Latest news with #BigPoppa
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs: The ups and downs of a ‘bad boy' turned businessman
Sean 'Diddy' Combs once traced his success back to a pair of shoes. One day, when he was a child, he asked his mother for a new pair of sneakers, but she couldn't afford them. He recalled in a 2016 CNN interview that his mother almost began to cry upon hearing his request. That day, he said, 'my hustle was born.' The man who famously once sang about being a 'bad boy for life' had it pretty good for a long time, thanks to that hustle and his entrepreneurial successes. Buying new shoes may not be a problem anymore but he has bigger ones — especially lately. This week, authorities conducted searches on two of Combs' homes as part of a federal investigation carried out by a Department of Homeland Security team that handles human trafficking crimes, according to a senior federal law enforcement official briefed on the investigation. The probe reportedly stems from many of the same sexual assault allegations put forth in some civil lawsuits against him, according to a different law enforcement source familiar with the searches conducted on Combs' homes. Combs has been accused of sexual misconduct in five separate lawsuits filed in recent months – allegations he has repeatedly denied. It is unclear which allegations are included in the federal investigation. Throughout his career, the tides have changed for Combs about as often as he's changed his name. With his legacy in question, this particular chapter of the story of Sean 'Diddy' Combs is currently punctuated more by an ellipsis than a period. But if he manages to rebuild a once towering professional empire in the aftermath of his present legal troubles, Combs' image may one day be more synonymous with miracle worker than hitmaker. Before the world knew him as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Puffy, Diddy and Love, Combs was building a career for himself and, most notably, as a producer for other artists, like Christopher Wallace, who was better known as Notorious B.I.G. Combs signed Wallace to his label Bad Boy Records in 1993, going on to produce with the young talent hit records like 'Big Poppa,' 'Hypnotize' and 'One More Chance' until 24-year-old Wallace's murder in March 1997. Months later, Combs, then only 27 himself, released his debut album, 'No Way Out.' It included a tribute song to Wallace that remains one of Combs' most memorable songs. 'I'll Be Missing You,' which sampled the The Police's 1983 hit 'Every Breath You Take,' was a massive hit for Combs and recording artist Faith Evans. 'I think I'll always feel some sort of responsibility because I'm in this thing with him,' Combs told Wendy Williams of Wallace's murder during an episode of her show in 2017. 'He's my artist.' 'I'll Be Missing You' was the first rap song to debut as No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to win a Grammy. His success continued with albums such as 1999's 'Forever' and 'The Saga Continues…' which was released in 2001. That same year, Combs was found not guilty of charges relating to a shooting incident outside a Manhattan night club in 1999, following a high-profile trial. After the verdict, Combs told reporters that he would speak more on the matter at a later time, 'but right now, I just want to go and be with my kids.' He had two children at the time, but Combs is now a father of seven. His first child, Justin, was born to Combs' former girlfriend, stylist Misa Hylton, in 1993. Combs' long time, off and on relationship with model and actress Kim Porter resulted in the birth of son Christian in 1998. Twin daughters Jessie James and D'Lila Star followed in 2006. Combs adopted Porter's son, Quincy, from a previous relationship. He also fathered daughters, Chance, with internet personality Sarah Chapman in 2006, and, Love, with cybersecurity professional Dana Tran in 2022. In the world of business, Combs kept himself busy with ventures both during and after he peaked in the music world. Between his Sean Jean clothing line, his lucrative deal with Ciroc Vodka, his Revolt Media film and TV projects and his record label — among other ventures — Combs proved that 'All About the Benjamins' wasn't just a phrase in a song, it was a code he lived by. Those once burgeoning brands and businesses, however, are not what they once were. Founded in 1998, his Sean Jean clothing line once had annual retail sales of around $450 million by 2016, when Combs sold a majority stake to Global Brands Group, according to Women's Wear Daily. Combs won a bidding war to buy the brand back in 2021 after Global Brands Group went bankrupt. 'I launched Sean John in 1998 with the goal of building a premium brand that shattered tradition and introduced hip-hop to high fashion on a global scale,' Combs said at the time in a statement to Billboard. 'Seeing how streetwear has evolved to rewrite the rules of fashion and impact culture across categories, I'm ready to reclaim ownership of the brand, build a team of visionary designers and global partners to write the next chapter of Sean John's legacy.' There was drama with some of his other business ventures. In May 2023, he filed suit against Diageo PLC, his partner in the Ciroc vodka and DeLeón tequila businesses, alleging discrimination and that the company was limiting the reach of his brands by marketing them as 'urban.' That suit was resolved in January 2024. 'Sean Combs and Diageo have now agreed to resolve all disputes between them. Mr. Combs has withdrawn all of his allegations about Diageo and will voluntarily dismiss his lawsuits against Diageo with prejudice,' both parties said in a statement. 'Diageo and Mr. Combs have no ongoing business relationship, either with respect to Cîroc vodka or DeLeón tequila, which Diageo now solely owns.' His Bad Boy Entertainment label is still operating. The hip-hop mogul was also known for the media company Revolt. In November of 2023, the company announced Combs had temporarily stepped down as chairman after being hit with a suit by former longterm girlfriend Cassie Ventura, in which she alleged that she had been raped and repeatedly abused by Combs during their more than decade long relationship. Combs denied the allegations and the suit has been settled. The settlement was followed by four other civil suits filed in the past four months. The cases returned to the spotlight this week when authorities swarmed homes owned by Combs in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a federal investigation carried out by a Department of Homeland Security team that handles human trafficking crimes, according to a senior federal law enforcement official briefed on the investigation. 