Sinister Tales & Scandals By way of The Years

A Hip Hop empire has fallen now that Sean “Diddy” Combs has been taken into federal custody. The media mogul rose by the business’s ranks to grow to be one of the profitable Rap moguls up to now, however his profession has been fraught with controversy since its inception. Diddy has reigned over his Hip Hop kingdom with precision, floating by every of his monikers at numerous phases of his improvement. After serving to to place Uptown Data on the map, Combs based Unhealthy Boy Data, an iconic label that gave us The Infamous B.I.G., Religion Evans, Whole, The LOX, Craig Mack, 112, Shyne, Cassie, Mase, and plenty of extra. Throughout its heyday, there have been just a few labels to deal with the megahits rolling out of Unhealthy Boys’ studios, however today, Diddy’s alleged soiled deeds have positioned him in a highlight that the hitmaker would have reasonably prevented.

As Diddy faces an onslaught of lawsuits alleging violence and sexual abuse, he is additionally the potential of spending the rest of his life in jail. Federal authorities reportedly arrested Combs in New York Metropolis final week after being charged with racketeering and intercourse trafficking. Though his authorized group hoped he might await his trial within the comforts of his lavish property, a choose ordered Diddy to stay behind bars till the launch of his trial. This stunning determination, together with the stories of what authorities positioned in Diddy’s residence throughout their raid, has taken over timelines. Even the mega-mogul’s friends have come ahead, some to defend his character, whereas others share wild, alleged “Diddy Social gathering” tales of their very own.

It was Cassie Ventura’s explosive lawsuit in opposition to her former lover final 12 months that appeared to propel this present investigation. We’ll get extra into that as we go on, however Combs settled that go well with out of court docket simply 24 hours after Ventura filed her paperwork. Nonetheless, hers wasn’t the primary allegation of abuse—for over a decade, tales have haunted Puff from the courtroom to the streets. These accusations have surfaced from Wendy Williams to Combs’ former workers to Al. B Certain defending the late Kim Porter to fashions who’ve retained their very own attorneys. In the meantime, the web is strolling down reminiscence lane because it revisits a few of Diddy’s most controversial moments. The record of rumors and allegations is sufficient for a miniseries, however we’re gathering only a few of essentially the most mentioned from the lifetime of Sean Combs which have stored him in infamy.

In March 1997, Hip Hop suffered a terrific loss when Christopher Wallace, higher referred to as The Infamous B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls, was fatally gunned down in Los Angeles. For many years, hypothesis has circulated within the business concerning Biggie’s dying, and a few even named Combs in rumors of a plot. Then, Rolling Stone launched an exposé that shook the inspiration of the case—they purported Wallace needed out of his Unhealthy Boy contract and was engaged on his exit from the label. The publication additional said that Biggie turned to his authorized group to realize rights to his publishing, and there was a covert battle between Puff and Huge concerning the issues.

Upon information of Biggie’s dying, RS claimed that Combs capitalized on the tragedy for monetary acquire. Rolling Stone approached Unhealthy Boy for {a magazine} cowl simply months after Huge’s homicide. Nonetheless, Kirk Burrowes, who co-founded the label and was appearing as president of the corporate on the time, stated that Diddy did not need Huge on the quilt. As an alternative, Combs graced the August 1997 problem, with Burrowes alleging that Diddy needed to advertise his debut album, No Means Out. In the meantime, Biggie’s homicide formally stays unsolved, though there may be nonetheless gossip involving Combs, Suge Knight, and a bunch of characters.

Mega music government Steve Stoute additionally had his title tied up in Diddy’s insanity, albeit again in 1998. At the moment, Stoute was appearing as Nas’ supervisor, and it was then that he reportedly had a heated altercation with Combs. In accordance with The Los Angeles Instances, Stoute recalled he and Diddy exchanging phrases on the music video set of “Hate Me Now.” Because the story goes, the concept for the video was for Combs to be depicted as a crucified Christ. Diddy needed the scene axed, however someway, it wasn’t eliminated. This reportedly angered Combs, who, Stoute stated, confirmed up at his workplace and went after him with a champagne bottle. Stoute alleged that in the course of the assault, his jaw and arm had been damaged.

The altercation resulted in Diddy receiving assault costs, however he denied any bones had been broken. Combs would later converse with MTV concerning the incident, claiming he apologized to Stoute. He additionally said he “dissatisfied myself” in addition to the “Hip Hop neighborhood.” Combs added, “As a result of every part I do, I’m attempting to be a group participant in taking Hip Hop to the following degree.” Later, Diddy pleaded responsible to harassment and was ordered to take an anger administration course.

