''Press Play'' is the fourth studio album by American hip hop recording artist Diddy. It was released on October 17, 2006, by

Bad Boy Records Bad Boy Records (or Bad Boy Entertainment) is an American record label founded in 1993 by rapper Sean "Puffy" Combs. It operates as an imprint of Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. It has been home to many artists, including ...

. The album was supposed to be his first album released under the "Diddy" stage name, but he couldn’t legally release albums under Diddy after a lawsuit from DJ Richard “Diddy” Dearlove. ''Press Play'' was his first release distributed by

Warner Music Group Warner Music Group Corp. ( d.b.a. Warner Music Group, commonly abbreviated as WMG) is an American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the " big three" recording companies and t ...

's Atlantic Records. ''Press Play'' features several guest contributions from

Nicole Scherzinger Nicole Scherzinger (; born Nicole Prascovia Elikolani Valiente, June 29, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and television personality. She is best known as the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, one of the best-selling g ...

Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...

Keyshia Cole Keyshia Myeshia Cole Johnson; born October 15, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Born and raised in Oakland, California, Cole began her career as a backing vocalist for MC Hammer. After signing with A&M Records ...

, Brandy,

Jamie Foxx Eric Marlon Bishop (born December 13, 1967), known professionally as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, comedian, and singer. He became widely known for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 biographical film ''Ray'', for which he won the A ...

Ciara Ciara Princess Wilson ( ; Harris; born October 25, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, model and entrepreneur. She released her debut studio album, '' Goodies'' in 2004, which spawned four singles: " Goodies" (featuring Petey Pa ...

, Nas,

Timbaland Timothy Zachery Mosley (born March 10, 1972), known professionally as Timbaland, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He has received widespread acclaim for his innovative production work and distinc ...

Mary J. Blige Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and " Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Award ...

CeeLo Green Thomas DeCarlo Callaway - Burton (born May 30, 1975), known professionally as CeeLo Green (or Cee Lo Green), is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. He is known for his work in hip hop and R&B, including the Gnarls ...

Keri Hilson Keri Lynn Hilson (born December 5, 1982) is an American R&B singer, songwriter and actress. She was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia and spent most of her youth working with producer Anthony Dent as a songwriter and background vocalist for ...

Big Boi Antwan André Patton (born February 1, 1975), better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actor. He is best known for being a member of the southern hip hop duo Outkast alongside André 300 ...

Mario Winans Mario Mendell Winans ( Brown; born August 29, 1974) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer best known for his 2004 song " I Don't Wanna Know", which reached number 2 in the United States and number 1 in the United Kingdom. Wina ...

Avant AVANT, also known as AVANT street art guerrilla collective, was the artist group active in New York City from 1980 to 1984. By 1984 AVANT had produced thousands of acrylic on paper paintings and plastered them on walls, doors, bus-stops and gallerie ...

and Fergie, among others.Sterdan, Darryl.
Review: ''Press Play''
. ''

Winnipeg Sun The ''Winnipeg Sun'' is a daily tabloid newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is owned by Postmedia following its acquisition of Sun Media, and shares many characteristics typical of Sun tabloids, including an emphasis on local news st ...

'': October 23, 2006. Archived fro
the original
on 2009-10-25. Primarily dance-pop and hip hop-oriented in sound, it is a loose conceptual album that contains the lyrical themes discussing the concerns to the ups and downs of his relationship. The album supports 4 hit singles " Come to Me", " Tell Me, " Last Night" and "Through the Pain (She Told Me)". It became available to the preview on MTV's ''The Leak'' on October 10, 2006, one week before the album was sold in stores.The Leak: ''Press Play''
MTV. Retrieved on 2009-10-25. ''Press Play'' received generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics.''Press Play'' (2006): Reviews

Metacritic Metacritic is a website that aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created by Jason Dietz, Marc ...

. Retrieved on 2009-10-25.

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. Limited edition * The limited edition version of the album includes a story of photos on how P. Diddy met a woman in a club. The album is located in a pocket on the last page; as well as these exclusive versions that were released from

Target Target may refer to: Physical items * Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports ** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports ** Aiming point, in field artillery, f ...

and Best Buy, Target having a bonus DVD and Best Buy including a bonus track, called "Get Off". Notes * signifies a co-producer * signifies an additional producer

Sample credits

List of samples used in ''Press Play'': Testimonial (Intro) *"Head Over Heels" by

Tears for Fears Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath, England, in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were associated with the new ...

We Gon' Make It *"Shaft in Africa" by

Johnny Pate John William Pate (born December 5, 1923) is an American former jazz bassist who became a producer, arranger, and leading figure in Chicago soul, pop, and rhythm and blues. He learned piano and tuba as a child and later picked up the bass guitar ...

