Guests including rapper LL Cool J and socialite Denise Rich feasted on shrimp, pink cocktails, specially made pink M&Ms; and Perrier Jouet champagne in pink floral bottles.

There were also gifts galore � a pink and white Ga Ga Designs chandelier from Denzel Washington, a custom-made changing table from Jay-Z and two cream-colored cribs from LL Cool J.

Chalk it up to a case of fluke timing for the hip-hop superstars, as the tracks have different producers and were cleared months apart from each other. "Show Me What You Got" was produced by Just Blaze and cleared in September, while K-Def is the producer on "We Gon' Make It," which was cleared last summer, according to a source familiar with the situation.

"I wet my pants, I think. I had never even talked to him... but I tried to play it off cool." The Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger on the shock of being asked to duet with rap mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs on new hit �Come To Me.�

Shocked Diddy paused and then replied, "I'm not ready to get married." The keen teen responded quickly, "You will be in one year and 22 days - I'll be 18." Irene had the studio audience whooping when she said, "She's nothing like me," when her hero tried to explain he already has a girlfriend - pregnant KIM PORTER.

Yet, for all the success, he has been stalked by trouble. He was born in Harlem, where he grew up until his mother was able to move the family � he has a younger sister, Keisha � out to Mount Vernon in upstate New York when he was 12. When he was three, his father, Melvin, was shot dead after a party. He was rumoured to be a drug dealer, and all the cuttings say he was a Muslim. Diddy denies the latter with a certain cold vehemence.

�No,� he says emphatically, �he wasn�t Muslim.�

P Diddy was very definitely brought up as a Christian.

�I was brought up spiritually. I was an altar boy in a Catholic church, and then also had afternoons at a Baptist church � I got the best of both worlds. I was in church every Sunday, all day. I give all glory to God. It�s because of Him that all that I do is possible. He�s my secret weapon. I have not even a doubt about him; it�s way beyond belief.�

[concert] The boisterous dance-hall musician is famous for the frenetic pace of his shows. His propensity for keeping his audience moving has earned him the nickname "Energy God," a moniker that is accentuated by his bright orange-yellow hair and low-register voice. After working with hip-hop, reggae and R&B artists, including Busta Rhymes, the Ying Yang Twins, Lil Jon, Mariah Carey and Twista, Elephant Man has entered a partnership with Bad Boy Entertainment and plans to tour with Bad Boy leader Diddy. So this may be your last chance for a while to see Elephant Man without also having to see Sean Combs.

Thursday, doors at 10 p.m. Crossroads, 4103 Baltimore Ave., Bladensburg. $20-$30. 301-927-1056.