Sean Combs

Sean Combs
Combs performing in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Sean John Combs
Also known as	Diddy, P. Diddy, Puff Daddy
Born	(1969-11-04) November 4, 1969 (age 42) New York City
Origin	Mount Vernon, New York, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop, R&B
Occupations	Rapper, record producer, actor, entrepreneur, singer
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Bad Boy, Interscope
Associated acts	Mary J. Blige, The Notorious B.I.G., Diddy – Dirty Money, Faith Evans, Lil' Kim, Jay-Z
Website	facebook.com/Diddy

Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969^[1]), also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He was originally known as Puff Daddy and then as P. Diddy (Puff and Puffy have been used as nicknames, but never as recording names). In August 2005, he changed his stage name to simply "Diddy", but continues to use the name P. Diddy in the UK as the result of a lawsuit. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He formed and recorded with the group Diddy – Dirty Money.

Combs was born in Harlem and grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. He worked as a talent director at Uptown Records and then founded Bad Boy Records in 1993. His business interests—under the umbrella of Bad Boy Entertainment Worldwide—include Bad Boy Records, the clothing lines Sean John and "Sean by Sean Combs", a movie production company, and two restaurants. He has taken the roles of recording executive, performer, producer of MTV's Making the Band, writer, arranger, clothing designer, and Broadway actor. In 2011, Forbes estimated his net worth at $500 million, making him the richest figure in hip hop.^[2]

Early life

Sean Combs was born in a public housing project in Harlem, New York City, the son of Janice, a model and teacher, and Melvin Combs.^[3] He grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. When Combs was a child, his father, aged 33, an associate of New York drug dealer Frank Lucas,^[4] was shot to death in his car after attending a party.^[5]

Combs graduated from the Roman Catholic Mount Saint Michael Academy in 1987. He played football for the academy, and his team won a division title in 1986.^[6][7]

Combs said that he was given the nickname "Puff" as a child because he would "huff and puff" when he was angry,^[8] and "Daddy" was another version of "player".^[9]

Career

After dropping out of Howard University in 1989, where he had majored in business, Combs became an intern at New York's Uptown Records.^[10] While talent director at Uptown, he helped develop Jodeci and Mary J. Blige.^[11]

In 1991, Combs promoted an event with Heavy D held at the City College of New York (CCNY) gymnasium, following a charity basketball game. The event was oversold, and a stampede occurred in which nine people died.^[10][12]

Bad Boy Entertainment Worldwide headquarters on Broadway near Times Square. A billboard of Combs is in the distance.

In 1993, after being fired from Uptown, Combs established Bad Boy Records, taking then-newcomer The Notorious B.I.G. with him.^[12] Both The Notorious B.I.G. and Craig Mack quickly released hit singles, followed by successful LPs, particularly The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die.^[12] Combs signed more acts to Bad Boy, including Carl Thomas, Faith Evans, Father MC, 112, and Total. The Hitmen, his in-house production team, worked with Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil' Kim, TLC, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, SWV, Aretha Franklin, and others. Mase and D-Block (then known as "The L.O.X.") joined Bad Boy just as a widely-publicized rivalry with the West Coast's Death Row Records was beginning. Combs and The Notorious B.I.G. were criticized and parodied by Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight in songs and interviews during the mid-1990s. During 1994–1995, Combs helped produce the songs "If I Was Your Girlfriend" and "Can I Get A Witness" for TLC's CrazySexyCool, which was the decade's best-selling R&B album.^{[citation needed]}

