The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards are back in New York, if you haven't heard. And that means serious business, according to Diddy. The consummate New Yorker advised visitors this weekend that they should focus on the festivities at hand, which include plenty of parties and, of course, the big show on Sunday. Kitschy tourist plans will have to wait until the next trip, it seems.

"This is New York. I would just not speak or smile at anybody," he told MTV News, removing his sunglasses and laughing. "I would just keep focused. The way we walk around. We don't speak to each other. We don't look up. All that getting off the plane like, 'Hey, how you doing?' — don't do that here."

The hustle of the Big Apple, however, shouldn't be confused with grumpy residents, Diddy said.

"This is New York, people," he said. "But have a good time."

One of the nominees expected to have the most fun at the VMAs is Kanye West. The MC leads all rappers with nods in four categories, including Best Rap Video. West will face off in each category against Eminem, creating a matchup between two of the hip-hop community's biggest icons.

Diddy has a pretty good ear when it comes to music and said this year he had to give the nod to 'Ye over Eminem, despite the Detroit superstar's career achievements. The Bad Boy Records CEO said the 12 months belonged to Kanye. He emphasized, though, that his pick takes nothing away from the return of Slim Shady, who released his first album in five years this past May.

"I think Kanye had more of an impact — that's just real sports talk," Diddy said. "That's not taking nothing away from anybody else."

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards air live this Sunday, September 13, at 9 p.m. ET, but New York is celebrating the VMAs all week long! Stay tuned for party coverage, concert reports, behind-the-scenes updates and more.