Bad Boy Records
Diddy, or Puff Daddy (or whatever he suits himself to be called now), looks to be returning to his halcyon days with the nostalgic MMM (Money Makin’ Mitch) and hopes to follow that up with No Way Out 2. While the Harlem renaissance man is now mining the past for new material, he once released futuristic sounding albums, including Press Play and Last Train to Paris. Both featured the alt-R&B, Eurodance-influenced sound that’s become popular in recent years — especially Paris, which was released five years ago this week.
The Diddy-Dirty Money collective, made up of Diddy himself, former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard, and singer-songwriter Kalenna Harper, created a concept album about the familiar subject of heartbreak. As the title suggests, Last Train to Paris describes the protagonist’s trip from London to Paris to win back a former lover.
Bad Boy has always blended hip-hop and R&B, especially during the “Shiny Suit era,” but Last Train to Paris has a different, cohesive sound built upon the core contributions of Richard and Harper. This foundation allows for the addition of pulsating, dance-infused beats, creating a unique, fresh sound with Diddy’s signature pop sheen atop it.
Even the hip-hop leaning tracks on the album, such as the “Where I’m From”-sampling “Angels” and “Hello Good Morning,” have electronic elements. As one of the first big names to take on such an ambitious sound, Diddy helped to set the stage for alt-R&B performers like The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, Miguel, Jeremih, Elle Varner, and Solange.
Last Train to Paris begins with “Yeah Yeah You Would,” which pairs a bouncy dance beat with lovelorn lyrics. Guest vocalist Grace Jones laments, “Could’ve been your shooting star/ Could’ve been your backbone/ but now I’m too far away.”
The slow, electronic groove of “Looking for Love,” which features Usher, is a precursor for the R&B singer’s own alt-R&B, quiet storm hit, “Climax,” which was co-produced by EDM influencer Diplo.
Another standout is the sleek, downtempo R&B jam, “Yesterday,” which showcases a standout vocal performance by Chris Brown, backed by light, cascading chords.
And then there’s the album closer, “Loving You No More.” Fittingly, the alt-R&B / hip-hop leader, Drake, drops by for a verse pleading with his ex to get back together, while Diddy-Dirty Money finally admit the relationship is truly over.
Diddy’s taken more than his fair share of criticism over the years, but there’s no questioning his contribution to hip-hop and music in general. Notably, he introduced the world to the Notorious B.I.G., Mase, The Lox, and 112. And the hip-hop mogul’s never been afraid of change. By taking on new sounds with Last Train to Paris, Diddy helped create a lane for future alt-R&B artists. Remember that while The Weeknd tops the charts, and Frank Ocean finally releases his long awaited follow-up to Channel Orange.