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Sean Combs

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This article is about the recording artist/record executive. For other uses, see Diddy (disambiguation).
File:PuffDaddy.jpeg
Sean "Diddy" Combs

Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969) is an American Record Producer and Entertainment Mogul who presides over a media empire that includes the record label Bad Boy Entertainment, the clothing lines Sean John and Sean by Sean Combs, a movie production company, and a restaurant chain. He has taken the roles of recording executive, producer, writer, arranger, clothing designer, actor, singer and rapper. His current nickname and recording name is Diddy, and he has recorded as or credited in recordings as P. Diddy, Puff Daddy and Puffy.

As the founder and CEO of Bad Boy, he was one of the driving forces in moving hip hop music mainstream which resulted in him becoming one of the wealthiest people in the entertainment industry. Combs first skyrocketed to fame as a label executive, first for Uptown Records and later for his own label, signing and developing acts such as Father MC, Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, Craig Mack, Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, 112, Ma$e, and Carl Thomas. In his own music career, he has been criticized for watering-down and overtly commercializing hip-hop for a mainstream market, as well as overusing samples and interpolations of past hits for the majority of his own hit songs. Regardless, he has been enormously successful with a current estimated worth of nearly $500 million and growing.

Biography

Early years

Born in Harlem, New York City, Combs grew up in the Westchester County suburb, Mount Vernon, New York. After completing his private secondary education at Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx, Combs attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. before becoming an intern at Uptown Records. Only a few months later, Combs was an A&R executive, and helped produce Father's Day (Father MC; 1990), What's the 411? (Mary J. Blige; 1992), and Blue Funk (Heavy D & the Boyz; 1992) before being fired in 1993. Combs set up his own label, Bad Boy Records, and soon signed Craig Mack and the Notorious B.I.G..

Establishing Bad Boy

With the help of Russell Simmons, he tried to sign Tupac Shakur whom he considered the best rapper, to jump start the label. Tupac refused. Both Mack and Biggie quickly released hit singles, followed by similarly successful LPs, particularly B.I.G.'s Ready to Die. Puff Daddy, as he was then known, began signing more acts to Bad Boy, including Faith Evans, 112 and Total, as well as producing for Lil' Kim, TLC, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, SWV, Aretha Franklin and others. Mase and The Lox soon joined Bad Boy, just as a widely publicized rivalry with the West Coast's Death Row Records. Combs and Notorious B.I.G. were allied against Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight, trading insults in songs and interviews during the mid 1990s. Shakur was murdered in 1996. Six months later, in March of 1997, the Notorious B.I.G. was murdered weeks before the release of his successful album, Life After Death.

Combs' performing career

Combs rapped on record as Puff Daddy as early as Supercat's 1993 "Dolly My Baby" with The Notorious Big. Combs' performance career in the international spotlight as "Puff Daddy" began in 1997, releasing "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down", followed by "I'll Be Missing You". Both singles were successful, though "I'll Be Missing You" was written by Sauce Money (a tribute to B.I.G. with guests Faith Evans and 112), and was heavily criticized for sampling The Police's "Every Breath You Take" and adding little. Combs, plus various labelmates known as the Family, released No Way Out, an LP, in 1997. The album also produced the hit singles "It's All about the Benjamins", which featured Lil Kim, The Lox and The Notorious B.I.G. and had a popular rock remix, which was worked on by Rob Zombie and the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, among others; and "Been Around The World," a song that featured Combs' labelmate, Mase, and the late Notorious B.I.G., and was probably best remembered for having sampled David Bowie's "Let's Dance" and Lisa Stansfield's "All Around The World". The song's video starred many celebrities, such as Wyclef Jean, Quincy Jones, and Combs' future love interest, Jennifer Lopez. "I'll Be Missing You" won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, while No Way Out won Best Rap Album.

Combs' follow-up was 1999's Forever, which was a commercial failure and no more well-reviewed than No Way Out.

Controversy

In 1997, Combs entered into an agreement with Hartford, CT disc jockey JC “Big Balla” Sledge to start a label in Hartford for the city’s untapped talent, named Hip Hart Beat Records. The pair had creative differences over the usage of talent and eventually split. In a statement to Rolling Stone Magazine, JC said,” Sean and I remain friends, just not as close as we once were. Our split where it relates to business was because we saw two totally different avenues. I wanted to drive left and go the way of Def Jam and it’s mainstay of artists and Puffy wanted to drive right, business as usual. We all knew what that meant. I don’t have to spell it out…just look at Bad Boys roster and it’s history. The split was amicable; litigation was an option, but why. Hip Hart Beat Records will one day become a reality. We are close now.”

On April 15, 1999, Combs was accused of assaulting Steve Stoute of Interscope Records. Stoute was the manager for Nas, whose video for "Hate Me Now" featured Combs being crucified. Though Combs had willingly filmed the video scene earlier that year, he demanded that the images be removed. Stoute's refusal led to an argument and Combs' arrest for aggravated assault. This was followed by a yet more negative publicity as The Lox left Bad Boy Records, and a recording session with Lil' Kim and Lil' Cease (both of B.I.G.'s Junior M.A.F.I.A.) posse was interrupted by gunfire.

In December 1999, Combs and his then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, were at Club New York, a midtown Manhattan nightclub, when gunfire broke out. After a police investigation, Combs and fellow rapper Shyne were arrested for weapons violations and other charges. Combs was indicted after his driver claimed that Combs had tried to bribe him into taking the weapon after the shooting. With bribery charges added to the bill, Combs was being attacked in the tabloids on a near-daily basis. Before the trial was over, Combs found himself in court on numerous civil charges.

