Sean 'Diddy' Combs motivational speech

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- The principal of Benjamin Franklin High School in Philadelphia invited rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs to speak to his students.

Christopher Johnson said that he doesn't view Combs as a role model, but as a voice he hoped his students would listen to, the Philadelphia Enquirer reported Tuesday.

"We wanted to get someone who could have a voice that would resonate throughout the children's mind-set. We wanted someone whom they would sit down and listen to, someone who comes from the same type of background," said Johnson.

The rapper took the stage for 45 minutes Monday, decked out in shades and his signature jewelry.

"I want to talk to you about empowering yourselves," Diddy, 36, told 750 cheering students. "... This is a really important time for you all right now."

Students missed about 90 minutes of class due to Combs' late arrival. Johnson praised his students for staying orderly and being patient.

"The classes that you missed today, I'm not going to mandate that you have homework for tomorrow," he told them.