Moving 108,000 units, the set also trumps the No. Pop youngster JoJo returns to the chart with her sophomore set “The High Road” (Da Family/Blackground) at No. 2 spot warm for a second week with 112,000 copies, a 31% sales decline. 2.Įvanescence’s Wind-Up effort “The Open Door” keeps the No. The follow-up, 1999’s “Forever” (205,000) and 2001’s “The Saga Continues” (186,000) both debuted and peaked at No. Under his previous moniker Puff Daddy, his debut “No Way Out” also topped the 200 with a whopping 561,000 units in 1997. “Press Play” sold 170,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, the lowest first-week sum of Diddy’s solo career. 1 album on The Billboard 200 since 1997 this week with “Press Play.” The Bad Boy/Atlantic effort also knocks Lloyd Banks’ “Rotten Apple” from the throne on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart after only one week. Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.Diddy scores his first No.
Despite your personal feelings about Diddy, you must admit that he knows how to put together a product. Whether credit for the assembly of this album should be attributed to Diddy or his talented guest contributors (most likely the latter), it is clear that it is has all the same crowd-pleasing elements of previous Bad Boy projects. Ultimately, record sales of “Press Play” will likely determine if the mogul’s time is better spent cultivating artists and his clothing brand, instead of continuing to promote his own music. And from this standpoint, it has not been successful: his first single from the album “Come to Me,” featuring Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls, has peaked at only no. It is both a refreshing break from familiar beats and trite expressions and it is easy to listen to continuously because the songs follow a natural progression.Īnd for once, Diddy tones down what used to be his trademarks: relatively few tracks are obvious appropriations of classic hits, and he refrains from plastering any of his names over every track.īut this being Diddy’s album, the most important question is how much money it will make. It’s crass, but also effective.Īs a whole, the album blends R&B melodies, hip-hop beats, and dance music into a fairly novel sound for the hip-hop genre. Diddy also highlights his vulnerabilities on several tracks, such as “Last Night.” In this duet with Keyshia Cole, Diddy makes his singing debut with a tender ballad. Most notably, “Everything I Love,” with Nas and Cee-Lo, showcases (or maybe invents) the conscious side of Diddy, enhanced by the ever-insightful rhymes of Nas. Blige, it is safe to say that it cannot help but generate some quality songs.ĭiddy’s versatility and marketability make it impossible to think of him as just a rapper he is a jack-of-all-money-making-trades, which he shows off all over the album. Featuring appearances from Kanye West, Pharrell, will.i.am, Mario Winans, Just Blaze, Nicole Scherzinger, Christina Aguilera, Big Boi, Ciara, Timbaland, Twista, Shawnna, Nas, Cee-Lo, Brandy, Keyshia Cole, Jamie Foxx and Mary J.
He’s created Danity Kane on MTV’s reality series “Making the Band,” promoted his record label, initiated the “Vote or Die” campaign, expanded his clothing empire, and touted Proactive acne treatment’s ability to “moisturize situation and preserve sexy.” And occasionally, reportedly, he records music.Īs expected, Diddy’s new album “Press Play” is stuffed with upbeat tracks and A-list cameos that reflect his flamboyant and entrepreneurial persona. Diddy) is very famous and very important. 3 Stars Diddy (alternately known as Sean Combs, Puff Daddy, Puffy, and P.