Press Play

Diddy’s first creation in five years

One of the wealthiest people in the musical industry, the producer of a highly successful reality show, the CEO of one of the most influential labels and the owner of two upscale restaurants are only a few of all the titles that the man named Sean John Combs can boast of. Although, to many of us he is better known by his scenic nicknames P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean John, Puffy, The Big Puff, and staring from lately, simply Diddy. The artist is also known for his numerous involvements in court procedures on various matters, which he has mostly won. Because of being constantly occupied with new projects and working out ideas, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has not pleased the audience too often with new albums these days, his previous work having been released five years ago. Finally this October Diddy has presented the world with his new urbanistic record Press Play. Due to the production from will.i.am, The Neptunes, Havoc and Timbaland, and numerous guest appearances, the album is going to be a great success continuing to bring its creator the fame of one of those hip-hop authors who always keep up with the times. Despite having enough to take care of, Diddy has once again managed to make a record worthy of being played at all night clubs and parties, for Press Play is a collection of great danceable R&B and hip-hop tracks.

Press Play embraces different sides of relations

Diddy and his team have made a conceptual album, the topic of which initially provides it with success – rises and falls in relations that any of us goes through. R&B and aggressive rapping mixed together, a lot of female vocals and outstanding production complete the picture. Press Play opens with the traditional Intro aptly named Testimonial: against the background of a repeating sample Diddy tells a short story about himself and his album, gradually increasing the tension. We Gon’ Make It featuring Jack Knight is remarkable for a great rhythm and orchestra instruments in combination with tough lyrics, and The Future is quite a confident and boasting track, on which Diddy is making everyone sure of his power to influence the future. The first single Come to Me, performed with Nicole Scherzinger of Pussycat Dolls presents a dialogue between a guy and his potential girlfriend, flirting and playful, whereas the second single Tell Me with Christina Aguilera is a more aggressive song, unusually melodious when Christina sings her part, resulting into one of the album’s most powerful songs. Wanna Move, the collaboration with Big Boi, Ciara and Scar pleases with the rhythm that makes you eager to move, spellbinding with impetuous rapping contrasted to soft female vocals. After Love, due to Keri’s pleasant felt vocals deserves the title of the most emotional composition, starting and ending with a phone conversation, while Mary J. Blige’s outstanding manner of performance adorns track Making it Hard, one of the most tense ones, though it is also devoted to romance Diddy claims to value a lot. By the end of Press Play different sides of relations turn out to be embraced, which is sure to make an appeal to each heart.

Diddy does know how to please the fans

In the past Diddy was often criticised for using the samples of other musician’s songs in his works and for making obviously commercial albums, and in many cases the critics were right. On Press Play, however, they have nothing that can be used as a reason to find faults with the artist. It is not an easy job to be the object of the audience’s careful attention constantly, and Diddy has been already long used to many things the show buisiness is unimaginable without: envy, rivalry, enmity and many others. His firmness and inviolable faith in himself deserve a praise, for there is hardly an artist that has seen as much as him and is still able to remain influential. Diddy’s new album is a sign of his strive for remain a musician, though he is now much more than just a rapper. He turns thirty-seven soon, on November, 4, and little can boast the success in so many spheres as Mr. Combs has achieved. No wonder, he invites only the most fashionable producers and the most wanted artists to assist him on working on the record, and they certainly are glad to join the star of such level. Commercial or not, Press Play offers the music, created by one of the most significant figures of today’s hip-hop culture, and he does know how to please the fans.