Life Story

1	Mrs. Barry (Intro) 1:00
2	Life Story / Cheryl Pepsii Riley 4:58
3	Whoa! 4:04
4	Drive By (Interlude) 0:47
5	Lookin' at Us / Cee-Lo Green 4:35
6	Down the Line Joint 4:57
7	Espacio / Lil' Kim 4:05
8	You Don't Know Me / Joe Hooker 4:50
9	Can I Live / The LOX 4:59
10	Championship (Interlude) 1:20
11	PD World Tour 4:46
12	Muscle Game / Mark Curry 4:35
13	Cop Skit (Interlude) 1:40
14	B.R. / G. Dep 3:54
15	Thug Story 4:34
16	Jasmine / Carl Thomas 5:31
17	Mad Rapper (Interlude) 0:53
18	I Love You Baby 3:36
19	Spanish Fly / Jennifer Lopez 4:03
20	Rise Up (Interlude) 0:22
21	I Dare You / Joe Hooker 4:24

Barnes & Noble

Bad Boy Records has had its fair share of bad luck lately, given the defection of The Lox, less than stellar record sales for sophomore efforts by 112 and Faith Evans, and label chief Puff Daddy's notorious legal troubles. The label, however, does have another shot at regaining its former glory with the long-anticipated release of LIFE STORY by Black Rob. Rob made his debut on Puff's 1997 multi-platinum debut, NO WAY OUT, but is now the only guest artist from that disc still signed to Bad Boy. His loyalty, however, has paid off. With a wicked string sample and dense beats, compliments of Buckwild, LIFE STORY's lead single "Whoa!" re-introduces the grimy MC and provides yet another term for the hip-hop slang dictionary. Other gems include the thugged out "Can I Live" and the boastful "I Dare You," which originally appeared on the SLAM movie soundtrack. The disc also features blazin' guest spots from Lil' Kim, Jennifer Lopez, and Bad Boy newcomer Carl Thomas. Since the untimely death of the Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy has sorely needed a charismatic successor to his throne, and on LIFE STORY Black Rob proves himself a worthy heir. Rashaun Hall

All Music Guide

After the Notorious B.I.G. was killed, Puffy Combs spent a lot of time trying to fill the big man's shoes. To this end, the Bad Boy label chief has enlisted a slew of substitutes, creating a catalog of dance-friendly, thug-life chronicles of high-life fantasies and gritty realities. Enter Harlem native Black Rob. A competent MC with a guttural delivery that recalls the smooth, reserved style of the late B.I.G., Black Rob constructs explicit tales with hooks you can feel and lyrics that stick. On a disc that includes support from Mase, Jennifer Lopez, Puff Daddy, and the Lox, Black Rob details hard street life replete with pain, death, and stark honesty. With 20 thoroughly bruising cuts, Black Rob's debut may just succeed in helping Puff Daddy regain the street credibility lost when Combs achieved mainstream/crossover status. Roxanne Blanford