Diddy - Dirty Money - Coming Home

why why WHY WHY WHY?!?!?

Why does this man continue to make music? 

His last album (2006's Press Play) sold over 700,000 copies, so I guess it's because idiots will buy what he puts out, but I can't for the life of me figure it out. 

Back in the 90's Puffy was acceptable because he had great production, good ghost writers, and could get guest appearances from his labelmates on Bad Boy.  Today, he has none of that.  Go ahead, off the top of your head, name a single from Press Play.  You can't do it, because that was forgettable trash.

Scraping together two girls from the leftovers of Dannity Kane, Diddy - Dirty Money is the most pointless group in recent memory.  The girls contribute nothing to this track.  They sing on the chorus, but you might as well have gotten anonymous female studio voice number 7 to do it, since they're totally devoid of any distinguishing vocal characteristics.

I'd also like to comment on the video.  Watch it, and take careful note of Diddy's face during the first and second verses.  Have you ever seen someone look so noncommittal?  He looks like he's mumbling the lyrics!  It's not until the third verse (where he starts bragging about cruising through Harlem) that we see him act like he cares about the video.

Some thoughts on verse 1:
"I hear "The Tears of a Clown"
I hate that song"

Quick!  Listen to The Tears of a Clown.  Here it is:

Man! Smokey Robinson?  Yes sir!  That is a quality hit.  How can you hate this song?  Diddy you are a clown, but you have to get past the name and just enjoy quality!  You've been listening to your own crap so long that you've forgotten what good music sounds like.

"what if the twins ask why I aint marry their mom 
how do I respond?
what if my son stares with a face like my own
and says he wants to be like me when he's grow?"


You know Puff, you could just, oh, I dunno... MARRY THEIR MOTHER.  You have 5 kids, 3 of them with the woman you are currently with.  Perhaps if you'd take that step and man up, that question wouldn't come up.  You also wouldn't have to worry so much about your son wanting to be like you.  He might end up emulating some of your more positive aspects.  I'm not sure what those are, but I'm sure they exist.

Some thoughts on verse 2:

""A House is Not a Home", I hate this song"

Again, listen to this classic by Luther -freakin- Vandross!

HOW CAN YOU HATE THIS?!
(I know he likely doesn't actually hate either of these songs, but I like to take things at face value and overlook that he's attempting to tie in the titles of much better songs to his lyrics)

"is a house really a home when your loved ones are gone
and n*ggas got the nerve to blame you for it
and you know you woulda took the bullet if you saw it
but you felt it and still feel it
and money can't make up for it or conceal it
but you deal with it and you keep ballin?
pour out some liquor, play ball and we keep ballin?"

Ah, you had to be wondering when he would bring up the death of Biggie.  Any song Diddy does that has an ounce of emotion will include a reference to his departed friend.  But... what does that have to do with "is a house really a home when your loved ones are gone"?!??!!?  It's like he took another verse and dropped it in the middle here because it rhymed!  I have proof that is what happened.  Look at what comes next.

"baby we've been living in sin
cause we've been really in love
but we've been living as friends
so you've been a guest in your own home
it's time to make your house your home
pick up your phone, come on"

I don't think those lines about living in sin because you've been in love but living as friends make much sense, but they fit in to the theme of "A House is Not a Home" that the initial lines establish. Maybe the lines about his twins and son were supposed to be here?  Alternately his ghost writer had a heartfelt verse, but Sean decided to add a Biggie reference and mention liquor and ballin' to fulfill some rap cliche quota.

Some thoughts on verse 3:

It's just some dumb filler and another reminder that he lost his dog Biggie, and that he's a better man now.


Look, Diddy is obviously a smart businessman.  Forbes recently disclosed that he's worth in the neighborhood of $400 million.  He's got clothes, cologne, and liquor as parts of a burgeoning empire.  What he lacks though, is musical skill.  Now that beats have moved beyond wholesale lifting of classic songs, he's not much of a producer.  He's never been able to write rhymes, and he himself said "Don't worry if I write rhymes, I write checks."  My advice would be to stop worrying about trying to say other people's lines.  Be happy to sit back and write checks.  The world will be better when you quit putting out music that only has any traction because of your connection to one of the greatest rappers ever.