This story has resurfaced after famed journalist Touré revisited the story in a TikTok video. In accordance with the clip, Danyel Smith was an editor at Vibe journal in 1995 when Diddy graced the quilt. She truly beforehand shared this story with The New York Instances, claiming that days following the quilt photograph shoot, Combs reached out demanding to see the photographs earlier than they had been printed. Smith denied the request as a result of it wasn’t Vibe‘s protocol—together with most magazines. After being rejected, Smith said she heard by the grapevine that Combs deliberate to go to Vibe‘s places of work in an effort to drive her hand. Days later, Smith alleged that Diddy confirmed up irate, requesting to see her instantly whereas trying to find her. Smith remarked she was doing her finest to keep away from the upset mogul and managed to sneak out of the again door and hail a cab residence.

This wasn’t the saga’s finish; Puff allegedly referred to as once more the following day, desirous to see the photographs. Smith as soon as once more stated no, and it was then that she claimed he threatened to “see you lifeless within the trunk of a automobile.” Combs can also be accused of telling her he knew her precise location at that second, and Smith stated she wasn’t taking any possibilities. She contacted her lawyer, ensuing within the mega-producer issuing an apology. Once more, one would suppose that is the conclusion of a wild story, however in response to Smith, inside days, there was one other controversy. She said that when she returned to work, the servers that held all the data for Diddy’s Vibe problem had been now not there. They had been purportedly stolen, however regardless of the setback, the difficulty was printed.

In all probability one of the important controversies in Combs’ profession is tied to Moses “Shyne” Barrow. Shyne was an rising artist below the Unhealthy Boy umbrella, together with his deep, fascinating cadence that caught the eye of each followers and the business. Nonetheless, an evening out on the membership in December 1999 would derail Shyne’s profession after it was a taking pictures that injured three individuals. Now, what occurred that night has been below hypothesis for years. What is understood is there was an altercation that escalated into somebody pulling out a firearm—and Shyne was accused of getting his finger on the set off.

Shyne and Diddy confronted costs associated to the taking pictures, however the latter was acquitted regardless of authorities claiming they discovered weapons in his automobile. But, Shyne wasn’t so fortunate and was sentenced to 10 years in jail. Since then, he has turned his life round after returning to Belize. Now an activist and politician, Shyne has left his Hip Hop life behind him. Nonetheless, he has reunited with Diddy on stage not less than twice since 2022. After studying of Combs’ current arrest, Shyne spoke with reporters to share his ideas. He stated this wasn’t somebody “who I vacationed with and somebody who I loved this nice, intimate relationship of brotherhood. That is somebody who destroyed my life.”

Over time, a number of Unhealthy Boy artists have come ahead with complaints over their former label head not budging on giving them their publishing rights. A number of of the Golden Period of Hip Hop hitmakers like Mase, members of 112 and Danity Kane, and others reportedly petitioned Combs for management of their publishing, to no avail. Pertaining to Mase, the Harlem World rapper took his grievances to the web, publicly calling out his former pal. Following a lot controversy and scandal, Diddy determined to provide his former artists their publishing rights in 2023. The transfer was praised by those that have complained all through the years, other than former Danity Kane singer Aubrey O’Day. The Making the Band star has lengthy spoken out in opposition to Combs, even stating that with a view to obtain her publishing, she was allegedly instructed she wanted to comply with now not converse critically of Puff. In mild of his federal costs, O’Day has celebrated his arrest.

Two weeks in the past, Combs was hit with one other lawsuit, this time from former Danity Kane singer Daybreak Richard. Years in the past, throughout an interview with Hot97, Richard seemingly praised Diddy and spoke about being loyal to him for serving to develop her profession on Making the Band. Nonetheless, there have been rumors of misdealings and in poor health emotions behind the scenes, and her current lawsuit was one more that stopped the business in its tracks.

In accordance with Richard’s court docket paperwork, she has accused Combs of bodily violence and intimidation. She particularly named alleged incidents, together with one involving Cassie Ventura. Richard said she was at a dinner with Jimmy Iovine, Ne-Yo, and Usher, and it was there that Diddy allegedly punched Cassie in entrance of the friends, and nobody moved or got here to the singer’s assist. Richard additionally said that she witnessed Combs threaten Ventura, choke her, and drag her upstairs. Richard additionally claimed Diddy locked her in a automobile for hours, “manipulated her” by threatening her profession, and tried to persuade her that ladies within the business must face “abuse and exploitation” to achieve success.

