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*The latest stop on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ cross country promo tour was a Baltimore middle school, where the entrepreneur spoke to a select group of students who scored high on achievement tests.
According to Baltimore Sun columnist Greg Kane, the Bad Boy founder told the assembly of seventh- and eight-graders at Winston Middle School that he grew up in a town not unlike their area of Winston, which is located in North Baltimore.
"I didn't buy into all those statistics about what's supposed to happen to us," Combs said. "I didn't listen to that. I don't want y'all to listen to it. Y'all need to take responsibility for your own futures."
Before introducing Diddy, Marc Clarke and Troy Johnson of 92Q reminded the students why they were selected to be in Diddy’s presence. More than 78 percent of them have passed the state algebra assessment test, the radio jocks noted, and the pupils had the highest reading score and third-highest math score of all noncharter middle schools in the city.
“Today I'm here to talk to y'all about no excuses,” Diddy told the kids. “Y'all are in control of your own destinies. It's up to y'all to believe in yourselves first."
Addressing the necessity for good grades, the entertainer added: "You can't go home with no C's. That's not a hot look. Go home with some A's."