Diddy Drops ‘Press Play’ Album: Today in Hip-Hop

On this day, Oct. 17, in hip-hop history...

2006: Diddy solidifies his status as a legit hitmaker with Press Play, a fourth studio filled with memorable singles and features from top-notch pop stars of the day.

For the first single from the LP, the Bad Boy Records boss looked to the Pussycat Dolls' lead singer Nicole Scherzinger. She handles the hook duties for "Come to Me," a track released in September 2006. Featuring a beat that was easy to dance to, as well as some sensuous vocals from Scherzinger, the track was a perfect way for Diddy to re-introduce his feel-good vibes for his first album since 2001's The Saga Continues. The track ultimately peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Building on that success, Diddy also unleashed a pair of other big-time collabs with singing superstars. For his second single, the rapper-mogul tapped acclaimed pop superstar, Christina Aguilera. Their collab was titled "Tell Me," and, with its infectious beat and Aguilera's typically powerful vocals, the track served to draw even more attention to Diddy's new project. Months later, in January, Diddy unleashed "Last Night," a Keyshia Cole-assisted single that peaked at No. 10 on the Hot 100.

While Press Play was heavy on the pop hits, it also included some serious bars, with a good amount of them coming from the likes of artists like Nas, Big Boi and more. With a solid blend of pop and hip-hop, Diddy's fourth LP landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart after selling 170,000 copies in its first week. It was ultimately another big W for Diddy, who continues to be force to be reckoned with.

Here's the Ultimate Guide to Rappers With Acronyms in Their Name