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Incorporating elements of Eurodance and tech-house, Diddy’s debut release on Interscope Records is extravagantly artistic and surprisingly credible. Teaming up with ex-Danity Kane member Dawn Richards and singer-songwriter Kalenna Harper, Diddy calls Dirty Money, “a look, a sound, a movement, and a crew.” According to the Bad Boy head honcho, ‘Last Train To Paris’ is a love story, of which he wanted to tell from both a male and female perspective, hence the inclusion of Richards and Harper. With an all-star line up that includes Grace Jones, Justin Timberlake, and Lil’ Wayne, this isn’t so much a hip-hop album but instead a major musical event.
Critically acclaimed ever since its US release last year, it’s easy to see why the critics love it so much. Venturing outside of ones comfort zone and exploring a new musical direction is hard for anyone to do, and even harder for fans of said artist to agree with, but Diddy and his Dirty Money angels do so with unmeasured charisma. Just take the Jerry Wonda produced ‘Someone To Love’, which combines top notch sampling (‘You Roam When You Don’t Get It At Home’ by The Sweet Inspirations) and an accurately tight flow from a usually inconsistent Diddy. Some don’t agree with Diddy’s cheque-writing-for-songwriting-talents, but the bottom line is the guy knows how to put together a great project.
Always keen to be one of the first to work with upcoming talent, the inclusion of Skylar Grey, who’s partly responsible for Eminem and Rihanna’s smash ‘Love The Way You Lie’, on the reflective ‘Coming Home’ was a wise move. Asking questions like, “What if my twins ask me why I ain’t marry their mom?” and then proceeding to talk about the many ups and downs of Sean Combs, makes for a truly uplifting slice of self-realisation, as well a great way to close out the album.
Other standout moments include the Rick Ross and Notorious B.I.G. featured ‘Angels’, where an auto-tune inspired Puff lays down some romantically religious vocals over the ‘Where I’m From’ beat, originally performed by Jay-Z on his ‘In My Lifetime Vol.1’ album. Another is the nightclub banger ‘Strobe Lights’, which hears Lil’ Wayne, quite possibly intoxicated, spit some abnormally clever bars. Produced by 7 Aurelius, an up-tempo mish mash of electro sound bytes is the best way to describe it.
With a Deluxe Edition of the album available in the United States only, this is one of the few downsides to ‘Last Train To Paris’. Missing the incredibly on-point ‘Loving You No More’, which hears Diddy pour his heart out alongside the King of romantic honesty himself, Drake, the track is an obvious top ten hit. The label should be kicking themselves that it wasn’t featured on the UK version of the album.
Diddy’s been in this industry far too long not to know what works and what doesn’t, and ‘Last Train To Paris’ is one hell of a musical experience in high-definition.
