[3] Musically, Press Play predominantly features guest contributions from R&B and hip hop performers including Nicole Scherzinger, Christina Aguilera, Keyshia Cole, Brandy, Jamie Foxx, Ciara, Nas, Timbaland, Mary J. Blige, CeeLo Green, Keri Hilson, Big Boi, Mario Winans, Avant and Fergie, among others.

Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone wrote: "Diddy's rhymes are more adept than they used to be, but his flat voice and retro boasts drag things down.

"[13] Los Angeles Times critic Natalie Nichols commented that Diddy was "innovative and versatile" for favoring instrumentation over sampling and integrating different styles like funk and drum and bass.

[14] For About.com, Ivan Rott praised the album overall as a "nice, eclectic musical journey" but was ambivalent about the songwriting, calling some tracks "mature, albeit schmaltzy" and others "arrogant".

Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times regarded Press Play as "a garish, puzzling album" and "[not] the sort of CD people pick up when they want to explain what’s great about hip-hop.

[22] Limited edition Notes List of samples used in Press Play: Testimonial (Intro) We Gon' Make It I Am (Interlude) Hold Up