Diddy Debuts New Fragrance, Makes A Pitch For Next Bond Movie

Imagine a man and a woman in an elevator together. He gets off before she does, but his scent lingers for the next five floors. This is the scenario Sean "Diddy" Combs, rapper/actor/music mogul/fashion designer/honorary perfumer, envisions when he designs a new cologne, which he says is a key ingredient to a man's swagger.

Trust him -- this is a man who knows a bit about swagger. And cologne.

Diddy is following up his award-winning 'Unforgivable' line with 'I Am King,' a new men's fragrance that's being sold exclusively at Macy's starting this month. He sat down with Black Voices recently to discuss his new fragrance, his inspiration, and a certain movie role he's dying to get.

"My grandmother always used to say, 'You are what you say you are,' and she called me her little king," he said. "[I Am King] is about your father, your brother, your boyfriend, your husband -- the kings in your life. It's about self affirmation."

The fragrance is dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali, and Barack Obama, three men who Diddy says embody the spirit of his cologne. And he has already picked out the "queens" to whom he'll dedicate his upcoming women's fragrance, 'I Am Queen.'

"I am queen is dedicated to Oprah Winfrey and my mother," he said. "Those are the people that I looked up to and proved to me that I am a descendant of royalty."

The College Survival Guide

A Fridge
Regardless of whether you have a wonderful sized meal plan, your fridge may come in handy with leftovers or when you feel like stocking it with bottled drinks.

Computer
The convenience of a computer is essential when sending your kids off to college. Forget the hike to the computer lab across campus students need a computer in the comfort of their room. A printer comes in handy as well. Depending on whether your child plans to carry his laptop around campus, you might opt for a desk top since they're lighter on the pockets.

Snacks
You will surely survive with off of a meal plan but it doesn't hurt to stock up on snacks when you don't feel like leaving your dorm room. Bottled water, pop corn, cereal and Ramen noodles are all low budget snacks to stock up on. Just be weary of the freshman 15.

Things from home
Some college students suffer from homesickness the first year. It's best to surround yourself with things like photos of the family, pillows or even stuffed animals. Anything that reminds your child of home.

MP3 Player
With all the stress that comes from school and exams, sometimes it's nice to block out the chaos in your life and even your roommate with music. It's nearly impossible to find students walking to class who aren't jamming to tunes.

Budget
Students who enter college often come in at the ripening age of 18. A great time for credit cards. Parents beware, your child may end up ruining their credit at a young age

Alarm Clock
When you're in college you don't have the luxury of getting awaken by your parents. It's now your responsibility to get to class on time so alarm clocks are a must. But keep your roommate in mind. You shouldn't wake him up ever morning with a blow horn alarm.

Cleaning supplies
Now you don't necessarily need to bring in the rubber gloves, mop and gas mask but it doesn't hurt to bring along Clorox all purpose wipes for spills or dust. Vacuums and brooms come in handy too depending if you have a carpeted dorm.

Bedding
What most parents aren't aware of is that most college beds are twin sized but extra long and require special sheets. When shopping keep your eye open for sheets that clearly state 'extra long' or else your child may come up short.

Shower shoes
You really don't know what some people do in the shower these days. College showers are known to be creeping with germs so spare yourself the fungus and purchase flip flops for the shower. You'll thank us later!

The name of the cologne evokes images of men in gold crowns and opulent robes, but the ad campaign, which includes a mammoth-sized billboard in Times Square and a mini-movie that's already made the rounds on YouTube, depicts a different kind of king -- the kind who has a reason to go jet-skiing in black tie, wears a lot of white tuxedo jackets and aviators, has a beautiful woman on his arm at all times, and just happens to be Diddy himself.

The ads are important, he says, because they show black men in a different light.

"The campaign shows an African-American male shot in a very elegant and sophisticated way," he said. "It's important that we can have images that will rival a Ralph Lauren or a Tom Ford. It just shows the possibilities."

Speaking of possibilities, the slick mini-movie that is supposed to be a long-form commercial for 'I Am King' might just be serving an extra purpose. All those swanky shots of Diddy doing dare-devilish stunts while dressed to the nines could pique the interest of the director of the next James Bond movie -- at least that's what he's hoping for. Yes, Diddy is ready and willing to be the first black James Bond.

"I'm a struggling, trying-to-find-some-work-for-hire actor, and I thought that [the movie] was also a way to put out a call out to different directors," he said. "I know how to do my own stunts. And without saying any words -- that's the hardest part of acting -- without saying any words I can deliver a message of coolness and swagger."

He's already got the movie concept worked out -- he'll play the New York-based agent who helps the British Bond when he comes to town and gets himself into trouble.

"I'm a dreamer," he said of his movie idea. " You've got to put things out there. If you put them out there, they come true."