Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel includes: Puff Daddy, Jay-Z, Redman, Lil' Kim, Busta Rhymes, Shyne, G-Dep, Bizzy Bone, Twista, Cee-Lo (rap vocals); R. Kelly, Kelly Price, 112, Faith Evans, Carl Thomas, A.J. Johnson (vocals); Gary Bias (saxophone); Ray Brown, Michael "Patches" Stewart (trumpet); Reginald Young (trombone); Tim McKasty (keyboards); Charles "Volley" Craig (bass); Mario "Yellow Man" Winans (programming); DJ Fafu, DJ Kenyon "Fo-Five" Smith (scratches); Jack Knight, Cheri Dennis, Harve "Joe Hooker" Pierre, Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir (background vocals). | | Producers include: Sean "Puffy" Combs, Mario "Yellow Man" Winans, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Ron "AMEN-RA" Lawrence, Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool. | | Engineers include: Tom Castle, Doug Wilson, Michael Patterson. | | Personnel includes: Puff Daddy, Jay-Z, Redman, Lil' Kim, Busta Rhymes, Shyne, G-Dep, Bizzy Bone, Twista, Cee-Lo (rap vocals); R. Kelly, Kelly Price, 112, Faith Evans, Carl Thomas, A.J. Johnson (vocals); Gary Bias (saxophone); Ray Brown, Michael "Patches" Stewart (trumpet); Reginald Young (trombone); Tim McKasty (keyboards); Charles "Volley" Craig (bass); Mario "Yellow Man" Winans (programming); DJ Fafu, DJ Kenyon "Fo-Five" Smith (scratches); Jack Knight, Cheri Dennis, Harve "Joe Hooker" Pierre, Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir (background vocals). | | Producers include: Sean "Puffy" Combs, Mario "Yellow Man" Winans, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Ron "AMEN-RA" Lawrence, Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool. | | Engineers include: Tom Castle, Doug Wilson, Michael Patterson. | | "Satisfy You" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance By Duo Or Group. | | Personnel: Mario Winans (vocals, programming); G. Dep, Hurricane G, A.J. Johnson, Jay-Z, Joe Hooker, Kelly Price, Lil' Kim, Mark Curry, Nas, R. Kelly, Redman, Sauce Money, Shyne, The Notorious B.I.G., Twista, Beanie Sigel, Bizzy Bone, Busta Rhymes, Carl Thomas, Cee-Lo (vocals); Gary Bias (saxophone); Michael "Patches" Stewart, Ray Brown (trumpet); Reggie C. Young (trombone); Tim McKasty (keyboards); Marc Pfafflin (sound effects); Jack Knight, Cheri Dennis (background vocals). | | Audio Mixers: Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander ; Michael Patterson . | | Recording information: Daddy's House Recording Studios; The Hit Factory, NYC, Compass P. | | Photographers: Herb Ritts; Christian Lantry; Karen Moskowitz. | | Arranger: Jack Knight. | | 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. ~ Keith Farley | | Sean "Puffy" Combs gets behind the mic once again for his sophomore solo effort, FOREVER. Packed with guest appearances from such artists as R. Kelly ("Satisfy You"), Jay-Z ("Do You Like It...Do You Want It") and Redman ("Fake Thugs Dedication"), FOREVER is fifteen tracks deep. Known for sampling pop and R&B hits from the past and reworking them into sparkling hip-hop gems, Puff relies on various producers to keep the sounds fresh on FOREVER, including Mario Winans, Carlos Broady, and Nashiem Myrick. A track featuring the late Notorious B.I.G. and Lil' Kim called "Real Niggas" is also featured on the album. Other notable tracks include "Angles With Dirty Faces (featuring Bizzy Bone)"; a group cut called "Reverse," featuring Shyne, G-Dep, Cee-Lo, Busta Rhymes, and Sauce Money; and "P.E. 2000," where Puff drops new flavor on the classic Public Enemy track "Public Enemy No. 1." |
Musical Guests | | R. Kelly | | 112 | | Bizzy Bone | | Jay-Z | | Cee-Lo | | The Notorious B.I.G. | | Busta Rhymes | | Twista | | Redman | | Kelly Price | | Lil' Kim | | Nas | | Carl Thomas | | Mark Curry | | G. Dep | | Sauce Money | | Shyne | | Joe Hooker | | Beanie Sigel | | Mario Winans | | Hurricane G |
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