1997–1998: "Puff Daddy" and No Way Out

In 1997, under the name "Puff Daddy", Combs recorded his first commercial vocal as a rapper. His debut single, "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down", spent six weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.^{[citation needed]} His debut album, No Way Out, was released on July 1, 1997, through Bad Boy Records. Originally titled Hell Up In Harlem,^[13] the album underwent several changes after The Notorious B.I.G. was killed on March 9, 1997. Several of the label's artists made guest appearances on the album. No Way Out was a significant success, particularly in the United States, where it reached number one on the Billboard 200 in its first week of release, selling 561,000 copies. The album produced five successful singles. "I'll Be Missing You", a tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., was the first rap song to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100; it remained at the top of the chart for eleven consecutive weeks and topped several other charts worldwide. Four other singles—"Can't Nobody Hold Me Down", "It's All About the Benjamins", "Been Around the World", and "Victory"—were also successful, and all except the latter peaked in the top two positions of the Billboard Hot 100. Combs collaborated with Jimmy Page on the song "Come with Me" for the 1998 film Godzilla. The track sampled the Led Zeppelin song "Kashmir". Producer Tom Morello supplied live guitar parts and played bass. Combs and Page filmed a video for "Come with Me", which reached number 2 in the UK.^{[citation needed]}

The album earned Combs five nominations at the 40th Grammy Awards in 1998, winning the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.^{[14][not in citation given]} On September 7, 2000, the album was certified septuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of 7,000,000+ copies.^[15]

In 1997, Combs was sued for landlord neglect by Inge Bongo. Combs denied the charges.^[16] By the late 1990s, he was being criticized for watering down and overly commercializing hip hop, and for using too many guest appearances, samples, and interpolations of past hits in his new songs.^[17][18]

1999–2000: Club New York and Forever

In April 1999, Combs was charged with assault as a result of an incident with Steve Stoute of Interscope Records. Stoute was the manager for Nas, with whom Combs had filmed a video earlier that year for the song "Hate Me Now". Combs was concerned that the video, which featured a shot of Nas and Combs being crucified, was blasphemous. He asked for the video to be pulled, but after it aired on MTV on April 15, Combs visited Stoute's offices and injured Stoute. Combs was charged with second-degree assault and criminal mischief,^[19] and was sentenced to attend an anger managment class.^[20]

On December 27, 1999, Combs and his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez were at Club New York in Manhattan when gunfire broke out. After a police investigation, Combs and fellow rapper Shyne were arrested for weapons violations and other charges.^[21] Combs was charged with bribing his driver, Wardel Fenderson, to claim ownership of his gun, plus four weapons-related charges.^[22]

With a gag order in place, the highly-publicized trial began. Combs' attorneys were Johnnie L. Cochran Jr.^{[citation needed]} and Benjamin Brafman.^[22] Combs was found not guilty on all charges; Shyne was convicted on five of his eight charges^[23] and sentenced to ten years in prison. Combs and Lopez split shortly after. A lawsuit filed by Combs's driver, Fenderson, who said he suffered emotional damage after the club shooting, was settled in February 2004. Lawyers for both sides, having agreed to keep the settlement terms secret, said that the matter was "resolved to the satisfaction of all parties".^[24]

Forever, Combs' debut solo studio album, was released by Bad Boy Records on August 24, 1999, in North America, and in the UK on the following day. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, and entered at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, where it remained for one week before being knocked off by Mary J. Blige's fourth album, Mary. The album has received positive to mixed reviews from music critics and has spawned three singles that have charted on the Billboard charts. In the UK, the album peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Chart. It opened at number four on the Canadian Albums Chart, becoming Combs' highest-charting album. To date, the album has sold 1.4 million copies worldwide.^{[citation needed]}

2001–2004: "P. Diddy" and The Saga Continues

Combs changed his stage name from "Puff Daddy" to "P. Diddy" in 2001.^[25] The gospel album, Thank You, which had been completed just before the beginning of the weapons trial, was released that March.^[26] He appeared as a drug dealer in the film Made and starred with Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton in Monster's Ball (both in 2001). He was arrested for driving on a suspended license in Florida.^[27] Combs began working with a series of unusual (for him) artists. For a short period of time, he was the manager of Kelis; they have a collaboration titled "Let's Get Ill". A collaboration with David Bowie appeared on the soundtrack to Training Day and he also worked with Britney Spears and 'N Sync. He signed California-based pop girl group Dream to his record label. He was also an opening act for 'N Sync on their Spring 2002 Celebrity Tour.^{[citation needed]}

