Diddy's Secret Plan To End The War
By Keith Boykin, in pop culture
Thursday, March 16 2006, 10:43AM
His image is already plastered over Times Square at 48th Street. Now he's moving down to 34th Street. I'm talking about Sean "Diddy" Combs.
Walking through Macy's the other day, I realize that Diddy has now taken over the world's largest department store. At least that's the way it felt on the ground level from the entrance on 6th Avenue to the exit on 7th Avenue. Diddy's new fragrance, Unforgivable, was everywhere, on the counters and in the aisles with posters hanging on the walls and from the ceiling.
It seems to be a part of Diddy's plan to take over the world, industry by industry. First he was a party promoter, then he was a record producer, then he was a recording artist, and next a fashion designer. Then he starred in a Broadway show, ran a marathon, launched a voter registration campaign and made a band on his own reality show. Now he's not only selling fragrances, he's starting a new cooking show. When does this man ever sleep?
Diddy's latest (re)invention, "Celebrity Cooking Showdown" will feature celebrities learning how to cook with the help of master chefs. Then the celebrities will face each other in timed competitions, with judges determining a winner each night. The final winner will be selected by the judges and viewer votes. The series will air April 17 to 21.
The celebrity chefs include Wolfgang Puck, Cat Cora and Govind Armstrong, and the names of the celebrities will be announced later this week. It sounds like "Dancing With The Stars" meets "Iron Chef America," but I"m not sure how the public will vote without tasting the final product. Those are just pesky details.
Whatever else you say about Diddy, the man does take risks. I respect his ability to take on new challenges, but he does run the risk of becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. Somehow I don't think that's a big concern for Sean Combs. I don't think he ever expected to be the best Broadway actor or the best marathoner or even the best recording artist. Instead, I think he expected to use his name to make as much money as he can from as many different fields as possible.
In an era where fame is glamorous and fleeting, Diddy is trying to spread his wings as far as possible. He's an easy target to criticize, but he'll be laughing all the way to the bank. And in the end, that may be the goal after all.
Comments conceal
Aaron
March 16 2006, 3:09PM
I am inspired by his movement.
I am disappointed in his method. Exploit all that is ill in our community and the artists, profit, move on to clothes and fragrance in a respectable way while Black folk are practically absent in that work, i.e. the design team for the fashion or the ads for the fragrance.
He is incredible but I do hope he is as strategic in creating other Black millionaires and I am just missing it.
alan, london style!!
March 16 2006, 9:19PM
that's just a typical black man's reponse! diddy may be black but he doesn't owe you anything! get up your fat ass and go make things happen for yourself...if anything he shows to the world what a motivated black man could achieve once he got off that sofa...i mean come on...he ain't like he inherited it...!!
alan, london style!!
March 16 2006, 9:21PM
And just for the record, i'm blacker than a motherf%&**r
Texas76132
March 16 2006, 10:05PM
I have a suggestion for what Diddy can do next. He can go into the crime fighting business and undo the damage he did to the black community by spreading violence trough his so called music and videos. He can also dedicate jobs in all of the businesses he operates to the young black men who are in prison because he put that stuff in their heads knowing full well that there are real life consequences and life is not a music video so the least he can do is support them when they get out. That's what Diddy can do .
lynne
March 17 2006, 2:48AM
This is a great analysis Keith of how basically the name Sean Diddy Combs itself is a brand. I don't think he'll stop at anything - he'll keep finding ways to make himself relevant.
Gordon Newman
March 17 2006, 11:03AM
He does not owe the black community a thing you say! But at the same time, he is profiting off its demise. I think that the typical black man's response is to do exactly what he has done, rape and exploit our community for profit. He is no better than the crack slinger on the corner, and trust, if it were not for the life and DEATH of Biggie, he want be shyt. And he surely knows something about the assassination........Crook.
bruh.red
March 17 2006, 12:18PM
Maybe I'm too real ... but I don't see how Diddy is "exploiting" the black community? Like the old saying goes, 'you can't rape the willing.'
Clearly, the commodification of Blackness makes people rich ... and where's there money to be made, SOMEBODY'S gonna get paid. So I'd prefer those people who get rich be Black (Run DMC) rather than white (Lyor Cohen). '1'
Aaron
March 17 2006, 1:17PM
"Exploitation happens after the rape. Although she seems willing it is because her vision is now distorted." - Aaron Ward 3/17/2006
I dont see Sean as a crook. He is doing what so many Black people do and defend, "Go for yours because SOMEBODY is going to do it." Forget the ill and struggles of the people you use to bring you credibility. Move on to blend in with other communities that will embrace you only because you can contribute to their community. We have fulfilled the Willie Lynch Letters (look him up) and truly HATE ourselves.
He is a great example of motivation for OUR young people and even adults but to whom much is given much is REQUIRED, for a faith believing people.(not to be confused with RELIGIOUS people)
Alan, London Style! A typical black man's response? That statement alone says how much you love yourself since you are Black as a M*f'er as you say. Do you know where that term was developed? Well "BLACK BUCK" look it up. No offense only love for the truth and the freedom of ME and my people.
Love your brother who got up from the couch to turn on the light.
Gordon Newman
March 17 2006, 4:25PM
Power and success is there to be shared. I was onced told that those who are selfish and successful, will not have it long. Sean Combs just filed for bankruptcy to protect his assets. Of course he became successful from hard work, all working class people can feel a since of success because they get up in the morning and make an honest living. But how many of them have the power to contribute to the betterment and lives of the fellow bretheren and do not.
blacklatina
March 21 2006, 3:20AM
Go 'Diddy' go..... :-)
alicia
March 22 2006, 4:21PM
fluff daddy has taken overexposure to new hts...
i remain unimpressed
peace
ab
Eric Lawrence
March 24 2006, 1:39AM
I agree with Alicia.
After I read, "Plight Deepens for Black Men, Studies Warn" by Erik Eckholm, published: March 20, 2006 in the New York Times, I was reminded of the realities for too many black men. I give Combs props for constantly re-inventing himself like a black male version of Madonna to make money but it ends there.
Let's face it. He's just making money off the black community. (Except for, maybe, the Pepsi commercial. LOL) I don’t think that “white” mainstream America is going to flock to buy his products. Our misguided, status-seeking brothers and sisters will go to the store and pay full price for his wares and wears. He's not leaving a legacy or creating an environment that fosters self improvement -- like literacy, education or self-sufficiency. He’s just got marketing/P. R. support that is keeping him well financed . . . for now.
I just have to say one about his marketing . . . “Unforgiveable” ! What kind of name is that? Who would EVER want to be that?! I think that it should be marketed to people who fit that profile. I’ll have to send him the tagline: “Unforgiveable”: the scent made for career thieves, murderer, and pedophiles! Another idea is a scene with a woman at police station and instead of looking at and selecting her attacker she jus smells the man from across the room and says, “Hey he smells like the guy who robbed my grandmother!” Then the announcer voices over saying, “Do you smell unforgiveable?”
tim
March 25 2006, 8:30PM
when will diddy stop? when he comes out of the closet