GRAMMY-WINNING SUPERSTAR HERALDS "PRESS PLAY" WITH COAST-TO-COAST ITINERARY;

"COME TO ME" LEAPING UP CHARTS;

NEW ALBUM - DIDDY'S FIRST IN FIVE YEARS - DROPS OCTOBER 17TH

Bad Boy Records founder, CEO and recording artist Diddy has unveiled plans for a sleepless, event-jammed, cross-country promotional tour heralding the impending arrival of his eagerly awaited new album, "PRESS PLAY," due in stores on October 17th. Beginning September 18th in Philadelphia, Diddy will barnstorm America, traveling to cities from coast-to-coast in an itinerary of marathon endurance.

Included in the non-stop schedule will be special "PRESS PLAY" listening parties hosted by multi-format radio stations in major markets. Throughout the month-long run, Diddy will also be honored by mayors and other local officials. In some cities, Diddy will be awarded the prestigious "Key to the City," while in others, a proclamation of "Diddy Day" will be announced to celebrate his visit.

In addition, the "Press Play" tour will include a series of "Diddy High" events, where he will visit high schools in a number of cities, including Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Norfolk, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and others. In speaking with students, he will address such themes as "No Excuses," "How To Make It Happen," "Press Play On Your Life," and "Empowerment."

Among the highlights of the promo trek will be "Diddy Satellite Radio," a two-hour session on XM Radio slated for September 19th; "Breakfast with Diddy" extravaganzas at an array of high-profile morning shows; a taping of the nationally syndicated American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest; and a pair of very special "Bad Boy Weekend" events in Atlanta (September 22nd through 24th) and Washington, DC (October 6th through 8th). In every market visited, Diddy will spend time meeting and greeting lucky winners of various station-sponsored contests.

The "PRESS PLAY" promotional tour will wrap up on October 16th with Diddy's return to his home base of New York City. A number of interviews and events are slated for the album's street date, including visits to such influential Big Apple stations as Hot 97, Z100, and Power 105.

The celebrity Virgos are out and shining this month. Beyonc�'s September 4 birthday, of course, was followed by the release of B'Day, which sold more than 500,000 copies in its first week. Ludacris (September 11) is all over the place promoting his new Release Therapy, and on Wednesday night, Kelis made sure her husband's 33rd birthday was celebrated in grand fashion.

The singer threw a surprise bash with an old-school hip-hop theme for her man, Nas, at Manhattan's Canal Room. Usher, Diddy, Mario, Jadakiss, Nick Cannon, Dallas Austin, ballers Carmelo Anthony and Chris Webber, ?uestlove, Rosie Perez, Styles P., Pras and former "Flavor of Love" contestant Like Dat were just some of the couple's famous friends who showed up.