Sean “Diddy” Combs has begun to assemble talent for his newly-minted label, Love Records, in partnership with Motown Records. First on the roster is Jocelyn “Jozzy” Donald, a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter the mogul introduced at Sunday night’s Billboard Music Awards.
At the ceremony, where Mary J. Blige was honored and Maxwell saluted Michael Jackson, Combs brought Jozzy to the center stage and hyped her as the “R&B Biggie.”
She debuted the new song “Replay,” the lead-off to her upcoming debut EP. The untitled project is due later this year.
Speaking on his new label, Combs said, “Music has always been my first love, Love Records is the next chapter is about getting back to the love and making the best music of my life. For the label I’m focused on creating timeless R&B music with the next generation of artists and producers. Motown is the perfect partner for my album and I’m excited to add to its legacy.”
Jozzy’s reinvention from in the wings to eyes for all comes behind the immediate success of Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road (Remix)” with Billy Ray Cyrus, which she co-wrote. That monstrous single, certified 16x multi-platinum, won a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2020. Jozzy has built a diverse library of songwriting credits throughout the years, contributing to albums and other projects by established and emerging artists. Some of which include Usher (A), Monica (Code Red), Summer Walker (Over It and Still Over It) and Jacquees (4275)
In March 2021, Jozzy’s co-writing credit on Jacquees’ “You” earned her a double-platinum award from the RIAA. Meanwhile, her contribution to Walker’s fan-favorite “Body” secured her a gold plaque.
Earlier this year, Jozzy put pen to paper for several songs on Mary J. Blige’s recent album, Good Morning Gorgeous. “Love Will Never” and “On Top” featuring Fivio Foreign are among the highlights.