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What's a wannabe soul diva to do when the playing field is overrun and overcrowded with other divas -- some of whom have stronger pipes, better songs, and more talent to offer the masses?

One option would be to improve upon your vocal skills and hire better songwriters. Another option would be to have Sean "P.Diddy" Combs in your corner and be the marginally talented widow of one this generation's most beloved mc/rappers. Faith Evans, the widow of the Notorious B.I.G., opted for the latter.

Too bad.

While this release sports a cast of heavy hitting producers, writers and guest singers (including Carl Thomas lending a vocal assist on the heart-stirring duet "Can't Believe"), the results are not as remarkable as one might expect.

Sure, the beats are bouncin', and one can hardly miss with venerable hip hop producers, The Neptunes, providing their signature east coast flava on "Burnin' Up"--who, by the way, lose points for jacking their own licks from Mystikal's "Shake Ya Ass." And, let's not ignore the effort put into making the switch from Faith's usual style of overdone ballads and mid-tempo rhythms. On Faithfully, Ms. Evans actually pumps it up a notch and attempts to lay claim to vibrant, dance numbers ("Alone in This World" and "Back To Love").

But, alas, the complete work doesn't hold up in the end. Blame the Bad Boy production team for overdoing the sampling (as when they borrow riffs from Biggie's "Who Shot Ya" on "Alone in This World"), or, blame the sappy quality of some of the songs (Jennifer Lopez helped to write "I Love You" and I almost got a toothache from all the saccharine!). Then again, you could blame Faith herself for just not quite finding her voice.

"You Gets No Love" is a solid hip hop single; "Do Your Time" contains a meaningful message about responsibility; and "Where We Stand" and "Heaven Only Knows" are decent slow numbers. But, on the whole, Faithfully just doesn't quite cut it. However, with the entire Bad Boy Family backing her up, there is absolutely no reason to weep for Faith Evans.

She'll record again and perhaps she'll do better. But with friends in high places, Faith Evans will most definitely rise again.