With a gag order in place, the highly-publicized trial began. His attorney was Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. A talent agency then sued Combs for unfair competition, as did a woman who rented an apartment owned by Combs; she claimed he refused to rid the house of vermin. Combs then launched his own lawsuit against a writer who did not follow through on an alleged agreement to help write his autobiography. Combs was soon acquitted of all charges relating to the shooting incident, followed almost immediately by a break-up with Lopez. With the media circus over, Combs changed his stage name to "P. Diddy".

Diddy in the 2000s

Combs tried to reinvent his image, but was once again in court facing assault charges from a Michigan television host, and then was arrested for driving on a suspended license in Florida. In spite of continuing legal problems, Combs decided that he was going to release a gospel album, Thank You, but it was never released. After yet more legal problems stemming from an accusation of reckless driving by the Miami police, Combs began working with a series of unusual (for him) artists. A collaboration with David Bowie appeared on the soundtrack to Training Day, while Combs began working with Britney Spears and *NSYNC.

This was followed by a serious set-back for Bad Boy Records when Arista Records stopped distributing Bad Boy releases. Faith Evans left the label, and 112 almost did, though Combs filed a restraining order to keep them aboard. As a result, Bad Boy Records was formed as an independent record company. He also signed the female pop group Dream onto Bad Boy Records in 2000.

Later in 2002, he made his own reality show on MTV called Making the Band 2, the sequel to the first Making the Band. In it, contestants compete to be in a new group on Bad Boy Records. The six finalists have to come up with their name, CD and video (see Da Band). The group was maligned by comics and critics, including a well known skit that appeared on Chappelle's Show, and was dissolved by Diddy at the end of the series. Diddy went on to later work on creating an all-girl group called Chain 6 in the third version of Making The Band.

In 2003, Combs ran in the New York City Marathon and raised $2,000,000 for the educational system for the children of New York. He appeared on the March 10, 2004 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss the marathon.

In a 2005 interview with AndPOP, Combs explained that he was developing a new line of men's suits.

On August 16, 2005, Combs appeared on the Today Show and announced that he was altering his stage name yet again, dropping the "P." and referring to himself simply as "Diddy," saying that "the P was getting between me and my fans." He later hosted the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards.

As of 2005, Combs had moved his Bad Boy Records to the Warner Music Group. Tensions still existed between Diddy and former Warners CEOs Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles (both formerly of Def Jam), but they arranged for his imprint to be a part of the company.

Grammy Award History

Grammy Stats

  • Career Wins: 3
  • Career Nominations: 9

Best New Artist

  • Nominated 1998

Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group

Best Rap Album


Other work

Although Combs is one of the wealthiest and most entrepreneurially-minded men in the American entertainment industry, he is also one of the most despised. Some have argued that he is perhaps the worst thing that has ever happened to hip hop, while others praise and respect him. Regarded by some as a highly gifted individual with tremendous foresight, the industry has made him incredibly rich. In the year 2002, he was featured on Fortune magazine's "40 Richest People Under 40" list. His worth has been estimated at close to $500 million and growing.

In addition to his work as a performer and producer, Combs has entered fashion. His popular urban clothing line, Sean John, has been nominated for the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Award for Menswear Designer of the Year every year since 2000. Sean John however received criticism when it was revealed that its Honduras-based factories violated Honduran labor laws and the use of fur in his designs.

Combs also owns the upscale restaurant chain Justin's (named after his son) with locations in New York and in Atlanta.

Along with producer, director, designer, writer, arranger and more, he also bears the mantle of "actor-rapper," as is common with many in his industry. He appeared as a parody of a drug dealer in Made, and he played the role of Walter Lee Younger in the critically acclaimed 2004 Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun. Combs says he loved appearing in the show and being given the opportunity to perform at the theater. He attracted huge crowds for his performance in the New York production, received rave reviews, and admits he is desperate to pursue an acting career. He also starred with Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton in the film Monster's Ball.

Discography

Albums

as Puff Daddy

as P. Diddy

Singles

as Puff Daddy

  • 1996 "No Time" (Lil' Kim featuring Puff Daddy) #18 US, #45 UK
  • 1997 "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" (featuring Mase) #19 UK
  • 1997 "I'll Be Missing You" (featuring Faith Evans & 112) #1 US, #1 UK
  • 1997 "Someone" (SWV featuring Puff Daddy) #19 US, #34 UK
  • 1997 "Mo Money, Mo Problems" (Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy & Mase) #1 US
  • 1997 "It's All about the Benjamins" (with The Family) #2 US, #18 UK
  • 1998 "Been Around The World" (with The Family) #4 US, #20 UK
  • 1998 "Victory" (featuring Notorious B.I.G. & Busta Rhymes) #19 US
  • 1998 "Come With Me" (featuring Jimmy Page and samples Kashmir) #4 US, #2 UK
  • 1998 "Lookin' At Me" (Mase featuring Puff Daddy) #8 US
  • 1999 "All Night Long" (Faith Evans featuring Puff Daddy) #9 US, #23 UK
  • 1999 "Hate Me Now" (Nas featuring Puff Daddy) #62 US, #14 UK
  • 1999 "PE 2000" (featuring Hurricane G) #13 UK
  • 1999 "Satisfy You" (featuring R. Kelly) #2 US, #8 UK
  • 1999 "Notorious B.I.G." (Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy & Lil' Kim) #82 US, #16 UK
  • 2000 "Best Friend" (featuring Mario Winans, Hezekiah Walker, & Love Fe) #59 US, #24 UK

as P. Diddy


as Diddy

  • 2005 "Nasty Girl" (Notorious B.I.G. featuring Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge & Avery Storm) #46 US
  • 2005 "Let'z Make It" ("Welcome 2 Tha Future": Diddy, Killa-Kc, & J-Murda) #80 US
  • 2006 "Ooh-La, La, La" [Remix] w/ Making The Band 3 (TBC)
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