Released three months after Biggie’s death, Puff Daddy’s “No Way Out†debuted at number one on the charts.  It contained the number one singles “I’ll Be Missing You†and “Can’t Hold Me Down†which owned the airwaves in the summer of 1997.  The third single, “All About The Benjamins†never made it to number one, but has somehow managed to remain in rotation as one of the few timeless hip hop club records.
The main section of the song was produced using a slowed down sample of the instrumental version of “I Did it For Love†by Love Unlimited.  Puffy opens up the record with some well known lyrics, followed by the LOX, and then Lil’ Kim – “Wanna rumble with the bee huh? Bzzzzz.† The beat flips completely for Biggie’s verse, which is always a unique move production wise.  In effect it made his place in the song elevated from every one else, which seemed very appropriate.  This section of the beat was built off of the opening bars of “It’s Great to Be Here†by The Jackson 5.  Not much is done with the four bar loop besides being layered with some extra hi hats and record scratches.  Biggie comes through with a verse that is pretty much a quotable from start to finish.  For me, this part is what makes the record special.
Jackson 5 – It’s Great To Be Here