I Am (Interlude) *Excerpts from "You've Made Me So Very Happy" by Lou Rawls Hold Up *Excerpts from "White Shutters" by Jerry Peters Special Feeling *"

Baby I'm a Star "Baby I'm a Star" is a song written and recorded by American musician Prince from his album '' Purple Rain''. It is also the B-side on the "Take Me with U" single. Release "Baby I'm a Star" has been played live many times since its inception an ...

" by

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. T ...

Making It Hard *Excerpts from "I Need Love" by Hunts Determination Last Night *"

Erotic City "Erotic City ("make love not war Erotic City come alive")" is a song by the musician Prince. It was released as the B-side to the 1984 single "Let's Go Crazy" and the 12" version of the 1986 single " Girls & Boys". The dance mix of "Erotic City" wa ...

" by Prince

Personnel

Production * Sean "Diddy" Combs * The Hitmen * Danja * Rob Lewis *

Just Blaze Justin Gregory Smith (born January 8, 1978), known professionally as Just Blaze, is an American hip hop record producer and DJ. Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Blaze attended Rutgers University for three years before dropping out to pursue his mu ...

Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...

will.i.am William James Adams Jr. (born March 15, 1975), known professionally as will.i.am (pronounced "Will-I-am"), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is the founding and lead member of the musical group Black Eyed Peas. ...

The Neptunes The Neptunes are an American songwriting and production duo composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Williams often provides additional vocals on records and appears in the duo's music videos ...

Rich Harrison Richard Christopher Harrison (born 1979) is an American record producer and songwriter from Washington, D.C., specializing in R&B and hip hop music. The winner of a Grammy Award, Harrison is well known for producing songs such as " Get Right ...

Havoc High Altitude Venus Operational Concept (HAVOC) is a set of crewed NASA mission concepts to the planet Venus. All human portions of the missions would be conducted from lighter-than-air craft or from orbit. Background Venus is a planet with a r ...

* Jai Writing credits: * The Game and Aasim - "We Gon' Make It" *

Pharoahe Monch Troy Donald Jamerson (born October 31, 1972), better known by his stage name Pharoahe Monch, is an American rapper from South Jamaica, Queens, New York. He is known for his complex lyrics, intricate delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhy ...

- "The Future", "Hold Up" * Jody Breeze (from

Boyz n da Hood Boyz n da Hood is an American Southern gangsta rap group from Atlanta, Georgia. They were formerly signed to Sean Combs' Bad Boy Records and consisted of Young Jeezy, Jody Breeze, Gorilla Zoe, Big Gee, and Big Duke. They have collaborated se ...

) - "Wanna Move", "Through the Pain (She Told Me)", "After Love" * T.I. - "Wanna Move" * Mista Raja - "Come to Me" *

Ludacris Christopher Brian Bridges (born September 11, 1977), known professionally as Ludacris (, homophonous with 'ludicrous' in American English), is an American rapper, actor, record producer and record executive. Born in Champaign, Illinois, Ludac ...

- "Diddy Rock" * Royce Da 5'9" - "Tell Me" * Ness (formerly of

Da Band Bad Boy's Da Band was an American hip hop group put together by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and signed to P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records. The group's story was documented for three seasons of MTV's ''Making the Band 2'' reality series. Career During ...

) & Matthew Winans - "Diddy Rock" *

Yummy Bingham Elizabeth T. Wyce "Yummy" Bingham (born January 7, 1986) is an American singer and songwriter. Biography Bingham was born on January 7, 1986, to R&B producer Dinky Bingham and Patricia Wyce. She was put into her grandparents care in South Jama ...

and Aasim - "Tell Me" * Yummy Bingham and Cardan - "Tell Me" *

Static Major Stephen Ellis Garrett (November 11, 1974 – February 25, 2008), known professionally as Static Major (and previously as Static), was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Louisville, Kentucky. He was a member of the R&B tri ...

- "Tell Me" *

Black Rob Robert Ross (June 8, 1968 – April 17, 2021), known professionally as Black Rob, was an American rapper who was signed to Bad Boy Records. He was best known for his 1999 single " Whoa!", which peaked at number 43 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. ...

and Aasim - "Partners for Life" * Mike Brown - "Last Night", "Diddy Rock" * Nas and Aasim - "Everything I Love" * Ryan Cardona - "Last Night" * Michael "Ace" McWhorter & Matthew Winans - "Wanna Move", "Last Night", "Through the Pain"

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

External links

*
Press Play
' at

Discogs Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the ...

*
Press Play
' at

Album Review
at

About.com Dotdash Meredith (formerly About.com) is an American digital media company based in New York City. The company publishes online articles and videos about various subjects across categories including health, home, food, finance, tech, beauty, ...

{{Authority control 2006 albums Sean Combs albums Bad Boy Records albums Albums produced by Sean Combs Albums produced by Danja (record producer) Albums produced by Rich Harrison Albums produced by Timbaland Albums produced by will.i.am Albums produced by Kanye West Albums produced by the Neptunes Albums produced by Just Blaze Albums produced by K-Def Albums produced by Havoc (musician)