Straight Official Magazine

There are only 4 reasons you wouldn’t love this album: You prefer new school music, you don’t like dancing, you’re just bias, or you just never loved anybody. Now, Diddy recently received the VMA Global Icon Award, the key to New York City, and BET‘s Lifetime Achievement Award. When he says, “I thought I told you that we won’t stop,” he means it!

I feel safe in white, deep down inside I’m an angel…

@Diddy

The Love Album Is A MOVIE

The album is feature-film length with 23 tracks at roughly over an hour and 20 minutes. He’s landed the love and collaboration of various jaw dropping peers including Mary J. Blige, Justin Bieber, The Wknd, & Jazmine Sullivan. In the mist of controversy – this album still takes you through a narration of finding love, being there, complicating it, and losing it. All of this is happening “off the grid” and as he says – with no phones, no distractions. The lead single on the production is “Another One of Me”. I don’t know how you could’ve missed this joint – but let’s jump into a track -by-track review.

What’s To Love About It? Let’s Review

Okay, so let’s talk about it – the tracks with an asterisk (*) indicate the ones deemed worthy of adding to your playlist. Wait no longer, Let’s do it!

1. Brought My Love (The-Dream + Herb Albert)

Starting off, we have a very funky-feel with vocals from songwriting legend Dream, followed by Diddy and Herb. A lot of these songs don’t actually feature anything but Diddy adlibs, so this was good to hear. If nothing, this is a dance record. Family reunions, two stepping with your love in the living room, cleaning the house… this is that vibe. Not too much, just enough.

*2. What’s Love (NOV WAV)

A New York feel with R&B swag. No lie, I did have to listen to this a few times to really love it, but I can’t complain. Diddy is also on this track which does give it a boost in opinion. Overall, the production – the feeling is everything.

3. Deliver Me (Busta Rhymes, Dirty Money)

If you liked the Dirty Money album then of course, this is for you, babe! Featuring your favorite Danity Kane girl(s). It’s very smooth, still maintaining that aggressive beat. The whole album is vibey. It really just depends on which Diddy era you prefer, I suppose.

4. Stay Awhile (Nija)

Another dance record that just hits. Really groovy (lol)! If you’re a Mary J. Blige fan, this might be your thing! This album almost doesn’t miss unless you just missed it.

5. Homecoming (Jozzy)

Ooooh, we have Diddy prodigy, Jozzy on the track. It’s not one of my favorites, let’s be honest. It’s pretty good though. I don’t think it’s a great representation of Jozzy but I’d have to hear that from her. This is a skip from me. Good production though. That ending is beautifuuuul too. JUST LISTEN TO IT THOUGH!!

*6. Pick Up (Diddy feat. Jacquees + Fabolous)

The song starts with Jacquee-Ee-eeeEe-eeS. “Ima give you what you need babe, if you let me take the lead baby”! I was unsure when it started but Diddy make Jacq pick up the pace and I like it. Fabolous always adds a special flair and this was nothing different.

*7. Tough Love ( Diddy feat. Swae Lee)

THIS. IS. MUSICAL. GOLD. I didn’t expect to love this song and I listened a few times to get to that point, but fiiiiireeee. The combination I never knew I needed. This track is built for a specific type of person though. Not heavy on lyrics but how the notes come together. And it just makes you think “Shame on me for how I’ve been living”…

*8. Stay Long (Summer Walker)

Personally, I’m a Summer Walker fan so I was interested to know what this would be like. But it’s short and sweet just like Summer.

9. It Belongs to You (Jozzy)

Jozzy, this was so much better. 90s/00s vibes. If Keyshia Cole started later in the years, I believe she may have sounded like this.

*10. Another One of Me (21 Savage, The Wknd, French Montana)

This was the lead single and rightfully so. The Wknd says this is his last collab so definitely love that it has to be this one. It has a slow start though. French ate his verse especially for what this is! 21 comes with his rhythm we expect… but this just feels classier. Diddy ends the song speaking so smoothly. You can’t help but feel it.

