No Way Out [PA]

Performer: Puff Daddy & the Family
Artist: The Notorious B.I.G.; Lil' Kim; Twista; Busta Rhymes; The Lox; Jay-Z; Foxy Brown; Faith Evans; Ginuwine; 112; Mase; Carl Thomas; Black Rob
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Puff Daddy (rap vocals); Carl Thomas, Faith Evans, 112, Ginuwine (vocals); The Notorious B.I.G., Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, The Lox, Mase, Black Rob, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Twista (rap vocals); Melissa Feliciano (spoken vocals); Stevie J., J-Dub (piano, programming); Dent (programming); Kelly Price, Simone Hines (background vocals). Producers include: Stevie J., Sean "Puffy" Combs, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Carlos Broady. Engineers include: Stephen Dent, Doug Wilson, John Eaton. Recorded at Caribbean Sound Basin, Trinidad, West Indies; D.A.R.P. Studios, Atlanta, Georgia; Daddy's House Recording Studios and The Hit Factory, New York, New York. Puff Daddy was nominated for the 1998 Grammy Award for Best New Artist. NO WAY OUT won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. "I'll Be Missing You" won and "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" was nominated for the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group. Personnel: Puff Daddy (rap vocals); Carl Thomas, Faith Evans, 112, Ginuwine (vocals); The Notorious B.I.G., Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, The Lox, Mase, Black Rob, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Twista (rap vocals); Melissa Feliciano (spoken vocals); Stevie J., J-Dub (piano, programming); Dent (programming); Kelly Price, Simone Hines (background vocals). Producers: Stevie J., Sean "Puffy" Combs, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Nashiem Myrick, J-Dub, Rashad Smith, Jazz, Yogi, Carlos Broady. Engineers: Stephen Dent, Doug Wilson, John Eaton, Lane Craven, Axel Niehaus, Michael Patterson, Paul Logus, "Prince Charles" Alexander, John "JM" Meredith, Al Machera, Diana Pedraza, Sean "Puffy" Combs. Recorded at Caribbean Sound Basin, Trinidad, West Indies; D.A.R.P. Studios, Atlanta, Georgia; Daddy's House Recording Studios and The Hit Factory, New York, New York. Personnel: Kelly Price (vocals); Stevie J. (piano, programming); Stephen Dent (programming). Audio Mixers: Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander ; Lane Craven; Michael Patterson ; Sean "Puffy" Combs; Tony Maserati. Recording information: Caribbean Sound Basin, Trinidad; D.A.R.P. Studios, Atlanta, GA; Daddy's House Recording Studio, New York, NY. Photographers: Michael Benabib; Michael Lavine. Before releasing his first solo album, Puff Daddy (aka Sean "Puffy" Combs) was famous as the producer of the Notorious B.I.G., Junior Mafia, Craig Mack, Lil' Kim, and many other rappers. As he was making his solo debut, the Notorious B.I.G. was murdered, and that loss weighs heavily on Puff's mind throughout No Way Out. Even though the album has some funky party jams scattered throughout, the bulk of the album is filled with fear, sorrow, and anger, and it's not only evident on the tribute "I'll Be Missing You" (a duet with Faith Evans and 112 that is based on the Police's "Every Breath You Take") but also on gangsta anthems like "It's All About the Benjamins." That sense of loss makes No Way Out a more substantial album than most mid-'90s hip-hop releases, and even if it has flaws -- there's a bit too much filler and it runs a little long -- it is nevertheless a compelling, harrowing album that establishes Puff Daddy as a vital rapper in his own right. ~ Leo Stanley As in the case of Teddy Riley or Dr. Dre, it is not unlikely for a producer-extraordinaire to step to the forefront as an artist. With the release of NO WAY OUT, Sean "Puffy" Combs adds to an extensive musical resume. From hip-hop dancer to hit-making producer to CEO of Bad Boy Entertainment to recording artist, Puff Daddy has proven to be a man of many talents. Puffy's debut as an entertainer showcases both hardcore ("It's All About The Benjamins Remix") and mainstream ("Do You Know?") hip-hop songs. As a producer, Puff Daddy is the master when it comes to sampling old records and turning them into new hits, as he does with his tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. on "I'll Be Missing You," which incorporates the music from The Police's "Every Breath You Take." Other songs give Puffy a chance to test his own rap skills, like "Is This The End?" which matches him up with the world's fastest rapper, Twista. As in the case of Teddy Riley or Dr. Dre, it is not unlikely for a producer-extraordinaire to step to the forefront as an artist. With the release of NO WAY OUT, Sean "Puffy" Combs adds to an extensive musical resume. From hip-hop dancer to hit-making producer to CEO of Bad Boy Entertainment to recording artist, Puff Daddy has proven to be a man of many talents. Puffy's debut as an entertainer showcases both hardcore ("It's All About The Benjamins Remix") and mainstream ("Do You Know?") hip-hop songs. As a producer, Puff Daddy is the master when it comes to sampling old records and turning them into new hits, as he does with his tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. on "I'll Be Missing You," which incorporates the music from The Police's "Every Breath You Take." Other songs give Puffy a chance to test his own rap skills, like "Is This The End?" which matches him up with the world's fastest rapper, Twista.

Rolling Stone (5/13/99, pp.77-79) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's." Vibe (10/97, p.159) - "...with his new, imperious NO WAY OUT, Puffy places himself at the center of the pop universe....Ain't nothin' held him down yet....Say what you like, these tracks are soulful and charming..." Vibe (10/97, p.159) - "...with his new, imperious NO WAY OUT, Puffy places himself at the center of the pop universe....Ain't nothin' held him down yet....Say what you like, these tracks are soulful and charming..."

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