Diddy to star in new MTV reality series

NEW YORK, July 23 (UPI) -- U.S. hip-hop impresario Sean "Diddy" Combs is set to star in the new reality series "Making His Band," MTV announced.

The show is to premiere Monday.

"Marking a new twist, viewers will witness a personal side of Diddy as he launches a nationwide search for the musicians to back him up on tour for his new album 'Last Train to Paris,' his most ambitious project yet," the network said in a news release. "Throughout four cycles of 'Making the Band,' viewers have seen Diddy as a tough critic whose hard work and high expectations created successful groups ranging from hip-hop to pop to R&B. Now Diddy turns that tough criticism on himself, as well as on the musicians trying to make his band. Covering choreography, songwriting and production, Diddy will call upon five judges to mentor the contestants and help select the members of his back-up band."

The artists selected will live together in Los Angeles as they vie for a spot to join Diddy on tour.

The judges are choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson, vocal coach Romeo Johnson, producer-composer-lyricist Om'Mas Keith, producer-songwriter Rob Lewis and musician Nisan Stewart.