Even noted scene stealers Cee-Lo and Nas play the back on their collabo, the Kanye West-helmed banger “Everything I Love”. Pop princesses Nicole Shrezinger (of The Pussycat Dolls) and Christina Aguilera serve as little more than hook girls on their guest spots (on “Come To Me” and “Tell Me”, the album’s first two singles). One interesting thing here is that Diddy’s many collaborators don’t outshine him, at least not too much. The flow isn’t the only thing this song has in common with Jay-Z - the song’s backing track is almost identical to Jay’s current hit single “Show Me What You Got”. The thumping “We Gon’ Make It” finds Diddy rocking a swagger-filled, tight, Jigga-esque flow. The first question when listening to this album is: have Diddy’s emcee skills taken a leap forward? This might be equal parts improved ghostwriting and the fact that the overall quality of popular MC’s has dropped sharply over the years. Lo thing” - as Puff calls it during one song - in between). and real hip-hop fans know how badly his last 3-4 albums have sucked) to his long-time relationship with girlfriend Kim Porter (who deserves credit for sticking to Puff for over a decade, with the “J. The beats get stranger, the songs are a step slower, and the predominant topic shifts from Diddy and his monumental ego (no one has made more out of their longevity, other than LL Cool J.
As the album progresses, it takes a more experimental tack. Press Play is sort of divided into two parts: the first half of the album is nothing but ego-driven club bangers, designed to shake dance floors worldwide. It’s definitely an enjoyable listen, although that’s due to hot beats and great collaborators as much (or even more) as it’s due to Diddy himself. This has led him to a recording career as a performer that is close to approaching a decade in length! Despite an admitted lack of rapping skill (well, he doesn’t write his own rhymes, so you can’t even really blame him for that), Puff’s albums always have their share of ear candy, and his fifth (and if you believe him, his last) album, Press Play continues in that vein.
Whether as a rapper, a label president, an actor, a restauranteur or a clothing designer, Diddy has been, above all, a marketing and promotions genius. Diddy or just Diddy, the fact is that very few people have made as much of an impression on the American conscious over the past 15 years. Whether you call him Sean Combs, Puffy, Puff Daddy, P. Whether you love him or hate him, you’ve gotta respect Diddy - or whatever the hell he calls himself these days.