It’s been almost a decade since Diddy released The Saga Continues…, but it still stands out all these years later for containing what may be the most memorable lyric he ever wrot—errr—spit.

“Don’t worry if I write rhymes, I write checks,” he told the world back in 2001, shining the spotlight on what there had been rumblings about for years. In the time since that memorable “Bad Boy For Life” drop, the mogul and his collaborators have become increasingly open on the subject. Pharoahe Monch, Red Café, Jody Breeze and more have dished on playing Casper the Friendly Ghostwriter for Puff.

In a recent interview with New York Magazine, Diddy opened up about his process for Last Train to Paris, which officially dropped yesterday. “I used to just sit down and have my lyrics given to me, but because this album is so personal I really had to sit down and say what’s on my mind,” he said. Gotta say, we applaud the honesty. (Although this did remind us of something he told People in 2006 around the time of the release of his last album, Press Play. “On a lot of the other records, to be honest, I didn't do a whole lot of writing,” he admitted. “On this one, I did a lot. And I exposed myself with everybody's most sensitive subject, and that's the subject of love.” All good, though.)

“I get the idea of the song,” he continued to NY Mag, “I go in the studio, I mumble the melody, I put down a couple of catchphrases, I work it as far as I can. And then I bring in a co-writer that’s good for the song. A Drake, or a Rick Ross, or even a Jay-Z.”

“I don’t really care what other people think. I know I co-wrote more than half of my album, which is the most I’ve ever written in my life. On my own projects.”

Again, props for the honesty, and we’re happy that this oft-delayed album is finally hitting our eardrums. That said, we figured we’d take Diddy’s words to the bank—or, more accurately, to the liner notes of the album. So here, we present to you, Last Train to Paris (and some earlier moments in Diddy’s career), By The Numbers.

Times Diddy Has Hit No. 1 or No. 2 on The Billboard 200: 5 (No Way Out, We Invented the Remix and Press Play hit No. 1; Forever and The Saga Continues… peaked at No. 2)

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Diddy’s Grammys: 3 (Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group for “I’ll Be Missing You” and Best Rap Album for No Way Out in 1998; Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group for “Shake Ya Tailfeather” in 2004)

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Number of Tracks: 16
"Intro"
"Yeah Yeah You Would" feat. Grace Jones
"I Hate That You Love Me"
"Ass On The Floor" feat. Swizz Beatz
"Looking For Love" feat. Usher
"Someone To Love Me"
"Hate You Now"
"Yesterday" feat. Chris Brown
"Shades" feat. Lil Wayne, Justin Timberlake, Bilal & James Fauntleroy
"Angels" feat. Notorious B.I.G. and Rick Ross
"Your Love" feat. Trey Songz
"Strobe Lights" feat. Lil Wayne
"Hello Good Morning" feat. T.I.
"I Know" feat. Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, & Seven of Rich Girl
"Coming Home" feat. Skylar Grey
"Loving You No More" feat. Drake

Number of Features: 18
Grace Jones ("Yeah Yeah You Would")
Swizz Beatz ("Ass On The Floor")
Usher ("Looking For Love")
Chris Brown ("Yesterday")
Lil Wayne, Justin Timberlake, Bilal & James Fauntleroy ("Shades")
Notorious B.I.G. and Rick Ross ("Angels")
Trey Songz ("Your Love")
Lil Wayne ("Strobe Lights")
T.I. ("Hello Good Morning")
Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, & Seven of Rich Girl ("I Know")
Skylar Grey ("Coming Home")
Drake ("Loving You No More")

Length: Roughly 65 minutes

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Singles from Album That Have Appeared Already on Billboard Rap Songs Chart: 2 ("Hello Good Morning" peaked at No. 8; "Loving You No More" peaked at No. 17)


Songs Sean Combs Appears in Writing Credits: 6
"Yeah Yeah You Would" feat. Grace Jones
"I Hate That You Love Me"
"Ass On The Floor" feat. Swizz Beatz
"Hate You Now"
"Shades" feat. Lil Wayne, Justin Timberlake, Bilal & James Fauntlaroy
"Angles" feat. feat. Notorious B.I.G. & Rick Ross

Songs Sean Combs Does Not Appear in Writing Credits: 10
"Intro"
"Looking For Love" feat. Usher
"Someone To Love Me"
"Yesterday" feat. Chris Brown
"Your Love" feat. Trey Songz
"Strobe Lights" feat. Lil Wayne
"Hello Good Morning" feat. T.I.
"I Know" feat. Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa and Seven of Rich Girl
"Coming Home" feat. Skylar Grey
"Loving You No More" feat. Drake

Songs Rick Ross is Featured On: 1 (“Angels”)


Songs Rick Ross Appears in Writing Credits: 2
“Your Love” feat. Trey Songz
“Looking for Love” feat. Usher

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Songs Rick Ross Appears on but Does Not Appear in Writing Credits: 1 (“Angels”)

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Songs Sean Combs is Credited as Producer: 1 (“Angels,” credited as Sean “P Diddy” Combs)


Songs Jay-Z is Appears in Writing Credits: 2 (“Angels” and “Coming Home” as Shawn Carter)

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Number of 2010 XXL Freshmen on Album: 2 (Wiz Khalifa on “I Know;” J. Cole in writing credits for “Coming Home”)

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Lil Wayne Features Where He Is Referenced as “Wayne Carter” in Writing Credits: 2 (“Shades” and “Strobe Lights”)

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Songs Lloyd Mathis Appears in Writing Credits: 0 (Sorrys, Ness...)

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