'There was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs' residences,' Aaron Dyer, Combs's attorney, said in a statement to CNN on Tuesday. 'There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities.' Dyer added, 'There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.' Several artists long associated with him have yet to comment about Combs' legal issues publicly. CNN has reached out to some of his former collaborators, including Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, MGK and Janelle Monáe, for comment. Combs and his twin teenage daughters were preparing to leave Miami for a planned spring break trip on Monday when the searches happened, a source close to Diddy and with direct knowledge of the situation told CNN. He was briefly stopped by law enforcement and subsequently released The source would not reveal Combs' vacation destination or current whereabouts. CNN's John Miller, Elizabeth Wolfe, Eric Levenson, Denise Royal, Elizabeth Wagmeister and Carlos Suarez contributed to this report
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Primary Wave Finalizes Deal For Biggie Smalls Catalog
The Notorious B.I.G.'s estate has closed on a deal to sell a stake in the legendary rapper's catalog to Primary Wave, the company confirmed on Thursday. The deal comes weeks after The Hollywood Reporter first broke the news on the deal's development.. Primary Wave didn't disclose the financial details of the deal. Sources previously told THR that Biggie's publishing rights were up for about $100 million, while the master rights were on the table for another 30 to 50 million. Sources said the deal gives Primary Wave 50 percent to both rights, as well as his name and likeness. More from The Hollywood Reporter Coachella 2025 Is Almost Here: These Are the Best Deals on Weekend Passes, One-Day Tickets, Camping and More Online Eminem's Former Employee Charged With Leaking Rapper's Music On 'Hot,' K-Pop Stars Le Sserafim Explore Love and Perseverance: "We Are Going to Give Our All" Voletta Wallace died last month, and as the Wall Street Journal reported, she reached the deal just before her death. Biggie is known as one of the greatest and most influential artists in the history of rap, recording hits like 'Big Poppa,' 'Juicy' and 'Hypnotize,' while his 1994 debut album Ready to Die is considered one of the greatest albums of all time. Biggie, whose real name is Christopher Wallace, was tragically killed in Los Angeles in 1997 when he was just 24 years old. Life After Death, the sequel to Ready to Die, came out two weeks after his death and featured the hits 'Hypnotize' and 'Mo Money Mo Problems.' Since his death, Voletta Wallace oversaw his estate and worked at preserving her son's legacy as one of the seminal figures of hip hop. The estate released the posthumous albums Born Again and Duets: The Final Chapter in 1999 and in 2005. She was a producer on the 2009 biopic Notorious as well. Primary Wave has been one of the most active companies in the catalog acquisition space over the past several years, buying up rights for legendary artists like Whitney Houston, Stevie Nicks, Bob Marley and Luther Vandross. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2024: Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Olivia Rodrigo and More
CNN
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Voletta Wallace, Notorious B.I.G.'s mother and keeper of his legacy, dead at 78
Voletta Wallace, the dedicated mother of the late great rapper The Notorious B.I.G., died Friday morning at 78. Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac confirmed her death Friday to The Associated Press, saying she died at her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, after hospice care. She died of natural causes. A representative for the estate of The Notorious B.I.G. did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Notorious B.I.G., one of the rap's greatest performers, was shot to death at age 24 in Los Angeles in 1997. The case remains unsolved. Wallace was a dedicated keeper of the legacy of her son, born Christopher Wallace. When he first emerged on the scene as one of rap's most distinctive talents with songs that expertly detailed street life in Brooklyn, she labeled his music 'noise.' Since his death, his gift took on a new meaning for her. She told AP in 2017, 20 years after his death, 'I remembered my son said, 'Don't listen to my music.' And I never listened to his music. I heard it on the radio and it sounded good, because it was clean. But I said, 'You know what, I have to. I have to listen to that music.' And that's what I did.' 'I cried so much that day just listening to the music. I remember I sat, I stood. I rested my head on the stereo and I just cried like a baby. And that was therapy for me. And I said, 'Oh my God – that was a talented young man to put those words together.' He had a beautiful voice. I love his voice,' she continued. In 2021, Wallace worked as an executive producer on the Netflix documentary 'Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell,' and told AP about her role in the public eye. 'They never knew me. The public never knew me. I was thrust into this environment, I should say, after he passed away, because I'm a very private person. Extremely private,' she said. 'What he was doing out there, maybe I should have known. But honestly, I didn't. And to this day, there are people who are saying, 'Oh, she knew.' (whispers) But I never knew.' Notorious B.I.G.'s 1994 debut album for Bad Boy Records, 'Ready to Die,' has sold over 6 million units as of 2018, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, and included the hits 'Big Poppa' and 'Juicy.' His sophomore album, 'Life After Death,' released two weeks after his death, sold more than 11 million units. It launched multiple hits, including the timeless No. 1 hits 'Mo Money Mo Problems' and 'Hypnotize.' Voletta Wallace's death was first reported by celebrity website TMZ.
