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, All Music Guide
Kelly Price (Vocals), Ariel Borujow (Engineer), Jim Janik (Engineer), A.J. Johnson (Vocals), Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander (Mixing), Kenny Meiselas (Legal Advisor), Hurricane G (Vocals), Sean "Puffy" Combs (Producer), Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie (Producer), Tony Maserati (Engineer), R. Kelly (Vocals), Doug Wilson (Engineer), Tim McKasty (Keyboards), Carl Thomas (Vocals), Kim Lumpkin (Project Manager), Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool (Producer), Joe Hooker (Vocals), Carlos "6 July" Broady (Producer), Mario Winans (Programming), Chad Hogan (Design), Twista (Vocals), Roger Che (Engineer), John Horesco IV (Engineer), Paul Logus (Engineer), Michele DelGadio (Artist Direction), Karen Moskowitz (Photography), Cee-Lo (Vocals), Busta Rhymes (Vocals), Mario Winans (Vocals), Carlton Lynn (Engineer), Jack Knight (Vocals (Background)), Rasheed Goodlowe (Engineer), Mark Curry (Vocals), Christian Lantry (Photography), Kevin Lively (Engineer), Nas (Vocals), Sauce Money (Vocals), Lil' Kim (Vocals), Redman (Vocals), Gary Bias (Saxophone), The Notorious B.I.G. (Producer), Herb Powers (Mastering), Sean "Puffy" Combs (Creative Concept), Marc Pfafflin (Sound Effects), Bizzy Bone (Vocals), Shyne (Vocals), Michael "Patches" Stewart (Trumpet), Cheri Dennis (Vocals (Background)), Jack Knight (Arranger), Mario Winans (Producer), Jeff Gilligan (Design), G. Dep (Vocals), Michael Patterson (Engineer), Michael Patterson (Mixing), Herb Ritts (Photography), Tom Castle (Engineer), Jason Webb (Engineer), The Notorious B.I.G. (Vocals), Harve Pierre (Associate Executive Producer), Elliot Blakely (Engineer), Jay-Z (Vocals), Benny Medina (Management), Cyrille Taillandier (Engineer), Lynn Montrose (Engineer), Reggie C. Young (Trombone), Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence (Producer), Curtis Smith (Hair Stylist), Stan Wood (Engineer), Harve Pierre (A&R), Nasheim Myrick (Producer), Ray Brown (Trumpet), Beanie Sigel (Vocals), Scott Kieklak (Engineer)
Forever is the first solo album by Puff Daddy (now known as Sean "Diddy" Combs), released in 1999. The album peaked at #2 in the US with sales over 205,000. The album peaked at #9 in the UK. Forever did not receive a great deal of critical acclaim like his previous album, "No Way Out". Shortly after, Puff Daddy changed his name to "P.Diddy."
