Don't Worry If I Write Rhymes, I Write Checks

the pre 9/11 rap world was a much lighter time a happier place filled with extravagant bling and flourishing commercial exposure. obviously things have only continued along this trend since but the industry has cooled off to the point where it seems that when an album is released and flops (and most of them do) the artists either blame a lack of promotion, the internet, and or both. todays rappers complain about the lack of success while taking shots at the rappers who have achieved what they strive to reach. p. diddy is often cited as a contributing factor to todays diminished rap landscape (both commercially and creatively) but it is my opinion that the rap world would be better off with more of mr. combs. say what you will about the lack of 'lyrical content' on his albums but diddy is the best marketing genius the rap world has ever seen. no song/video exemplifies this truth as much as p. diddy's 'bad boy for life'

for a time combs was one of the biggest celebrities in all of america. the type of rapper who was late night talk show famous. i dont mean that as any knock on combs either as there's only a handful of rappers who can make the leno, larry king, letterman rounds and hes at the top of that list. he was dating j-lo at the height of her own fame (and looks) and was involved in a major trial with big time lawyers backing him (rip johnnie cochran hollar at ya jew lawyers benjamin brafman). following his acquittal on those shooting charges ( I don't like the way P. Diddy did Shyne with different lawyers - the rappin bill cosby) and breakup with lopez combs switched up the name to p. diddy and dropped The Saga Continues.

The Saga Continues is the last real rap album puff has put out to date and its lead single is a crowning achievement of this style of music. 'bad boy for life' is such an epic mess of everything that is wrong with music and yet i find it impossible not to love. the video opens in perfectown usa with dark clouds brewing (a sign of the darkness that is about to consume the neighborhood). the bad boy crew rolls up in a fleet of cars with what appears to be secret service agents making sure its safe for diddy to get out. get the irony? the white people in the neighborhood are doing white things like getting the newspaper (LOOL @ READING) and making sure their lawns are well kept. the bad boy moving company helps move them in including a wheelbarrow filled with cristal, an all black leather couch with puffs records resting on it and one of the white neighbors faints at the sight of these bad boys (aka negros) moving in.

to say the video is over the top would be a gross understatement. this was diddy's coming out party to white america and he did an amazing job having it filled with all sorts of cameos: dave navarro backing diddys garage band, pat o'brien playing a peeping tom years before his voicemails, snoop, ice cube, xzibit, fonzworth bentley playing the role of bagger vance for diddys roof made driving range, ben stiller bitching about said roof driving range, mike tyson riding a harley, and shaq who helps diddy school some white losers in a pickup game.

the video ends with diddy throwing a legendary block party, capped off with diddy jumping over 5 cars on a motorcycle. an image that can represent the 'jumping the shark' of rap music and the dawn of a new era. in the morning diddy wakes up to get the newspaper (conforming to the standards of white america) and his neighbors are accepting of him and the style he represents. no longer an outsider diddy stands in his bathrobe shaking his head as crazy town moves in on the block. diddy remarks 'there goes the neighborhood' foreshadowing the pop world's short lasting affair with the rap industry, crazy town, and his newfound mainstream america acceptance.

P. Diddy ft Black Rob & Mark Curry - Bad Boy For Life
http://www.zshare.net/audio/120733097134751a/