The Saga Continues...

Last updated
The Saga Continues...
BBF - Saga Continues.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 10, 2001
Recorded2000–2001
Genre
Length77:16
Label
Producer
P. Diddy & the Bad Boy Family chronology
Forever
(1999)
The Saga Continues...
(2001)
We Invented the Remix
(2002)
Singles from The Saga Continues...
  1. "Let's Get It"
    Released: April 3, 2001
  2. "Bad Boy for Life"
    Released: November 27, 2001
  3. "Diddy"
    Released: 2001

The Saga Continues... is the third studio album by American rapper P. Diddy, released on July 10, 2001 by Arista and Bad Boy Records. Similarly to his debut album No Way Out (1997), it is credited to "P. Diddy and the Bad Boy Family"; the latter act refers to his signees at Bad Boy Records. It was the first studio album released by Combs under the P. Diddy name, and the final release under Bad Boy Records' joint venture with Arista Records. His We Invented the Remix album was the last overall project with Arista.

Contents

The album garnered mixed to negative reviews from music critics. The Saga Continues... debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, spawning three singles: "Let's Get It", "Bad Boy for Life" and "Diddy".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Christgau's Consumer Guide Scissors icon black.svg [2]
Entertainment Weekly C [3]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
HipHopDX Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
RapReviews6.5/10 [8]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Source Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Soren Baker of the Los Angeles Times called the album "a quality hip-hop collection with plenty of swagger, grit, sure-shot singles and a decidedly upbeat outlook." [6] A staff writer for HipHopDX praised the record for having a diverse roster of new artists and label alumni on "solid cuts" ("Can't Believe", "Let's Get It", "Bad Boy For Life") and "hidden gems" ("So Complete", "Blast Off"), but criticized P. Diddy's "lyrical flow and tempo" for being poorly showcased ("Lonely", "If You Want This Money"). [5]

They highlighted G. Dep's "Child of the Ghetto" and 8Ball & MJG's "Roll with Me" as "regrettable displays" concluding that, "With the platform of platinum and pop success, The Saga Continues will be a surefire collection that has the following of P.Diddy's string of commercial hits. Forecasting his true signature talent, by seizing his roster with diverse talent that accompanies his background arrangements." [5]

Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews gave praise to "Bad Boy For Life" and "Where's Sean?" for being "surprisingly dope cuts", P. Diddy's contributions on "Roll with Me" and "I Need a Girl", and G. Dep's "Child of the Ghetto". He criticized "Diddy" for having "one of the weakest ever Neptunes beats", the overabundance of interludes throughout the album and questioned the sampling choices on "Can't Believe" and the title track. [8]

AllMusic's Jason Birchmeier praised the record for giving Black Rob and G. Dep the spotlight to "showcase their talent commendably" along with the other roster members and the in-house approach to the production for giving a "cohesive feel", but criticized P. Diddy's "rhetorical swagger" throughout the track listing for "teetering on the fine line between self-assurance and unintentional farce." [1]

Robert Christgau cited "That's Crazy" as a "choice cut", [2] indicating a good song on "an album that isn't worth your time or money." [11] The Guardian 's Alexis Petridis criticized P. Diddy for still being "a terrible rapper, cursed with a stilted and flat delivery" that's overshadowed by his obscure label members' "shouty contributions" and for lacking the "self-pitying repugnance" from Forever, concluding that: "Puzzling over the album's confused morality and logic is more rewarding than actually listening to its familiar litany of misogyny and violence. It's all been done before and by more talented rappers than Combs and pals." [4]

Track listing

#TitleLengthFeatured artistsProducer(s)Samples
1"The Saga Continues (Intro)"3:52 G. Dep, Loon and Black Rob Yago, P. Diddy and Mario Winans for The Hitmen
2"Bad Boy for Life"4:13Black Rob and Mark CurryMegahertz
3"Toe Game (Interlude)"1:06Black Rob
4"That's Crazy"4:07G. Dep and Black RobAydine, Mario Winans and P. Diddy for The Hitmen
5"Let's Get It"4:16G. Dep and Black RobYogi and Mario Winans
6"Shiny Suit Man (Interlude)"1:06
7"Diddy"3:55 The Neptunes The Neptunes
8"Blast Off"3:41G. Dep, Mark Curry and LoonMike "Punch" Harper
9"Airport (Interlude)"0:28
10"Roll with Me"4:53 8Ball & MJG and Faith Evans Spike and Jamal
  • "One Thousand Finger Man" by J. Cain and C. Camero
11"On Top"3:58Loon & Marsha MorrisonMario Winans, P. Diddy and Steven "Loss Spirits" Dorsain
12"Where's Sean?"5:06Big Azz Ko, Black Rob, Kain, Loon, Mark Curry and BristalMario Winans, P. Diddy and "The Natural"
  • "Fantasy" by The James Last Band
13"Child of the Ghetto"3:43G. DepCoptic & D. Trotman
14"Incomplete (Interlude)"0:58 Cheri Dennis
15"So Complete"3:37Cheri Dennis Buckwild, P. Diddy and Mario Winans for The Hitmen
  • "Like Running Water" by C. Reid
16"Smoke (Interlude)"0:16
17"Lonely"3:59Mark Curry, Kain and Kokane Mario Winans and P. Diddy for The Hitmen
18"I Need a Girl (To Bella)"4:12Loon, Lo & Jack and Mario WinansCoptic
19"Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now (Interlude)"2:24Faith Evans and Mario Winans
20"If You Want This Money"3:59G. Dep and The HoodFellazYogi
21"I Don't Like That (Interlude)"1:04Bristal & Mark Curry
22"Back for Good Now"4:26Cheri Dennis, Black Rob and LoonThe Natural
23"Can't Believe"3:49Faith Evans and Carl Thomas Mario Winans and P. Diddy for The Hitmen
24"The Last Song"3:50Mark Curry, Big Azz Ko and Loon Bink
25"Thank You (Outro)"0:34

Singles

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Saga Continues.... [12]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [25] Gold50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [26] Silver60,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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