Diddy describes his new album, “Press Play,” as a “movie on wax.”
It’s loosely based on his romantic history, including his on-again, off-again relationship with Kim Porter, 35, a model and the mother of his 9-year-old son, Christian. They are expecting twins this winter. (Diddy’s firstborn, Justin, is 12.)
The album tells the story of a brash young man who meets a woman on the dance floor, Diddy said. They embark on a passionate but turbulent affair, and “then comes the pain,” he said, explaining that the protagonist eventually realizes he is “not as strong as he thought.”
“Kim has been the main muse for the whole thing, but she ain’t really caught up on the record,” he said. “She has the type of personality where she don’t really care about the fame and the fortune. I could make five or 10 records to her, but she just wants me to be a good boy all the time to her. I’m trying my best. I love her.”
In his 30s, Diddy learned what a good relationship really means. “If you love somebody you don’t force it,” he said. “You don’t love them because of what you can get out of them. You don’t love them because they look good or because they make you look good.
“She can be the hottest chick in the world, but if she can’t brighten up your day and your darkest hour, it don’t even matter. Now I really want to try to get it right.”
On some songs Diddy gets romantic in a low, conversational voice: “Let me give you some passionate loving that you won’t forget.” “A man has his feelings too.” “You stood by me through all that J. Lo stuff.” “I know I make it hard to love me.”
Blatant vulnerability is rare in rap, and given that Diddy once declared himself a “Bad Boy for Life,” this display of lover-man sincerity could lead to some ribbing. When asked how he thinks the street will react, Diddy was silent for a while.
“To be honest, I don’t know how it will be received,” he said. “I wasn’t afraid to be sensual and romantic. But I wanted to still hit you hard and make your body move. I just think that being honest is the most gangsta thing you could ever do.”
