I'm tired of people judgin' what's real hip hop...

The internet is killing the album. Puff Daddy came up in conversation today; it went something like this:

Other dude: Have you heard the new 50 Cent?

Me: Yeah, not so good. But the remix to "I Get Money" rules. Jay Z and Puff Daddy kill it!

Other dude: Puff Daddy?!?! Do you like Puff Daddy??? (condescending chuckle)

Me: Here's the thing with Puff Daddy, there is not an entire album I can stand, but he has some killer singles that I never get tired of...

Other dude: Blah Blah Blah...

The internet is great for Puff Daddy. All the albums are disposable; but in the age of the mp3/single, who needs the Biggie shout outs, the occasional Busta Rhymes yelling, and pretty much all of the Diddyness. I have put together the Essential Puff Daddy, all that your ears need.

1. "I'll Be Missing You" - I don't have ice water in my veins. He was missing his friend and I believe the sentiment was real. Best use of a Police sample?


2. "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" - Welcome to the world of the sane, Mase (little did we know your stay here would be so brief). Great sample of a sample.


3. "It's All About the Benjamins" - Hands down the standout of Puff Daddy's career' his "Beat It", his "Helter Skelter", his "Satisfaction". It's all downhill from here (just as Jackson, McCartney, or Jagger).


4. "Bad Boy for Life" - Where did that guitar line come from!?!? It shouldn't work but it does. If they made a hip hop remake of Star Wars (like they did with Brandy and Queen Latifah in Cinderella), this would be Darth Vader's Theme.


5. "Last Night(One of the 5 Remixes from my Ipod) - Just when you thought MTV Making the Band had eliminated his ability to create another classic. Down, but not out. The only way I could have liked this more is if Prince actually (vice telepathically) produced it.

Puffy-All That Matters

What I believe: I believe Puff Daddy has created a handful of timeless singles perfect for short attention spans. I believe "Puff Daddy" not "Diddy". I believe he will have two more "classics" before he goes the MCA/Beastie route of the Dalai Lama. I believe his album with Ravi and Anoushka Shankar will yeild one of these new classics. I believe Puff Daddy can be relatively effective in small doses in remixes of other's songs.

50 Cent featuring Jay Z and Puff Daddy - I Get Money (Forbes 123 Remix)

Ask me if I'm a grape.