O1LT.COM "HOT AND BLACK" MUSIC REVIEW-"PRESS PLAY"!!!

By L.T. Dinwiddie
What used to be the driving force in hip-hop – Bad Boy Records, is now one of the biggest jokes. But Luckily for Puffy, Yung Jock and Block Entertainment has breathed new life into the diminishing record label, though it doesn't look like Bad Boy will ever be the top tier recording company it once was. Despite that fact Puffy is still soaring within the Fashion and Cosmetics industries with Sean John and Unforgivable, but he still isn’t satisfied as he is attempting to reclaim his status as a rapper and entertainer with Press Play.

Press Play is pretty much an all featured album. Puffy doesn’t go at it alone as today’s hottest and most notable talents all get on board to help him out. Christina Aguilera, Nicole Scherzinger, Big Boi, Scar, Ciara, Twista, Nas and CeeLo just to name a few, all appear on Press Play. The album starts off good with a freestyle testimonial, but it gets shaky after that. Songs like “I Am” and “The Future” seem to be more like musical interludes rather then individual songs. They just fill in the space until you get to hot tracks like “Hold Up” and “Come to Me” feat. Nicole S. Press Play pulls on a lot of different influences. You can here the southern vibe on “Wanna Move” feat Ciara, Big Boi and Scar, and you can also feel the club vibe on “Diddy Rock” feat. Twista, and Shawnna. I am also feeling the 80’s vibe on “Special Feeling”. What’s funny to me is how when I heard “Everything I Love” feat CeeLo and Nas a few days ago I didn’t like it, but on the album I’m feeling it. It flows very well right after the “Claim My Place” interlude.

If you read my online column often then you know I am not the biggest Puffy fan and though I hate to admit it, this album is fiyah. But the only reason its good is because of all the guest appearances on the project. If you have to get damn near every popular artist to appear on your album to make it hot, then that speaks highly of your own talent. With all that said, I tip my hat off to Puffy for having the ability to show us all that he is still has the skills to put out a good album.The entire production of Press Play is hot. I will be sure to keep my copy of Press Play close to me for the next few weeks, but I will file it under a different name in my Ipod to avoid being jumped by my boi’s.

D.L.+

O1LT.com RATING SYSTEM

W.B. - Worth Buying
B.L.-Bootleg It-$5.00
D.L.-Own it, but on the Low
NXT-Next Album Please (Whack!)
**Disclaimer-B.L (Bootleg) is a metaphor. O1LT.com does not encourage the unauthorized copying or distribution of copyrighted material.

Track Listing

1. Testimonial (Intro) - Diddy
2. We Gon' Make It - Diddy, Jack Knight
3. I Am (Interlude) - Diddy
4. Future - Diddy
5. Hold Up - Diddy
6. Come to Me - Diddy, Nicole Scherzinger
7. Tell Me - Christina Aguilera, Diddy
8. Wanna Move - Feat. Big Boi, Ciara, Scar
9. Diddy Rock - Feat. Timbaland Twista, Shawnna,
10. Claim My Place (Interlude) - Feat. Avant
11. Everything I Love - Feat. Nas and CeeLo
12. Special Feeling - Mika Lett
13. Crazy Thang (Interlude) - Diddy,
14. After Love - Feat. Keri
15. Through the Pain (She Told Me) - Feat. Mario Winas
16. Thought You Said - Feat. Brandy
17. Last Night - Keyshia Cole, Diddy
18. Making It Hard - Mary J. Blige, Diddy
19. Partners for Life - Diddy, Jamie Foxx