11. Intermission (Side B)

Feel free to skip unless you just meditating or something… He says here, that the frequency changes… and we get a little old-school interlude. It’s beautiful, don’t get me wrong. This album is a win to me, but people have preferences. JUST LISTEN!!! or not….

*12. Moments (Justin Bieber)

JUSTIIIIN! Babyyyy… this is the Justin you guys don’t know about. The “Notebooks” Bieber. You’ve seen in the media that he’s been paralyzed in the face but honey you cannot tell here. I instantly loved this. I always thought Bieb was a star vocalist though (again lol). Nevertheless, this will vibe you through. Minimal Diddy. Just vibes. Get in your bag, stay in your bag, he says. Let me send this to my lil brother, he needs those words. And we end with a smooth instrumental outro.

*13. Need Somebody (Jazmine Sullivan)

Jazmine Sullivan feels as expected. She starts soft but you feel the emotion. We’re used to herlower registers. JAZ’S SOPRANO REGISTER POPS OUT ALL THE WAY! She’s amazing at anything. ADD!

*14. Mind Your Business (Bosses In Love) [Kehlani/Ty Dolla Sign]

My first run through of this album, this was an immediate add! I don’t know, maybe it’s just me… Perfect blend of live and studio how I see it though. WEST COAST REPRESENT! These people are singing for their rent!! From beginning to end, if you know then you know – you’ll need this song!

15. Nasty (Interlude) [Jozzy]

I told you she’s the prodigy (Jozzy, 32, Memphis). Here’s a (nasty) interlude with Jozzy. It’s actually good though. Not too vulgar…well…

*16. Reachin’ (Coco Jones, Ty Dolla Sign)

I don’t know… I feel like Ty makes this song. Of course an interlude almost tells you what you’re getting into… so you can USE this, too. What is it about Coco, you guys!!?? Production on 700000% though. My loooooove.

*17. Stay Part 1 (Jeremih, KalanFRFR, K-Ci)

A continuation of the interlude. “Baby won’t you just staaay!” Diddy should’ve kept his input to himself. If we’re using this song for a moment, I could see it happening.

*18. I Like (Mary J. Blige)

VERY CUTE! Ms. Ma’am been popping out lately. Very classy, classic, dance around vibe, of course. It’s simple and catchy – just enough. If I can’t be with you, I don’t know what to do you’ve got my heart! Beautiful sample of herself!

*19. Closer to God (Teyana Taylor)

At this point, we’ve recently learned about the separation of Tey(T), yet she’s still taking on other creative ventures in life. She cries out in the song “Everything unspoken doesn’t need a song – I only want to be the one to get along….” Artistry at it’s finest. This was not the visual I was expecting but still above and beyond.

20. Boohoo (Jeremih)

It’s giving Beatles which I didn’t expect, but it works out for the best. I real feel good, cry if you’d like type of song, I suppose. I wonder how this song is doing on the pop charts because it certainly works for Jeremiah and the array of voices.

21. Burna Boy Interlude

Talk about singing from the soul! It’s an interlude that definitely gives you the feels and what’s next to come is nothing less than this energy. This is an “Allah” chant in a beautiful fashion, but what comes next is even more chilling…

**22. Kim Porter (Diddy, Babyface, John Legend)

This one screams, “I love you and lost you – but how could I?” Both Babyface and Legend create a melody of pure love in this song. I feel this in the deepest part of my heart. Every element of this song blends in an unimaginable way. From instruments, tempo, unique vocals, harmonies, the build of it all is passionate through and through. It also features excerpts from the late Kim Porter.

*23. Space (H.E.R)

Here we are at the end and “I’ve really enjoyed my time with you off the grid”, Diddy says before H.E.R. begins her eerie ballad. She’s the perfect woman for this. Diddy used his network and made a masterpiece….

What are your thoughts? Which tracks stood out to you?

#GetSOM via @Mochathemack