Edge Rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is an explosive talent sparking conversation on and off the field. As Thibodeaux, who Bleacher Report’s scouting department listed as the No. 1 overall player in the 2022 NFL draft class, gears up for the most important day of his career, he merges the world of gridiron grit and hip-hop hits in a new spot with music mogul P. Diddy, which shows the top NFL prospect reflecting on his journey to the league.
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The ad is the first extension of Beats’ “Made in LA” campaign, which debuted in February and starred founder Dr. Dre as well as an expansive list of homegrown talent
Set to the backdrop of his South Los Angeles hometown, the spot showcases a focused Thibodeaux training for his next chapter in football. Narrated by Thibodeaux’s mother, Shawnta Loice, she affirms that his unlimited potential and powerful spirit are a culmination of their family’s faith.
“Kayvon Thibodeaux—the football player—he didn’t just arrive from nowhere. We put a lot of prayer into that boy…” Loice says.
Despite underhanded anonymous reports questioning his consistency and desire and reports by ESPN’s Matt Miller that Thibodeaux “interviewed poorly,” the All-American from Oregon represents everything NFL defenses crave these days. He’s a supreme edge-rusher with a 6-foot-5, 258-pound steel frame with plus athleticism. He recorded 19 sacks in 30 games and collected 35.5 tackles for loss in college.
Seven of those sacks came last season despite missing 2 1/2 games with a sprained ankle. But somehow there’s reportedly still some hesitancy for NFL teams to take him in the top five picks.
Thibodeaux just shakes off the haters and considers himself the best player in the draft. Recent reports have him possibly going to one of the New York teams, either the Jets at No. 4 or the Giants at No. 7. It’s unfathomable to think that he would drop any further, but either way Thibodeaux says he’s prepared for whatever he can control.
“I feel like the only way to have pure confidence is to know that you’re prepared,” Thibodeaux said on the “AP Pro Football Podcast.” “So for me, I love to prepare and I love to make sure that I have all the tools and everything that I need going into whatever situation. So just having that preparation and doing the things that it takes to build that self-confidence and to kind of push forward, and knowing that I can, instead of trying to rise to the occasion, I can follow my preparation.”
Thibodeaux’s confidence in the face of adversity makes him a perfect match for the Bad Boy mogul who rose from the streets of Harlem to HBCU party promoter to music icon. There were hiccups along the way and people who doubted Sean P. Diddy Combs’ ability to last this long, but his “can’t stop, won’t stop” motto rings true as he’s in his fourth decade at the top of the entertainment food chain. Still shaping culture at 52 years old.
https://youtu.be/US-rw8d6IVg
Wearing the new Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds, Thibodeaux works out to an unreleased track by Diddy, which prophetically says, “All I am is a man with ambition to be the best…sometimes you’ve got to go through the dark to manifest…”
Combs’ lyrics provide a poetic backdrop that brings Thibodeaux’s story of perseverance, determination and faith to life.
The campaign marks Combs’ return to music and a new creative chapter in his career and personal evolution. Not only is Diddy one of the highest-selling artists in history, he is also one of the most accomplished music producers of all time. He is a cultural icon, innovator, entrepreneur and mogul.
Aside from his catalog of hit records, groundbreaking liquors, clothing lines and philanthropic contributions, Diddy has produced and shaped the sound for superstars including: Mary J. Blige, Burna Boy, The Notorious B.I.G., Young Jeezy, French Montana, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Boyz II Men, Britney Spears, Kanye West, and endless others.
