Now 53, the Grammy-winner hugs and shakes hands with the mayor before the doors of a large screen above Times Square open up, revealing the crowd of fans, tourists and onlookers below. His team, sons Quincy Brown and Justin Combs, and City Girls rapper Caresha “Yung Miami” Brownlee cheer him on as he emerges and takes hold of the ceremonial key to the Big Apple. It’s a long way from the kid who woke up to roaches crawling over him at night growing up in Harlem, a moment of Diddy lore he’s said shaped his mindset.
“The bad body of entertainment is getting the key to the city from the bad boy of politics,” Adams said while introducing Diddy, who in his speech encouraged people to manifest what they want out of life. “You can do anything you put your mind to. Don’t let nobody stop you! Nothing can stop you. Change your reality, dream bigger and bolder and spread love.”
