No Way Out

No Way Out, released in 1997 by Puff Daddy & the Family, is a polished, sample-driven pop rap album that blends mainstream hip hop, R&B hooks, and gangsta rap swagger with lush, cinematic production. Produced largely by Sean Combs, the record centers on large, radio-oriented singles such as "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down", "I'll Be Missing You", and "Been Around the World", and features contributions from several Bad Boy artists. Its sound emphasizes dense sampling, glossy drum programming, orchestral stings, and sung choruses, and it helped define a late 1990s commercial hip hop aesthetic.