Diddy just released his fifth and final album, titled The Love Album: Off the Grid.
A Heavily Teased Send-Off for the Industry Veteran
Nodding to the rapper’s former stage name, the project’s title follows in the footsteps of what the man himself has been championing in both press appearances and speeches, particularly at last Tuesday’s VMAs. Accepting his Global Icon award, Diddy made multiple mentions of the “power of love.” Adding to the anticipation for this record were the rapper’s comments that it would feature The Weeknd’s final collaboration under that pseudonym, a further development of the singer himself stating that he had ideas of continuing his career under his birth name, Abel Tesfaye.
That rumored track arrived this past Friday, alongside The Love Album in full. The Weeknd shines bright as usual, alongside verses from 21 Savage, French Montana, and Diddy himself, one of the few moments on the project where he gets on the mic for a traditional 16 bars. Notably, it reunites 21 and Abel, who put together a #1 hit with last year’s “Creepin’,” itself having sampled a track with Diddy’s fingerprints on it. The structure of the song speaks to Puff’s heyday, closely resembling posse cuts of old, all tied together by an R&B hook. If this is in fact The Weeknd’s swan song, he’s going out the way he lived under that name: singing about heartbreak over the glossiest of production.
“Moments” Shines Amid Diddy’s Star-Studded Guest List
Elsewhere on the tracklist, there are more highlights. None are more eye-catching than the Justin Bieber-assisted “Moments.” Despite Diddy’s name being front and center here, “Moments” functions more like a Bieber solo song. It’s in the margins that the Bad Boy mogul’s effects are felt—of course on the ad-libs, something that helped craft his profile on plenty of Biggie songs. But, also in the production, where he’s first listed. It begins understated—Justin Bieber singing acapella, “I’ve been patient, patiently waiting / I’ve been fakin’ for a long time.”
After a brief hot-mic moment where we hear the musicians featured warming up, the track comes alive with a vibrant combination of bass, strings, and keys. In sum, “Moments” is an exercise in the maximalism of 2000s R&B. The instrumentation at play elevates the romance that Justin sings about to grandiose heights—all too fitting for a project titled The Love Album.
There’s no doubt that Diddy will remain active in other areas—in fact, he just made headlines for handing over all masters recorded under Bad Boy back to the artists. And, while rap is a genre where artists retire, then un-retire, then retire again, this truly does seem to be Diddy’s last album—a fitting send-off for a musical career that’s brought a litany of huge singles, moments, and artists to the forefront. You can find The Love Album on all streaming platforms now.
