The Notorious B.I.G. and Diddy had a key role in creating the sound of contemporary hip-hop, and the music mogul recently reminisced on their influence as his No Way Out album marked its 26th birthday.
The Bad Boy boss thanked Biggie in a heartfelt Instagram message on Saturday (July 22), but he said that, in the big picture, Biggie’s inspiration was “bittersweet” because it led him to pursue a career as a solo artist and release his debut solo LP.
He wrote, “Biggie inspired me to become an artist and make this album, so it’s bittersweet to look back on such a pivotal turning point in my life and career that turned Bad Boy into an unstoppable dynasty and cemented our place in Hip Hop history!”
“It will be difficult for anyone to ever create a moment in music that changed the culture like No Way Out because there have been countless hit records from so many timeless artists who became global superstars,”
“Special thank you to all the artists, producers, and writers that helped me along the way to bring my vision to life,” he concluded his statement by praising the remainder of the No journey Out all-star supporting ensemble.
No Way Out made its debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart on July 22, 1997. The album sold 561,000 copies in its first week and eventually received a 7x-platinum certification. At the 1998 Grammy Awards, it received three nominations and two victories (Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group).
The first five singles from No Way Out were all commercial successes as well. Both “It’s All About the Benjamins” and “Been Around the World” reached the Billboard Hot 100’s No. 2 peak. I’ll Be Missing You became the first rap song to debut at No. 1 while “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” and “I’ll Be Missing You” also reached the top spot.
No Way Out was published by Puff last year in an enhanced 25th anniversary version that included 15 bonus songs in addition to the original 17 tracks, including remixes, radio mixes, instrumentals, and more.
To kick off Hip Hop History Month that November, Diddy also released a colored vinyl reissue of No Way Out, which was the album’s first vinyl release since its original 1997 release.
The Harlem tycoon also released remastered music videos for each song on the record, beginning with “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down.” All About the Benjamins (Remix), All About the Benjamins (Rock Remix), and Victory all received improved releases in the latter part of last year.
In the near future, Diddy will release his first solo album since 2006’s Press Play on Love Records, the R&B-focused label he established through Motown last year.
While further information on the project is still lacking, the founder of REVOLT has already released three singles: “Gotta Move On” with Bryson Tiller, “Sex in the Porsche” with PARTYNEXTDOOR, and “Act Bad,” which features Fabolous and City Girls and which he dubbed “the song of the summer.”