Duets: The Final Chapter

Let’s put aside the ethics of propping up a guy whose been dead nearly a decade for a Weekend At Bernie’s–style cash-in and then having the gall to credit the dead guy as an “executive producer.” Let’s ignore the fact that three of Biggie’s “collaborators” here are also dead (Big Pun, 2Pac, Bob Marley). As a musical venture, Duets is a mildly interesting, talent-heavy compilation of tracks with little in common beyond the occasional presence of Biggie’s booming rhymes. That’s not to say a few aren’t worth downloading (particularly the dramatic “Living in Pain” and the vivid “Hustler’s Story”) but calling this a Notorious B.I.G. album is a stretch.