This Diddy remix of a Smashing Pumpkins song took 16 years to release

There was a time — 1998, to be precise — when the Smashing Pumpkins and Diddy (then Puff Daddy) were two of the biggest acts in the industry. Despite their musical differences, they even came together for a collaboration, with Diddy remixing two of the band’s songs from their Adore album. But, for reasons unknown then, the remixes were never released.

A few years ago, one of the remixes finally popped up, a funkier version version of the Pumpkins’ song “Perfect.” Now, after 16 years, Rolling Stone has premiered the other, a remix of the track “Ava Adore.” While the original is darkly romantic, with electronic instruments that throb along under Billy Corgan’s lyrics, the Diddy version is more hopeful, with soaring strings and acoustic guitar. It’s also — for better or worse — very ‘90s. If this was the only document that survives the future, archaeologists will have a perfect representation of 1998. You can listen to it here.