NEW YORK (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.
For more information, check out www.badboyonline.com.
