“Bad Boy for Life” was produced in 1998, but later released in 2001. In reviews of the album, "Bad Boy for Life" has been identified as a declaration of strength by Diddy's label Bad Boy Records . Jason Birchmeier of music website Allmusic explains that the song summarises the claim "that [the] Bad Boy empire is in fact still an empire",[ 3] while Entertainment Weekly reviewer David Browne similarly points out the lyric "It's official/I survived what I been through" as a declaration of strength.[ 4] Soren Baker of the Los Angeles Times identifies "Bad Boy for Life", in addition to previous single "Let's Get It", as particularly important to the success of the album.[ 5]
The music video for "Bad Boy for Life" was directed by Chris Robinson , filmed in June 2001 and released in early July, and features a number of cameo appearances including guitarist Dave Navarro , drummer Travis Barker , actors Ben Stiller and Richard Dunn , rappers Xzibit , Ice Cube , Snoop Dogg and Fonzworth Bentley , boxer Mike Tyson , television host Pat O'Brien , basketball players Shaquille O'Neal and Baron Davis and rap rock band Crazy Town .[ 6] The video was nominated for Best Rap Video at both the 2002 MVPA Awards[ 7] and the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards .[ 8]
12" vinyl (78612-79400-1) [ 10] Title Writer(s) 1. "Bad Boy for Life" (club mix) Wesley, Curry, Ross, Fisher, Goss 4:09 2. "Bad Boy for Life" (instrumental) Wesley, Curry, Ross, Fisher, Goss 4:09 3. "Bad Boy for Life" (radio mix) Wesley, Curry, Ross, Fisher, Goss 4:09 4. "Bad Boy for Life" (acapella) Wesley, Curry, Ross, Fisher, Goss 4:09 Total length: 16:36
European CD single (Arista 74321 88431 2) [ 11] Title Writer(s) 1. "Bad Boy for Life" Wesley, Curry, Ross, Fisher, Goss 4:13 2. "Let's Get It" Trevell Coleman , Jeremy Graham, Ross, Al Green , Mabon Hodge4:16 Total length: 8:29
European maxi single (Arista 74321 88430 2) [ 12] Title Writer(s) 1. "Bad Boy for Life" (club mix) Wesley, Curry, Ross, Fisher, Goss 4:13 2. "Bad Boy for Life" (instrumental) Wesley, Curry, Ross, Fisher, Goss 4:13 3. "Let's Get It" (club mix) Coleman, Graham, Ross, Green, Hodge 4:16 4. "Let's Get It" (remix) Coleman, Graham, Ross, Green, Hodge 4:01 5. "Can't Believe" (club mix) Sean Combs, Mario Winans , Mechalie Jamison, Michael Jones, Jack Knight , Andre Young , Chris Taylor , Nasir Jones , Jermain Baxter , Anthony Cruz 3:49 6. "Hoodfellaz" (club mix) Graham, Ronald Smith, Chris Moss, Kamau Herbert, Goss 4:03 Total length: 24:35
United Kingdom 12" vinyl (Arista 74321 88998 1) [ 13] Title Writer(s) 1. "Bad Boy for Life" Wesley, Curry, Ross, Fisher, Goss 4:09 2. "Bad Boy for Life" (instrumental) Wesley, Curry, Ross, Fisher, Goss 4:09 3. "Let's Get It" (remix) Coleman, Graham, Ross, Green, Hodge 5:19 4. "Let's Get It" (instrumental) Coleman, Graham, Ross, Green, Hodge 4:30 Total length: 18:07
United Kingdom maxi single (Arista 74321 88998 2) [ 14] Title Writer(s) 1. "Bad Boy for Life" Wesley, Curry, Ross, Fisher, Goss 4:09 2. "Bad Boy for Life" (instrumental) Wesley, Curry, Ross, Fisher, Goss 4:09 3. "Let's Get It" (remix) Coleman, Graham, Ross, Green, Hodge 5:19 4. "Bad Boy for Life" (music video) Wesley, Curry, Ross, Fisher, Goss 5:56 Total length: 19:33
"Bad Boy for Life"
Performed by P. Diddy, Black Rob and Mark Curry
Produced by Megahertz Music Group
Vocal production by Harve "Joe Hooker" Pierre
"Let's Get It"
Performed by Three The... featuring G. Dep , P. Diddy and Black Rob
Produced by Yogi
Additional production by Mario "Yellow Man" Winans
Vocal production by Harve "Joe Hooker" Pierre
Contains excerpts of "Love & Happiness" by Al Green
"Let's Get It" (remix)
Performed by Three The... featuring Kain, Mark Curry, Loon , G. Dep, P. Diddy and Black Rob
"Can't Believe"
Performed by Faith Evans featuring Carl Thomas
Produced by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Mario "Yellow Man" Winans
Contains excerpts from "Phone Tap" by The Firm
"Hoodfellaz"
Performed by The Hoodfellaz
Produced by Yogi
Chart (2001)
Position
Australia (ARIA)[ 31]
96
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[ 32]
71
Germany (Official German Charts)[ 33]
76
UK Singles (OCC)[ 34]
187
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard )[ 35]
74
^ Patel, Minal (July 21, 2001). "The Rhythm Section" . Billboard . Vol. 113, no. 29. p. 24. Retrieved January 21, 2019 .