CNN
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Voletta Wallace, Notorious B.I.G.'s mother and keeper of his legacy, dead at 78
Voletta Wallace, the dedicated mother of the late great rapper The Notorious B.I.G., died Friday morning at 78. Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac confirmed her death Friday to The Associated Press, saying she died at her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, after hospice care. She died of natural causes. A representative for the estate of The Notorious B.I.G. did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Notorious B.I.G., one of the rap's greatest performers, was shot to death at age 24 in Los Angeles in 1997. The case remains unsolved. Wallace was a dedicated keeper of the legacy of her son, born Christopher Wallace. When he first emerged on the scene as one of rap's most distinctive talents with songs that expertly detailed street life in Brooklyn, she labeled his music 'noise.' Since his death, his gift took on a new meaning for her. She told AP in 2017, 20 years after his death, 'I remembered my son said, 'Don't listen to my music.' And I never listened to his music. I heard it on the radio and it sounded good, because it was clean. But I said, 'You know what, I have to. I have to listen to that music.' And that's what I did.' 'I cried so much that day just listening to the music. I remember I sat, I stood. I rested my head on the stereo and I just cried like a baby. And that was therapy for me. And I said, 'Oh my God – that was a talented young man to put those words together.' He had a beautiful voice. I love his voice,' she continued. In 2021, Wallace worked as an executive producer on the Netflix documentary 'Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell,' and told AP about her role in the public eye. 'They never knew me. The public never knew me. I was thrust into this environment, I should say, after he passed away, because I'm a very private person. Extremely private,' she said. 'What he was doing out there, maybe I should have known. But honestly, I didn't. And to this day, there are people who are saying, 'Oh, she knew.' (whispers) But I never knew.' Notorious B.I.G.'s 1994 debut album for Bad Boy Records, 'Ready to Die,' has sold over 6 million units as of 2018, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, and included the hits 'Big Poppa' and 'Juicy.' His sophomore album, 'Life After Death,' released two weeks after his death, sold more than 11 million units. It launched multiple hits, including the timeless No. 1 hits 'Mo Money Mo Problems' and 'Hypnotize.' Voletta Wallace's death was first reported by celebrity website TMZ.
The Guardian
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Voletta Wallace, mother to Notorious BIG, dies at 78
Voletta Wallace, the dedicated mother of the late rapper the Notorious BIG, died on Friday morning aged 78. The Monroe county coroner, Thomas Yanac, confirmed her death on Friday to the Associated Press, saying she died at her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, after a stint in hospice care. She died of natural causes. A representative for the estate of the Notorious BIG did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Notorious BIG, one of rap's greatest performers, was shot to death at age 24 in Los Angeles in 1997. The case remains unsolved. Wallace was a dedicated keeper of the legacy of her son, born Christopher Wallace. When he first emerged on the scene as one of rap's most distinctive talents with songs that expertly detailed street life in Brooklyn, she labeled his music 'noise'. Since his death, his gift took on a new meaning for her. She told AP in 2017, 20 years after his death: 'I remembered my son said, 'Don't listen to my music.' And I never listened to his music. I heard it on the radio and it sounded good, because it was clean. But I said, 'You know what, I have to. I have to listen to that music.' And that's what I did. 'I cried so much that day just listening to the music. I remember I sat, I stood. I rested my head on the stereo and I just cried like a baby. And that was therapy for me. And I said, 'Oh my God – that was a talented young man to put those words together.' He had a beautiful voice. I love his voice,' she continued. In 2021, Wallace worked as an executive producer on the Netflix documentary Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell and told AP about her role in the public eye. 'They never knew me. The public never knew me. I was thrust into this environment, I should say, after he passed away, because I'm a very private person. Extremely private,' she said. 'What he was doing out there, maybe I should have known. But honestly, I didn't. And to this day, there are people who are saying, 'Oh, she knew. [whispers] But I never knew.' Notorious BIG's 1994 debut album for Bad Boy Records, Ready to Die, had sold more than 6m units as of 2018, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, and included the hits Big Poppa and Juicy. His sophomore album, Life After Death, released two weeks after his death, sold more than 11m units. It launched multiple hits, including the timeless No 1 hits Mo Money Mo Problems and Hypnotize.