The Saga Continues... was released by American on July 10, 2001 in North America. The album was eventually certified Platinum. It is the only studio album under the P. Diddy name, and last studio album under Bad Boy Entertainment's joint venture with Arista Records (his We Invented The Remix album was the last overall album with Arista). The Saga Continues is considered by most fans to be the best album to date since the release of No Way Out. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and topping the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. This is the first album by Sean Combs not to feature any guest appearances by Jay-Z or Lil Kim.^{[citation needed]}

Later in 2002, he made his own reality show on MTV called Making the Band 2, a sequel to the first Making the Band, in which contestants competed to be in a new group on Bad Boy Records. Six finalists were to come up with their name, CD and video (see Da Band). The group, maligned by comics and critics and drawing a skit on Chappelle's Show, was dissolved by Combs at the end of the series.^{[citation needed]}

In 2003 Combs ran in the New York City Marathon, raising $2 million for the educational system for the children of New York.^[28] On March 10, 2004, he appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss the marathon, which he finished in four hours and eighteen minutes. In 2004, Combs headed the campaign "Vote or Die" for the 2004 presidential election. The "Vote or Die" slogan was mocked by The Daily Show and South Park as being too simplistic and encouraging young people to vote without knowing the issues. In a South Park episode entitled "Douche and Turd", Combs and his armed friends were depicted chasing Stan Marsh, one of the show's main characters, threatening to kill him if he didn't vote in his school election.^{[citation needed]}

2005–2009: "Diddy" and Press Play

Combs performing in 2006

On August 16, 2005, Combs announced on Today that he was altering his stage name yet again; he would be calling himself "Diddy". Combs said that fans didn't know how to address him, which led to confusion.^[29] In November 2005, London-based musical artist and DJ Richard Dearlove, who had been performing under the name "Diddy" since 1992 – nine years before Combs started using even "P. Diddy" – sought an injunction in the High Court of Justice in London. He accepted an out-of-court settlement of £10,000 in damages and more than £100,000 in costs. Combs can longer use the name Diddy in the UK, where he is still known as P. Diddy.^[30][31] An assault charge against Combs filed by Michigan television host Rogelio Mills was resolved in Comb's favor in 2005.^[32]

Combs starred in the 2005 film Carlito's Way: Rise to Power. He played Walter Lee Younger in the 2004 Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun^[33] and the television adaptation that aired in February 2008. In 2005 Combs sold half of his record company to the Warner Music Group.^[34] Tensions still existed between him and former Warner CEOs Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles (both formerly of Def Jam) but they arranged for his imprint to be a part of the company.^{[citation needed]} In an interview with AndPOP Combs said that he was developing a line of men's suits. He hosted the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, and was named one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2005 by Time magazine.^[35] He was mentioned in the country song "Play Something Country" by Brooks & Dunn: the lyricist says he "didn't come to hear P. Diddy", which is rhymed with "something thumpin' from the city."^[36]

In 2006, when Combs refused to release musician Mase from his contractual obligations to allow him to join the group G-Unit, 50 Cent recorded a dis song, "Hip-Hop". The lyrics imply that Combs knew the identity of The Notorious B.I.G.'s murderer.^[37] The two later resolved the feud.^[38]

Combs released his first album in four years, Press Play, on October 17, 2006, on the Bad Boy Records label.^[39] The album features guest appearances by Christina Aguilera, Keyshia Cole, Mario Winans (signed to his label), Nas, Will.i.am (of The Black Eyed Peas), Mary J. Blige, Nicole Scherzinger (of the Pussycat Dolls), Jamie Foxx, Fergie, Big Boi (of Outkast), Ciara, Twista, Just Blaze, Pharrell, and Brandy. The album debuted at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart with sales of over 173,009. In the UK, the album debuted at number 11. Its singles "Come to Me" and "Last Night" both reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.^{[citation needed]} The album became available to preview on MTV's The Leak on October 10, 2006, a week before being sold in stores.^[40] Press Play received mixed to positive reviews from critics.^[41] As of November 21, 2008, the album had sold 700,000 copies in the United States.^{[42][not in citation given]}

