“Life After Death,” Combs own record with the Family, “No Way Out,” and MA$E’s debut, “Harlem World”—offer standard gangsta topics: songs about wealth and materialism, harsh ghetto life, the threat of violence and explicit sexuality. But each one also offers the nostalgic thrill of revisiting songs from the heyday of disco and of 1980’s pop music (Cox News, Nov 28.). Such expansive borrowing has given Puffy Combs and Bad Boy a friendly, non-threatening air, allowing their raps to be cheerful boasting, rather than the nihilistic, violence-filled raps of their California-based rival, Death Row Records (Cox News, Nov. 28). Combs attained astronomical sales figures by relooping songs from a bygone era. Bad Boy Records had a very successful year in 1998. Many of their artists albums such as Faith Evans, 112’s “Room 112”, Total’s “Kima, Keisha, and Pam” were all certified gold in 1998, as well as a best of Bad Boy compilation. He was popular enough, “to add Rolling Stone cover guy to his list of lengthy credits (AP Wire, July 15.). Combs continues to be the mastermind behind the label he started. He recently signed an unknown act from California called “Dream”. These four suburban white teen girls are his latest platinum creation. They offer a fresh sound and feel to the label that is so heavy with the stale urban fare that is prevalent in the industry. They (Dream) also are a little more parental friendly. The girls are one of the few if not only group on the Bad Boy label that does not carry the “Parental Warning” stigma. Shyne, another in Combs stable of lyrical arsonists (Jamal Barrows 21) is also set to have a huge album out this month on the Bad Boy label. That is, if the legal problems do not interfere with BMG agreeing to release the album, due to his recent court cases with Combs. Having a run in law ...
