"forever", combs' second solo studio album, was released by bad boy records on august 24, 1999, in north america, and in the uk on the following day. it reached number two on the "billboard" 200 and number one on the top r&b/hip-hop albums chart, where it remained for one week before being knocked off by mary j. blige's fourth album, "mary". the album received positive to mixed reviews from music critics and spawned three singles that have charted on the "billboard" charts. it peaked at number four on the canadian albums chart, combs' highest-charting album in that country.