Diddy: Press Play : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

It's tempting to credit the surprisingly not-terrible Press Play to Diddy's collaborators, who include Christina Aguilera, Big Boi and Nas, and production from Kanye West, Pharrell and Rich Harrison. But if you believe advance buzz, Press Play is a product of Diddy’s vision for a forward-thinking hip-hop record that tosses in lots of R&B and flashes of techno. On those terms, Diddy has done pretty well: Hot cuts include Seventies soul-splashed celebrations of personal greatness like the very Kanye "We Gon' Make It," the dark, manically smitten love song "Tell Me," and "Hold Up," a strangely poppin' remembrance of a rougher past with kiddie-choir-tinged Wu Tang-ish production. There’s also a run of futuristic-but-undercooked R&B cuts that could be outtakes from Justin Timberlake's new record. Diddy's rhymes are more adept than they used to be, but his flat voice and retro boasts drag things down. That Press Play is still OK despite this is proof that trying too hard isn’t always a bad thing.

CHRISTIAN HOARD

(Posted: Oct 17, 2006)

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Review 1 of 7

1of 5 Stars

fuck puffy . he does nothing for bad boy anymore
if it wasnt for biggie,mase bad boy wouldnt be nowhere, his production team do all the work and he gets all the credit. since when have they had a hit album ?. even in the east-west war he was a pussy. 2pac, death row ran things till suge knight had to fuck it all up in vegas he also did disses to suge knight and pac secretly on life after death album hes a sly bastard. PUFFY IS SHOOK OF SUGE KNIGHT. 2pac killed bad boy of one by one. puffy never used talk east-west war cuz hes took scared that something gonna happen to him
i bet he knows who killed biggie#
press play is a crap album

Jul 25, 2008 12:13:27

Review 2 of 7

1of 5 Stars

pure garbage. can't even do a song by hisself.

May 18, 2007 14:16:05

Review 3 of 7

4of 5 Stars

This is one of the best albums that came out in 2006 in the rap game and that's saying a lot considering every one who came out last year. So good job Diddy!

Jan 18, 2007 23:40:03

Review 4 of 7

1of 5 Stars

Yo Diddy, I'm not hating on your creativity 'cause I don't what it
is like to walk in your shoes everyday. Simply put, your Press
Play will get no play in my iPod. Sorry Dog!

Nov 9, 2006 11:41:50

Review 5 of 7

2of 5 Stars

I don’t know where we (the hip hop generation) have went wrong. I know we must get money and hustle, but what has happen to the hunger and desire to just make good music. I can not hate on Sean Combs the man; he has made an empire off of the back of one very gifted emcee. And his ability to stay in the limelight after BIG’s death is amazing. The clothing line will forever cement him in the history of hip hop and his efforts as a businessman is exceptional so understand I am not a hater. Now, let’s get into Puff Daddy, Puffy, P-Diddy, Diddy the emcee we all know who don’t write rhymes (He writes checks remember?) I really don’t understand what he is trying to do with this Cd. On tracks like We Gon’ make it, The Future & Hold up he tries to come off as if he’s the hardest emcee and we all know that ain’t true. As you go deeper into the Cd it just get’s worst “Come to me” of course is the stand out, but I wouldn’t have thought it would stand alone. Diddy Rock was a disappointment when I saw that Tim was on it I thought he would at least produce it I was disappointed again. Even worst the Cd doesn’t even embody what Diddy said it would and that was a party album from beginning to end. I feel if it would have went in that direction it would have favored him, even all of his friends featured couldn’t help this project. The sad thing is I like some of Diddy’s past projects No way out and even The saga continues were great Cd’s. This Cd just shows that Bad Boy is at the end of it reign, you know it’s bad when your best money maker is Yung Joc.

Oct 31, 2006 17:00:15

Review 6 of 7

Not Rated

I respect Diddy for what he is a hustla...not the best rapper...not the best producer...not the best artist...but he is who he is if he's not the best person in the idustry who know how to sell his name...I have to say that I didn't like the album, however,...not to say that it was a bad album...it's just not my taste...I'm a hardcore emcee fan...and I like lyrical emcees. People like RasKass, Game, Biggie, Jay Z, Alpha Leo(Many don't know about him yet but he's and underground artist who gaining much respect in the underground circuit.) Eminem and I can't forget E-40(the inventor of slang that people have been rippin off from for years) So it's not fair for me to rate this album.

Oct 27, 2006 12:48:40

Review 7 of 7

5of 5 Stars

This album should do exactly what the title tells us to do. This is one of the only albums this year that I can listen from beggining to end! I really love his songs with Christina Aguilera, Keyshia Cole, Brandy, and Fergie. C'mon who else in the record business can collaborate with so many hot people to make such a hot album: DIDDY! Press Play bitches!!!

Oct 24, 2006 15:34:34

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