My name is Bella. I am a Web Developer, and I'm very passionate and dedicated to my work. With 20 years experience as a professional Web developer, I have acquired the skills and knowledge necessary to make your project a success. I enjoy every step of the design process, from discussion and collaboration.
SOURCE: essence.com
In a world where popular music has been profoundly shaped by the influence of Sean Combs, the iconic mogul’s enduring career stretches over three remarkable decades. With the launch of his sixth studio album, titled “The Love Album: Off The Grid,” Combs’ indelible legacy marches forward.
Surprisingly, there was a time when this multi-talented individual contemplated the end of his musical journey. “I had a conversation with Jay-Z at a point when I had stopped making music. I felt like I didn’t want to step into the studio anymore; it just felt different,” confided Sean “Diddy” Combs during an intimate gathering with journalists in Midtown Manhattan. He reminisced about his conversation with Jay-Z, saying, “He told me, ‘Man, that’s really sad, bro.’ And I thought, ‘Wow, it is sad.'”
Combs, known for his captivating storytelling, continued, “Then one day, it was like God spoke to me, and God, in this instance, happened to be a woman. She said, ‘It’s time, baby. It’s time to make music again.'”
And indeed, the time has come. Welcome to the era of love.
For those unacquainted with the term, the “love era” is a phrase often employed by Sean Combs to describe the state of his being. He explained, “Many aspects of my life have been defined by different eras. This was a conscious choice inspired by God, to embrace love without fear.”
During a press event for his highly anticipated LP, the icon entered the room with his signature smile and trademark ‘Diddy bop.’ He exuded an aura of light and joy, clad in a designer tracksuit and stylish sunglasses.
His well-groomed hair harked back to the caesar cut and 360 waves that were his trademark in the early 2000s. Diddy warmly greeted everyone present, be they staff or journalists, with a hug or a handshake, filling the room with his presence.
When it was time to commence the interview, Combs casually pushed a leather barstool aside, choosing to sit on the floor. He declined the use of a microphone, evidently uninterested in formalities. Diddy requested a toothpick, and his assistants swiftly accommodated his request. He exuded calmness, even serenity, all while remaining focused on his mission.
“You can go ahead and ask your questions,” Diddy said, initiating the intimate conversation. For my first question, I opted to inquire about love.
Diddy revealed that his decision to lead with love, both personally and professionally, evolved over time but was one he wholeheartedly embraced. He turned to love after experiencing profound loss, notably the passing of his soulmate Kim Porter in 2018 and the loss of his mentor Andre Harrell in 2020. Combs openly admitted that he had hit rock bottom before, and this wasn’t his first encounter with such a low point in life.
“In life, you have a choice,” Combs told ESSENCE. “You can choose the light or the dark.” Puffy, as he’s also known, chose to “publicly stand” on the side of love.
“I’m an extremist, so once I discovered the power of love, I went all in,” he declared. Indeed, in 2022, Diddy legally changed his name to Sean Love Combs, even sharing an image of his driver’s license on Instagram.
He also named his youngest daughter Love Sean Combs. Professionally, he launched Love Records. His most recent celebration of love and its all-encompassing power is “The Love Album: Off The Grid.”
“The Love Album” marks Diddy’s highly anticipated return to music, where he serves as an artist, executive producer, and curator. The LP features an array of luminaries, including The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Mary J Blige, Jazmine Sullivan, H.E.R., Summer Walker, Babyface, John Legend, and Teyana Taylor. The album, released under Love Records and Motown, pays homage to R&B, a musical genre that Combs holds dear to his heart.
R&B, as Diddy passionately asserts, is intrinsic to Black music. It not only embodies the spirit and ethos of African-American artists, who pioneered the art form, but it also preserves the history of their people.
Previously referred to as “race music,” R&B has deep roots in African-American culture, making it a natural fit for Diddy’s commitment to the Black community. In our conversation, Combs described R&B as “soulful music” and emphasized its significance in African-American culture, pledging to protect it from being lost to history.
Diddy’s message is clear: R&B will endure.
While Diddy’s voice may not be present on every track of “The Love Album,” his lyrical contributions punctuate the LP. Each song offers a glimpse into the mogul’s relationship with love in its myriad forms, including self-love, romantic love, and divine love. Diddy, the consummate artist, aims for “The Love Album” to touch souls by first exposing his own vulnerabilities.
In “Another One of Me,” Diddy collaborates with 21 Savage, French Montana, and The Weeknd, in what is rumored to be The Weeknd’s final feature.
The track concludes with Diddy delivering a monologue that feels like a musical prayer, touching on the depths of despair he had experienced before. He raps, “The nights that I cried alone, they taught me best. Anybody shine like this, they mighty blessed. Sometimes you’ve got to go through the dark to manifest.”
“Stay Pt. 1,” featuring Kalan FrFr and K-Ci, the lead singer of the iconic R&B quartet Jodeci, is a reimagining of Jodeci’s 1990s track, “Stay.” This remake faithfully captures the essence of the original, with the artists exploring lost love and pleading for its return. Diddy quips, “I need to hear some begging. I need to hear some sex talk. I need to hear some, can you forgive me? I’ve got ‘stay’ in three different songs because I’m sharing my truth—a significant part of my life has been spent pleading for someone to stay.”
“Moments,” featuring Justin Bieber, stands out as another gem on “The Love Album.” This track pays homage to the incomparable Quincy Jones and samples Michael Jackson’s 1979 album, “Off The Wall.” With its live instrumentation inspired by Jackson’s “I Can’t Help It,” the song is a beautifully layered masterpiece that took two years to complete. “That was the hardest song, but it came to life,” Combs remarked.
If anyone can resurrect R&B, which has been declared “dead” in the past, “The Love Album” might just be its second coming. Clocking in at nearly 90 minutes, the album offers a feast for R&B enthusiasts, with tracks that are sure to make you groove.
It might inspire you to send that text to a past love, rekindle a weekend rendezvous, or delve deeper into self-love. Diddy, a Scorpio known for his love of love, makes no secret of his affection for love itself, and “The Love Album” is a testament to this truth.
Despite a 13-year hiatus, Diddy eagerly looks forward to making music of various genres “forever.”
“I got a second chance at life, and I’m not finished,” Diddy declared. “We will keep moving forward constantly, changing the tone. That’s what love does for you,” the newly minted MTV Global Icon told ESSENCE.
Diddy walks in the light of love, firmly believing in the power of positive energy and vibrational frequencies. Love will remain his guiding force throughout life.
“It’s not a publicity stunt; it is love,” Combs affirmed. “It’s not just talking about love; it’s being loved. It’s not just talking about change; it’s being change. It’s really as simple as that.”
