Sean “Puffy” Combs has been one of the biggest hit-makers of the past few years, but Forever will never last that long. He just isn’t as good a rapper as he’d like to believe, or as he’d like us to believe. Puffy is better at finding talent to put behind the mic than placing himself there. He has been an advocate for non-violence in the past, but he now seems to have forgotten that stance and is trying to keep it real in the same way that labels like No Limit and Cash Money do. Hardcore rap fans may have purchased the multi-platinum No Way Out to pay homage to Biggie, but they won’t be fooled into buying Puffy’s latest effort.
There are a bunch of guests on the album that range from Busta Rhymes to Lil’ Kim to Redman to R. Kelly, and there’s even a bizarre appearance by Biggie. It’s just too bad that Puffy’s name is on the record; the guest stars show him up time and again.
There are three tracks worth noting. “Journey Through The Life” features Nas, Beanie Sigel, Lil’ Kim, and Joe Hooker. This is the best track on the disc, a shining light in the midst of an otherwise dismal display. Though “Angels With Dirty Faces” shamelessly rips off Earth Wind And Fire’s “Fantasy”, Bizzy Bone (Bone Thugs-N-Harmony) saves Puffy some face. Kelly Prince shows up on “I’ll do This For You”, which sounds like a leftover from No Way Out. Still, it’s probably the most radio-friendly track on the whole album.
Even giving props to Public Enemy on the last track, “P.E. 2000”, Puffy Daddy just can’t convince me that he knows how to regroup and get back his street credibility. He is trying too hard to be hard. Puffy is at his best just being Puffy, the guy who writes catchy pop-lathered hooks. Instead of biting the pop-radio hand that feeds him, maybe he should simply continue doing what he does best, rewriting other people’s songs. If he keeps making records like this, he won’t keep that 5th Avenue apartment and Bentley for long.
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