On September 18, 2007, Combs teamed up with 50 Cent and Jay-Z for the "Forbes I Get Money Billion Dollar Remix".^[43] He also made appearances with Jay-Z on his American Gangster concert tour in 2007.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2008, the Los Angeles Times claimed that The Notorious B.I.G. and Combs orchestrated the 1994 robbery and shooting of Tupac, substantiating the claim with supposed FBI documents; the newspaper later retracted the story, acknowledging that the documents had been fabricated.^[44]

In June 2008, Combs' representative denied rumors of another name change.^[45] Combs ventured into reality television in August 2008 with the premiere of his VH1 series I Want to Work for Diddy.^[46] After the season finale of Making The Band 4, Combs said he would be heading back into the studio to record his next album. In an interview with The Daily Mail, he said: "I had Christina Aguilera on my last album, but its all about Leona Lewis on my next."^[47] He appeared—credited under his real name—in two episodes of Season 7 of CSI: Miami: "Presumed Guilty" and "Sink or Swim" in the role of lawyer Derek Powell.^[48]

2010–present: The Dream Team and Diddy – Dirty Money

Combs created a rap supergroup in 2010 known as The Dream Team. The group consists of Combs, Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Red Café, and Fabolous.^[49] In June 2010 Combs played a role (credited as Sean Combs) in the comedy film Get Him to the Greek, as Sergio Roma, a record company executive. An Entourage series representative announced that Combs would guest star on an episode during the 2010 season.^[50] Combs made an appearance at comedian Chris Gethard's live show in January 2010 at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City.^[51]

Last Train to Paris was released by Combs' group Diddy – Dirty Money on December 13, 2010. During its opening week the album outperformed expectations, debuting eight places higher than predicted, at number seven on the Billboard 200. The release was preceded by four singles "Angels", "Hello Good Morning", "Loving You No More", and "Coming Home", which experienced mixed success on the Billboard Hot 100. "Coming Home" has become the most successful of the four songs, peaking at number twelve on the U.S. Hot 100 and top-five or top-ten in much of Europe.^{[citation needed]} On March 10, 2011 Diddy – Dirty Money performed "Coming Home" live on American Idol.^[52]

On April 18, 2011, Combs appeared in season one of Hawaii Five-0, guest starring as an undercover NYPD detective.^[53]

Business ventures

Fortune magazine listed him at number 12 on their top 40 of entrepreneurs under 40 in 2002.^[54] In 2011 his estimated net worth was $500 million, making him the richest person in the hip hop entertainment business.^[2]

Sean John

In 1998, Combs started a clothing line, Sean John. It was nominated for the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) award for Menswear Designer of the Year in 2000,^[55] and won in 2004.^[56]

The clothing line was subject to controversy in 2003 when the National Labor Committee revealed that factories producing the clothing in Honduras were violating Honduran labor laws.^[57] Among the accusations were that workers were subjected to body searches and involuntary pregnancy tests. Bathrooms were locked and access tightly controlled. Employees were forced to work overtime and were paid sweatshop wages.^[58] Charles Kernaghan of the National Labor Committee told The New York Times that "Sean Puff Daddy obviously has a lot of clout, he can literally do a lot overnight to help these workers."^[57]

Combs responded with an extensive investigation, telling reporters "I'm as pro-worker as they get".^[59] On February 14, 2004, Kernaghan announced that improvements had been implemented at the factory, including adding air conditioning and water purification systems, firing the most abusive supervisors, and allowing the formation of a labor union.^[60]

