Diddy Presses ‘Play’ with Kanye, Big Boi

With his clothing line, 'Making the Band' series and flashy red carpet arrivals keeping him squarely in the public eye, it's easy to forget that it's been five solid years since Sean 'Diddy' Combs has released an album. But the moniker-changing mogul is out to prove himself a center-stage entertainer all over again with his forthcoming release.

"It feels good to be back/ I missed ya!" Diddy declares at the opening of 'Come to Me,' his duet with Pussycat Doll Nicole Schrezinger and the lead single from 'Press Play.' From the sound of the album rough cut that floated into our office recently, fans who have kept the faith since 2001's 'The Saga Continues' will most likely feel the same.

There are no punches pulled on the party-rocking, largely sample-free disc, scheduled for release on Oct. 3. A year-and-a-half in the making, 'Press Play' is a star-studded affair that features vocals by Kanye West, Brandy, Fergie, Big Boi and Keyshia Cole, among others, and productions by will.i.am, Havoc of Mobb Deep, Pharoahe Monch and more. While 'Come to Me' is already a radio hit, it's Christina Aguilera's turn on the larger-than-life 'Tell Me' -- the rumored second single featuring fierce beats by Just Blaze -- that will really turn ears.

Elsewhere, Diddy does his best James Brown impersonation on the soul-sampling 'Get Off,' dreams about black presidents on 'The Future' and makes larger-than-life declarations such as "I make miracles like I walk on water." So he's still got his modesty.