ridenhour and Hank Shocklee as performed by Public Enemy and 'Blow Your Head' written by Fred Wesley and James Brown as performed by Wesley and The J.B.'s.
• 'Best Friend' contains a sample of 'Sailing' written and performed by Christopher Cross.
• 'Pain (Forever)' contains a sample of 'Benjamin' written and performed by Les McCann and 'Children's Story'
• 'Reverse' contains a sample of 'Romeo' by The Dynamic Superiors.
• 'Real Niggas' contains a sample of 'Real Niggaz' written by Christopher Wallace as performed by The Notorious B.I.G.

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Singles[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^link
2. ^link
3. ^link
4. ^link
5. ^In the original Rolling Stone review, the album got this rating.
6. ^link
7. ^'Puff Daddy: Forever'. allmusic.com.
8. ^'Puff Daddy: Forever (Billboard 200)'. billboard.com.
9. ^'Puff Daddy: Forever'. riaa.com.
10. ^'The 50 Worst Albums Ever!'. Q. Bauer Media Group (238). May 2006. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
11. ^'Christina Aguilera Tops Puff Daddy With #1 Album In U.S.'MTV News. 9/1/1999. Retrieved June 15, 2016.Check date values in: date= (help)
12. ^Hasty, Katie (2006-10-25). 'Diddy Scores First No. 1 Album In Nine Years'. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
13. ^'R Kelly'. The Official Charts Company.
    • For Black Panties: 'CHART LOG UK: NEW ENTRIES UPDATE'. ChartsPlus. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
14. ^ ^ab'Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40'. Official Charts Company.
15. ^ ^ab'American single certifications – P. Diddy – Forever'. Recording Industry Association of America.If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
16. ^'Australiancharts.com – Puff Daddy – Forever'. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
17. ^'Austriancharts.at – Puff Daddy – Forever' (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
18. ^'Ultratop.be – Puff Daddy – Forever' (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
19. ^'Diddy Chart History (Canadian Albums)'. Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
20. ^'Dutchcharts.nl – Puff Daddy – Forever' (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
21. ^'Puff Daddy: Forever' (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
22. ^'Lescharts.com – Puff Daddy – Forever'. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
23. ^'Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline' (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
24. ^'Swedishcharts.com – Puff Daddy – Forever'. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
25. ^'Swisscharts.com – Puff Daddy – Forever'. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
26. ^'Diddy Artist Official Charts'. UK Albums Chart. Official Charts Company. 1993-12-11. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
27. ^'Diddy Chart History (Billboard 200)'. Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
28. ^'Diddy Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)'. Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
29. ^'Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts' (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
30. ^'Billboard 200 albums year end 1999'. Billboard.
31. ^'Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums year end 1999'. Billboard.
32. ^'British album certifications – Puff Daddy – Forever'. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 7, 2016.Select albums in the Format field.Select Gold in the Certification field.Type Forever in the 'Search BPI Awards' field and then press Enter.

Puff Daddy The Saga Continues Full Album