day_26R&B group Day 26 were offered the opportunity of a lifetime when hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs hand-picked the boy band on the MTV reality series ‘Making the Band 4.’ The group have since left Diddy’s Bad Boy Records, but claim they are still very much connected to the Bad Boy crew. “Bad Boy is always our family, but we’re with Atlantic right now,” member Willie Taylor told The BoomBox.

Instead of continuing his distribution deal with Atlantic Records, Combs opted to sign with Interscope records and is working on his album ‘Last Train to Paris,’ with his new group Dirty Money comprised of himself, former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard and newcomer Kaleena.

“They’re taking music to the next level, it’s called train music,” said group member Quanell “Q” Mosely.” It’s so dope, I give them a lot of respect, Diddy’s a genius.”

Without Diddy’s backing, Day 26 is setting out to prove that they are more than just television stars.

“We really want to get people focused on the artistry, on the music,” Taylor explained. “I think a lot of people lost it with the entertainment of the show. So now, we really want to show people what we’re all about, that we do our thing whether its on stage, in the studio, writing and producing — we do it all.”

The band plan to hit the studio at the beginning of next year to record album three.

“We’re very excited about it. We know exactly what the fans are expecting from us on this third album. We’re going to take the gloves off, really go for it. A lot of people thought Day 26 weren’t going to be here but we’re still standing.”

Earlier this year the group flexed their design muscle releasing a woman’s shoe line called Eight2Six. Their first product the Swaggaa Heel can be purchased online and is available in three different colors. “You can wear them at all times. You never have to take them off,” group member Brian Andrews promised. -Global Grind