This one's harder than you think. Many Hip-Hop enthusiasts see Diddy as an easy villain to blame for the commercial "setbacks" that rap music has endured over the past one and a half decades. With his latest album, Press Play (Bad Boy/Atlantic), Diddy is schooling his harshest critics in Hip-Hop Mogulism 101. This whole rap movement has never been about good versus evil. The same man who could unabashedly bring cheesy 80's remakes to living rooms across the world is the same man who could introduce you to one of the greatest lyricists ever to walk the planet.

Last night Diddy hosted a Black Party. Just to let you know, I was not there, but I did have some friends that were. I was informed that it was a seriously fun event. There was a key rule that some people forgot! If you didn't have on Black, you were assed out. I heard people were turned away at the door with only a few exceptions. Basically, if you saw a person inside without black, they were connected. I heard one of the people in charge of the list screamed on a door guy for letting an attendee in with a blue shirt. Little did she know, that guy was down with Jimmy Henchmen. The door dude took the tongue lashing from the chick like a man. Other than that, people were pretty cool except for a few people that were just trying to get in without credentials. They failed.

Inside was another story. There was a mix of old sounds, new sounds and Diddy's new album, Press Play - which is out today. (I like this album, by the way. Diddy took adult Hip-Hop to a new plateau with the dance tracks, the hardcore rap joints and the relationship rhymes.) Now, from what I was told, the party was pretty hot. Some people that were there included Kanye West, Peedi Peedi, Babs, Cassie, Black Buddafly, Fat Man Scoop, Cheri Dennis, Ness, Dougie Fresh, Magic Johnson, Nicole from ANTM, Lyor Cohen, Tommy Davidson, Kevin Liles, Julissa, Terrence J & Rocsi and probably more than that. Diddy wasn't drinking Cristal either.

Press Play will hits stores ten years after Diddy's debut No Way Out. Think about that for a second. Ten years! In the music business that's a lifetime. We've seen countless artists come and go over that time. We've seen stars burn out and fade away, while Diddy's star is still shinning. And yes, like I wrote earlier, nobody regards him as the best lyricist, rapper, or songwriter, which only makes the length and breadth of his career more impressive. Many thought he would be a flash in the pan, a memory symbolized by a shiny suit found in a 1997 time capsule. He has managed to build an empire, and it looks like we will need a bigger time capsule.

1. Testimonial (Intro)
2. We Gon' Make It (featuring Jack Knight)
3. I Am (Interlude)
4. The Future
5. Hold Up
6. Come to Me (featuring Nicole Scherzinger)
7. Tell Me (featuring Christina Aguilera)
8. Wanna Move (featuring Big Boi, Ciara and Scar)
9. Diddy Rock - (featuring Twista, Shawnna and Timbaland)
10. Claim My Place (Interlude)
11. Everything I Love (featuring Nas and Ceelo)
12. Special Feeling (featuring Mika Lett)
13. Crazy Thang (Interlude) (featuring S. Rosete)
14. After Love (featuring Keri Hilson)
15. Through the Pain (She Told Me) (featuring Mario Winans)
16. Thought You Said (featuring Brandy)
17. Last Night (featuring Keyshia Cole)
18. Making It Hard (featuring Mary J. Blige)
19. Partners for Life (featuring Jamie Foxx)