Sean "Diddy" Combs has gone through many name changes over the years -- from Puff Daddy to P. Diddy to just Diddy. The man behind Bad Boys Records and Sean John Clothing recently joined VOA's Larry London to talk about his newest CD and his efforts to promote music in schools.
Diddy is one of music's busiest businessmen and most sought-after record producers. He has been visiting schools in America to spread the word about the importance of music in kids' lives and talk about his latest CD.
"Yes, I'm on the promo tour for the album "Press Play." I have an album coming out in October. Instead of just going into the cities and just doing the radio and television, we're going to also go into the schools and really kind of give back to the kids for all the support that they've given me."
Among his many accomplishments, including three Grammy Awards and 15 nominations, Diddy was also named one of Time magazine's "Most Influential People" for 2005. Forbes magazine listed him as the top name in hip-hop wealth. Diddy's new CD, "Press Play", features many guests.
"On the album performing is Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige. You have Brandy. You have Big Boi from OutKast, Ciara, Jamie Foxx, Pharell. You have production by Kanye (West), Pharell, and Timbaland, and Will-I-Am from the Black Eyed Peas, Just Blasé. It's definitely a heavy, heavy album."
It has been five years since Diddy released his last CD, "We Invented the Remix-Volume 1." During that time, he appeared in the Academy Award-winning film, "Monster's Ball", and also on Broadway. But why did he wait so long for a new album?
"I just needed a break," he says. "I needed to take a break from performing and also producing music and do some other things. I ran a marathon, starred on Broadway and just did a couple of different things. And when I went back into the studio, it was like my mind was clear, my ears were clearer, and I had evolved as a producer and also as an artist."
The first single from his new CD is called "Come To Me" featuring Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls. The song is already attracting a lot of attention.
"Yeah, that's out right now and climbing the charts. The single is like a cat and mouse chase between me and her (back and forth interplay). As part of the album, I have different phases of the album. That's the seduction phase for the album."
Diddy's future includes a world tour for the new album and spending time with his girlfriend, Kim Porter, who is expecting twins. It would seem like that is enough to occupy all his time, but its not.
"We're shooting "A Raisin In The Sun" for (U.S. television network) ABC in November for a couple of weeks, and that will be out. And after I finish all the promotions for this album, then I'm definitely going to go to Hollywood for a while and audition for some more parts."
Video courtesy Bad Boy Records