^ "Billboard Singles" . Diddy Charts & Awards . Allmusic . Retrieved January 13, 2012 .
^ Jason Birchmeier. "Review" . Diddy - The Saga Continues . Allmusic . Retrieved January 14, 2012 .
^ David Browne (July 30, 2001). "The Saga Continues... Review" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on April 25, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2012 .
^ Soren Baker (July 22, 2001). "P. Diddy & The Bad Boy Family, "The Saga Continues ..." " . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 14, 2012 .
^ "P. Diddy - "Bad boy 4 life" " . mvdbase.com. Retrieved January 13, 2012 .
^ "The Music Video Production Association Announces This Year's Nominees For the 11th Annual MVPA Awards" . PRNewswire. April 4, 2002. Retrieved January 13, 2012 .
^ "2002 Video Music Awards" . MTV Video Music Awards . MTV . Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2012 .
^ Deen, Sarah (2021-09-29). "Jesy Nelson and Nicki Minaj confirm collab on her first solo song Boyz" . Metro . Retrieved 2021-09-29 .
^ "P. Diddy, Black Rob & Mark Curry - Bad Boy for Life (Vinyl)" . Discogs . Retrieved January 14, 2012 .
^ "P. Diddy, Black Rob & Mark Curry - Bad Boy for Life (CD)" . Discogs . Retrieved January 14, 2012 .
^ "P. Diddy, Black Rob, Mark Curry - Bad Boy for Life (CD)" . Discogs . Retrieved January 14, 2012 .
^ "P. Diddy, Black Rob, Mark Curry - Bad Boy for Life (Vinyl)" . Discogs . Retrieved January 14, 2012 .
^ "P. Diddy, Black Rob, Mark Curry - Bad Boy for Life (CD)" . Discogs . Retrieved January 14, 2012 .
^ "P. Diddy, Black Rob & Mark Curry – Bad Boy for Life" . ARIA Top 50 Singles .
^ "P. Diddy, Black Rob & Mark Curry – Bad Boy for Life" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40 .
^ "P. Diddy, Black Rob & Mark Curry – Bad Boy for Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50 .
^ "P. Diddy, Black Rob & Mark Curry – Bad Boy for Life" (in French). Ultratop 50 .
^ "P. Diddy, Black Rob & Mark Curry – Bad Boy for Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts .
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – P. Diddy, Black Rob & Mark Curry" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 .
^ "P. Diddy, Black Rob & Mark Curry – Bad Boy for Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100 .
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company .
^ "P. Diddy, Black Rob & Mark Curry – Bad Boy for Life" . Singles Top 100 .
^ "P. Diddy, Black Rob & Mark Curry – Bad Boy for Life" . Swiss Singles Chart .
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company .
^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40" . Official Charts Company .
^ "Diddy Chart History (Hot 100)" . Billboard . Retrieved May 20, 2021.
^ "Diddy Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)" . Billboard . Retrieved May 20, 2021.
^ "Diddy Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)" . Billboard . Retrieved May 20, 2021.
^ "Diddy Chart History (Rhythmic)" . Billboard . Retrieved May 20, 2021.
^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart" . Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 14, 2022 .
^ "Rapports Annuels 2001" . Ultratop. Retrieved June 14, 2020 .
^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" . GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved June 14, 2020 .
^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF) . UKChartsPlus . Retrieved June 14, 2020 .
^ "2001 The Year in Music" . Billboard . Vol. 113, no. 52. December 29, 2001. p. YE-44. Retrieved May 20, 2021 .