In late 2006, the department store Macy's removed Sean John jackets from their shelves when they discovered that the clothing was made using dog fur (from a species called raccoon dog). Combs had not known the jackets were made with dog fur, but as soon as he was alerted, he had production stopped.^[61] In 2008 he appeared in a Macy's commercial.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2008, Combs added a men's perfume called "I Am King" to the Sean John brand". The fragrance, dedicated to Barack Obama, Muhammad Ali, and Martin Luther King, featured model Bar Refaeli in its advertisements.^{[citation needed]}

Other ventures

In addition to his clothing line, Combs owns an upscale restaurant chain called Justin's, named after his son. The current restaurant is in Atlanta; the original New York location closed in September 2007.^[62] He is the designer of the Dallas Mavericks alternate jersey.^[63] In October 2007, Combs agreed to help develop the Ciroc vodka brand for a share in the profits.^[64] Combs acquired the Enyce clothing line from Liz Claiborne for $20 million on October 21, 2008.^[65]

In February 2010 Combs announced to Wolf Blitzer on CNN that he plans to open a business school in New York. He announced that he wants the school to be "known for building leaders."^[66]

Personal life

Combs with his sons Christian and Justin at the Spider-Man 3 premiere

Family

Combs is the father of five children. He is the informal stepfather of Quincy Jones Brown (born December 1991), son of his on-again, off-again girlfriend Kimberly Porter with 1980s New Jack Swing romantic singer/producer Al B Sure.^[67] Quincy was featured on My Super Sweet 16.^[68]

Combs' first child is Justin Combs (born December 1993), from a relationship with his high-school sweetheart, designer Misa Hylton-Brim. In January 2010 Combs presented Justin with a $360,000 Maybach car, complete with chauffeur, as a sixteenth birthday present.^[69] Justin was also featured on My Super Sweet 16.^[70]

Kim Porter is the mother of Christian Casey Combs (born April 1998) and twin daughters D'Lila Star Combs and Jessie James Combs (born December 2006).^[71] Combs and Porter ended their relationship in July 2007.^[72] In October 2007, Combs took legal responsibility for Chance, his daughter with Sarah Chapman.^[67]

Combs owns a home in Alpine, New Jersey, which he purchased for a reported $7 million.^[73] His winter home in Miami Beach was purchased for $14.5 million in November 2003.^[74]

Charity work and honors

Combs' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

The mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, gave Combs the key to the city^[75] and a pair of cufflinks.^{[citation needed]} October 13, 2006 was named "Diddy Day" in honor of Combs' charity work.^[76]

In 2008 Combs was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[77]

Wardrobe style

Combs describes his wardrobe style as "swagger, timeless, diverse".^[78] On September 2, 2007, Combs held his ninth annual "White Party", at which guests are limited to an all-white dress code. The White Party, which has also been held in St. Tropez, was held in his home in East Hampton, Long Island. Combs stated, "This party is up there with the top three that I've thrown. It's a party that has legendary status. It's hard to throw a party that lives up to its legend."^[79]

Discography

Studio albums

• 1997: No Way Out
• 1999: Forever
• 2001: The Saga Continues...
• 2002: We Invented the Remix
• 2006: Press Play
• 2010: Last Train to Paris

Accolades

• 84th Academy Awards
  • 2012, Best Documentary Feature, Undefeated (executive producer)
• NAACP Image Awards
  • 2009, Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special, A Raisin in the Sun (Winner)
• MOBO Awards
  • 2007, Best International Act (Nominated)
• BET Awards
  • 2007, Best Male Hip Hop Artist (Nominated)
• MTV Video Music Awards
  • 1997, Best R&B Video: "I'll Be Missing You" (Winner)
  • 1998, Viewers Choice: "It's All About The Benjamins (Rock Remix)" (Winner)
• Grammy Awards^{[80][81][82][83][84]}

• Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (Albums Executive Produced by Sean Combs)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sean Combs

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Sean Combs

• Official website
• Sean Combs at MTV
• Sean Combs at Allmusic
• Sean Combs at the Internet Movie Database