Additional, Richard’s go well with additionally included mentions of Diddy’s notorious events, or because the federal authorities have referred to as them, “freak offs.” The singer said that she witnessed these occasions with “handed out” girls who had been alleged victims to Combs and his associates, who “carried out sexual acts on them.” Furthermore, Richard stated she was violated when Combs allegedly grabbed her “naked buttocks” whereas she was in a altering room, even making an attempt to “contact her breasts.” When she continued to disclaim his advances, Richard claimed Diddy stifled her profession. The lawsuit is ongoing.

Final 12 months, Cassie filed a lawsuit in opposition to Diddy, unraveling a bevy of allegations of abuse all through their 11-year relationship. These accusations included rape, bodily violence, intimidation, manipulation, and forcing her to interact in sexual acts with male escorts. Moreover, there was a narrative about an artist whose automobile was blown up as a result of Diddy supposedly believed he and Cassie had been relationship after a breakup. Child Cudi would later come ahead to verify that he was, certainly, the person in query, and the incident did happen. Diddy rapidly settled the lawsuit however accused Cassie of beforehand making an attempt to blackmail him for tens of millions. By way of his lawyer, he denied the allegations.

Then, earlier this 12 months, a video of Diddy and Cassie surfaced, once more thrusting them into infamy. The surveillance footage was from a resort, exhibiting Cassie making her approach to an elevator earlier than Combs is seen operating after her, dragging her by her hair, punching her, and kicking her whereas she was on the bottom. Cassie additional speculated in her lawsuit that Diddy paid off sure resort employees to suppress the video proof.

This controversy resurfaced within the thick of Kendrick Lamar’s current outpouring of diss tracks in opposition to Drake. After J. Cole swiftly eliminated himself from the brewing beef, followers hopped on-line to revisit the 2013 rumor of Cole and Combs getting right into a bodily altercation. The alleged occasion reportedly happened at an afterparty for the MTV Video Music Awards. Combs was stated to have been liquored up when he confronted Cole about Lamar dubbing himself the “King of New York” on a observe. Ok. Dot was additionally on the occasion, and Diddy allegedly tried to pour a drink on him earlier than Cole stepped in. Issues escalated and have become bodily, claimed sources, but it surely was primarily pushing greater than fisticuffs.

In 1991, the Metropolis Faculty of New York turned the scene of a deadly stampede. Diddy was all set for a promoted superstar basketball sport and impending live performance within the packed gymnasium with a capability of two,730. Nonetheless, followers stormed the placement, and not less than 5,000 individuals had been in attendance, in response to stories. Issues turned so uncontrolled that officers stopped letting in friends as there wasn’t sufficient safety to stave off the group. Closed doorways did not cease these on the skin from attempting to make their manner in, finally breaking down the limitations. The stampede resulted in over two dozen individuals being injured and 9 others dropping their lives. Very like Travis Scott confronted at Astroworld, Combs was hit with a number of lawsuits from victims and relations of the deceased.

When younger artists enter the music business, many dad and mom enable their youngsters to reside with high-profile producers or executives as they’re developed. This occurred with Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri, Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun, and Usher with Diddy. Of the latter pair, in 2016, Usher mirrored on his time at Diddy’s residence when he was 13 and 14 years previous. Whereas on The Howard Stern Present, Usher recalled, “There have been very curious issues going down.” He spoke concerning the late-night to early-morning events Combs would host together with his superstar associates. The Grammy winner additionally instructed that the ladies who frequented these occasions flirted with the rising star.

Pleasure was illuminated by the Combs household when Diddy’s son Justin was accepted to the UCLA soccer group. Nonetheless, in 2015, it was reported that Diddy obtained right into a bodily altercation with the then-assistant soccer coach, Sal Alosi. It was stated that Diddy was lower than thrilled when Alosi criticized Justin, resulting in an argument later within the coach’s workplace. The mogul was accused of grabbing Alosi and throwing a kettlebell at one other worker. It was rumored that Diddy needed to be bodily faraway from the placement, however Combs denied the allegations by way of his consultant. But, Diddy was nonetheless arrested for assault, however costs weren’t filed in opposition to him. He would later converse on the incident throughout an interview with The Breakfast Membership, which you’ll be able to watch above.