Studio Album · No. 2
Forever Songwriting Credits by Puff Daddy
Produced by Puff Daddy, Mario Winans, Ron Lawrence, Nashiem Myrick, Carlos Broady, Deric Angelettie, Zach White, Dave Vanderpool, Jeffrey Walker, Anthony Dent, Harve Pierre
Holds writing credit on 17 of 19 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 17 / 19 documented
Scored across the 19 tracks with documented writers, by whether Puff Daddy carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 19 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Forever is a producer-and-guest album more than a rapper's album, and its credits show it. Puff Daddy is a co-writer on nearly every track but is widely reported to have leaned on ghostwriters, with Bad Boy affiliates like Loon (Chauncey Hawkins), Mark Curry, and Jack Knight, plus Jay-Z (Shawn Carter), credited across his verses. The composer column is dominated by sample and interpolation clearances: the writers of the sampled songs appear by legal name even when they had nothing to do with the session, so Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice and Verdine White land on 'Angels With Dirty Faces,' Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson on 'Reverse,' Christopher Cross on 'Best Friend,' and Public Enemy's Carlton Ridenhour (Chuck D) and Hank Shocklee on 'P.E. 2000.' Production is almost entirely the Hitmen collective around Puff Daddy, Mario Winans, Ron Lawrence, Nashiem Myrick, and Carlos Broady.
Forever is the second studio album billed to Puff Daddy, released August 24, 1999, on Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. Made after the blockbuster success of No Way Out, it leans on the Bad Boy in-house production team known as the Hitmen and a long guest list that includes Jay-Z, R. Kelly, Nas, Redman, Lil' Kim, Twista, Busta Rhymes, and an archival Notorious B.I.G. verse. The record is built on heavy sampling and interpolation, pulling from Earth, Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Public Enemy, Christopher Cross, and others. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with 205,343 copies sold in its first week and was certified platinum by the RIAA in September 1999. Despite the sales, it drew mixed reviews and fell short of its predecessor, leading single 'Satisfy You' with R. Kelly reaching number two on the Hot 100.
Track Listing & Credits 19 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Intro
|
Puff DaddyMario Winans | Sean CombsMario WinansSteve CoeMartin Smith | Puff DaddyMario Winans | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
What You Want
|
Puff Daddy | Sean CombsRonald GreeneZach White | Zach White | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
I'll Do This for You
|
Puff DaddyLoonKelly PriceMase | Sean CombsChauncey HawkinsKelly PriceRon LawrenceMario WinansCarl DriggsIsh LedesmaMason Betha | Ron LawrencePuff DaddyMario Winans | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)Kelly Price (Featured Vocals) |
| 4 |
Do You Like It... Do You Want It...
|
Puff DaddyJay-Z | Sean CombsShawn CarterDave VanderpoolJames Todd Smith | Dave VanderpoolPuff Daddy | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)Jay-Z (Featured Vocals) |
| 5 |
Satisfy You
#2
|
Puff DaddyR. KellyKelly Price | Sean CombsJeffrey WalkerRonald GreeneKelly PriceRobert KellyDenzil FosterJay KingThomas McElroy | Puff DaddyJeffrey Walker | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)R. Kelly (Featured Vocals) |
| 6 |
Is This the End? (Part Two)
|
Puff DaddyTwistaJack Knight | Sean CombsCarl MitchellJack KnightAnthony Dent | Anthony DentPuff Daddy | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)Twista (Featured Vocals) |
| 7 |
I Hear Voices
|
Puff DaddyMark Curry | Sean CombsMark CurryNashiem MyrickCarlos BroadyRyo Kawasaki | Nashiem MyrickCarlos BroadyPuff Daddy | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)Carl Thomas (Featured Vocals) |
| 8 |
Fake Thugs Dedication
|
Puff DaddyRedmanJay-Z | Sean CombsShawn CarterReggie NobleFreddie ByrdLana Moorer | Puff Daddy | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)Redman (Featured Vocals) |
| 9 |
Diddy Speaks (Interlude)
|
Puff Daddy | Sean Combs | Puff Daddy | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
Angels With Dirty Faces
|
Puff DaddyBizzy Bone | Sean CombsRon LawrenceBryon McCaneZane CopelandMaurice WhiteVerdine WhiteEddie del Barrio | Ron LawrencePuff Daddy | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)Bizzy Bone (Featured Vocals) |
| 11 |
Gangsta Shit
|
Puff DaddyMark CurryLil' Kim | Sean CombsMark CurryKimberly JonesMario Winans | Mario WinansPuff Daddy | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)Lil' Kim (Featured Vocals)Mark Curry (Featured Vocals) |
| 12 |
P.S. 112 (Interlude)
|
A.J. JohnsonJoe Hooker | A.J. JohnsonHarve Pierre | Harve Pierre | A.J. Johnson (Vocals) |
| 13 |
Pain
|
Puff DaddyG. Dep | Sean CombsTrevell ColemanNashiem MyrickCarlos BroadyLes McCann | Nashiem MyrickCarlos BroadyPuff Daddy | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)G. Dep (Featured Vocals) |
| 14 |
Reverse
|
Puff DaddyShyneG. DepCee-LoBusta RhymesSauce MoneyRedman | Sean CombsJamal BarrowTrevell ColemanReggie NobleThomas BartonTrevor SmithNashiem MyrickCarlos BroadyNickolas AshfordValerie Simpson | Nashiem MyrickCarlos Broady | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)Shyne (Featured Vocals)G. Dep (Featured Vocals)Cee-Lo (Featured Vocals)Busta Rhymes (Featured Vocals)Sauce Money (Featured Vocals)Redman (Featured Vocals) |
| 15 |
Real Niggas
|
Puff DaddyThe Notorious B.I.G.Lil' Kim | Sean CombsChristopher WallaceKimberly JonesDeric Angelettie | Deric Angelettie | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)The Notorious B.I.G. (Featured Vocals)Lil' Kim (Featured Vocals) |
| 16 |
Journey Through the Life
|
Puff DaddyNasBeanie SigelJoe Hooker | Sean CombsNasir JonesDwight GrantNashiem MyrickCarlos BroadyHarve Pierre | Nashiem MyrickCarlos BroadyPuff Daddy | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)Nas (Featured Vocals)Beanie Sigel (Featured Vocals)Lil' Kim (Featured Vocals)Joe Hooker (Featured Vocals) |
| 17 |
Best Friend
#59
|
Puff DaddyMario Winans | Sean CombsMario WinansChristopher Cross | Puff DaddyMario Winans | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)Mario Winans (Featured Vocals) |
| 18 |
Mad Rapper (Interlude)
|
The Mad Rapper | Deric Angelettie | Deric Angelettie | The Mad Rapper (Vocals) |
| 19 |
P.E. 2000
#6
|
Puff DaddyMark CurryHurricane G | Sean CombsMark CurryRonald GreeneHank ShockleeCarlton Ridenhour | Puff Daddy | Puff Daddy (Lead Vocals)Hurricane G (Featured Vocals) |