NEW YORK, NY (Bad Boy Records) - Bad Boy Records has announced the superstar line-up for the most eagerly anticipated album in hip-hop history, "THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER." Over two years in the making, the 22-track collection is slated for release on December 20, 2005.
"THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER" features rhymes recorded by B.I.G. throughout his career, melded with newly recorded performances by some of contemporary music's greatest vocalists and MCs. Dozens of superstars have come together to perform with and pay homage to the legendary rapper on this unprecedented, history-making release. In addition, "THE FINAL CHAPTER" incorporates posthumous appearances by 2Pac, Bob Marley, and Big Pun.
Featured with the Notorious B.I.G. on "THE FINAL CHAPTER" are, in order of appearance: Diddy, Eminem, Obie Trice, Twista, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Jay-Z, Nate Dogg, Redman, Big Pun, Fat Joe, Freeway, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Faith Evans, Cheri Dennis, Bobby Valentino, The Game, Nelly, Jagged Edge, Avery Storm, 2Pac, Mary J. Blige, Nas, Mobb Deep, Lil Wayne, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Scarface, Akon, Big Gee, T.I., Slim Thug, Missy Elliott, R. Kelly, Charlie Wilson, Bob Marley, and KoRn.
The music tracks are all brand-new, created by many of the industry's top producers, including: Eminem, Swizz Beatz, Danja, Timbaland, Jazze Pha, Sean C "Sean Cane," Sean "Diddy" Combs, LV, Coptic, Lesette Wilson, Andre Harris, Vidal Davis, Just Blaze, Havoc, Stevie J, D. Dot, Reefa, Mike "Suga Mike" Allen, Mario Winans, J-Dub, Scott Storch, DJ Green Lantern, Clinton Sparks, Jonathan Davis, and Atticus Roff.
"This composition of sound and different energies has surpassed my wildest imagination," said Bad Boy Entertainment founder and CEO Sean "Diddy" Combs. "The love for BIG was and is real. This movement has been both an emotional and therapeutic experience, one that finds us at the end of the road in terms of original releases for a great man and at the threshold of a sound and a quality which may have fallen by the wayside after losing him."
A track from the album, "Nasty Girl," premieres on MTV.com today, October 26th, and the single is slated to officially impact at radio stations across the country on November 14th. Produced by Jazze Pha, the track features Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge, and Avery Storm. A companion video, directed by Chris Robinson, is currently in production.
Another song from the album, "Hold Ya Head," was the first music to be released from "THE FINAL CHAPTER." The dramatic and poignant track pairs B.I.G. with a moving sample from "Johnny Was" by Bob Marley, another legendary artist who died before his time. "Hold Ya Head" premiered September 26th on AOL Music as part of its First Listen program, and a video is currently wrapping up production.
Other highlights of the project include "Get Your Grind On," which brings together for the first time B.I.G., Fat Joe, and Big Pun; and "Spit Your Game," which pairs Twista with Bone Thugs N Harmony's Krazie Bone, a long-awaited collaboration that hip-hop fans will go wild for. R. Kelly and Charlie Wilson join B.I.G. on the soulful groove "Mi Casa," and the group KoRn rocks with B.I.G. on "Wake Up Now." B.I.G.'s mom, Voletta Wallace, makes an appearance on the album's closing track, "Love Is Everlasting," with the recital of an original poem about her son Christopher Wallace. Diddy and Notorious B.I.G. are the album's Executive Producers, while Voletta Wallace is Co-Executive Producer along with Faith Evans, Harve Pierre, and others.
Born in Brooklyn, the Notorious B.I.G. was Bad Boy Records' flagship artist. From his earliest verses on tracks like Craig Mack's "Flava In Your Ear Remix" and Mary J. Blige's "Real Love," it was clear to the hip-hop world that a new king had been crowned. Biggie solidified his position with his now classic 1994 debut, "READY TO DIE." Through the combination of Sean Combs's powerful production and B.I.G.'s vivid rhymes, the disc brought Bad Boy to the forefront of East Coast hip-hop, and went on to be certified 4x platinum by the RIAA.
Tragically, the superstar's life was cut short in March 1997, when he fell victim to a shooting. His already completed second set, a double album entitled "LIFE AFTER DEATH," was released soon after his death, and featured the smash hits "Hypnotize" and "Mo' Money Mo' Problems." A true masterpiece, it is considered by many to be the greatest hip-hop album of all time, with an unforgettable track list crafted by Notorious B.I.G. It entered the charts at No 1 and went on to be certified 10x platinum, earning a rare Diamond Award from the RIAA.
1999 saw the release of "BORN AGAIN," an album of previously unreleased B.I.G. material. It also entered the charts at No 1 and was certified RIAA double platinum. "THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER" marks the first release of new B.I.G. material in six years.
TRACK LISTING ATTACHED
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER
1. B.I.G. Live In Jamaica (Intro)
2. The Most Shady featuring Diddy, Eminem, and Obie Trice
3. Spit Your Game featuring Twista and Bone Thugs N Harmony
4. Whatchu Want featuring Jay-Z
5. The Funk featuring Nate Dogg and Redman
6. Get Your Grind On featuring Big Pun, Fat Joe, and Freeway
7. Living The Life featuring Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Faith Evans, Cheri Dennis, and Bobby Valentino
8. The Greatest Rapper (Interlude)
9. 1970 Somethin' featuring The Game and Faith Evans
10. Nasty Girl featuring Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge, and Avery Storm
11. Living In Pain featuring 2Pac, Mary J. Blige, and Nas
12. Beef featuring Mobb Deep
13. I'm Wit Whateva featuring Lil Wayne, Juelz Santana, and Jim Jones
14. My Dad (Interlude)
15. Hustler's Story featuring Scarface, Akon, and Big Gee of Boyz N Da Hood
16. Breakin' Old Habits featuring T.I. and Slim Thug
17. Ultimate Rush featuring Missy Elliott
18. Mi Casa featuring R. Kelly and Charlie Wilson
19. Little Homie (Interlude)
20. Hold Ya Head featuring Bob Marley
21. Wake Up Now featuring KoRn
22. Love Is Everlasting (Outro)
