Latest news with #Biggie
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘P Diddy would rather die than let go of rights to Biggie Smalls' music': How Diddy was at the epicentre of both Tupac and Biggie's death
When DJ Kool Herc invited his friends to help him MC a party for his sister, an important branch of hip-hop was born: rap. A genre that has facilitated revolution and restitution for half a century, a genre that introduced the world to Lauryn Hill's cadence, Wu-Tang Clan's collaborative precision, Eminem's controversy and Tupac's honesty. Among the greatest to ever pick up the pen and mic was Christopher George Latore Wallace, better known as Biggie Smalls or The Notorious B.I.G. A chubby and angry kid from New York, who decided to take over the world of storytelling and music, 16 bars at a time. Just like so many other artistes, though, there was a man behind the curtain, pulling all the strings, and for Biggie, that man was Sean Combs, better known as Diddy. Biggie naturally took to creative writing, something that took Diddy decades to realise he couldn't do. It's a tale as old as time that budding artists with rough childhoods have an affinity for being discovered by manipulative executives, and Biggie's first demo tape found its way to the desk of Diddy, who was, of course, an upstanding and law-abiding man by all standards. After being fired from Uptown Records (of course, no fault of his own), Diddy decided to helm Bad Boy Records, a label that decided to take RnB and rap artists from the streets of the East Coast to the big dance. He signed Biggie, and he took this opportunity by the throat, as his first breakout track, 'Party and Bullshit', appeared on the soundtrack for the film Who's The Man (1993). ALSO READ: Remembering Eric 'Eazy-E' Wright: A pioneer of hip-hop gone too soon Biggie started climbing the stairs to success almost too fast, and a 21-year-old kid needs guidance in order to deal with that kind of fame and money. Just like Jerry Heller for NWA and the Colonel for Elvis, Diddy stepped into that role. He became Biggie's consigliere, and though the setting and intensity of this story might be similar to The Godfather, Diddy was no Robert Duvall. All this would soon start coming to light, as Biggie became more of a household name and his contemporaries and peers started seeing him for who he really was, one of the most gifted MCs to ever pick up the microphone. To put Biggie's relationship with Tupac in the Indian context, Mirza Ghalib, one of the most recognisable Urdu poets of all time, had Mohammad Ibrahim Zauq as a competitor. A court poet of the emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, Zauq and Ghalib often used to take shots at one another, and while it wasn't exactly like the rap battles at the end of 8 Mile, both pushed each other to be better. As Biggie made a name for himself with his debut album, Ready to Die, Pac started viewing him as a peer, even though he already had two successful albums making the rounds of every music store in the country. While both men are considered by many to be equals, when it comes to storytelling through music, there was one thing that Tupac was better at than Biggie, and that was reading people. He saw through Diddy from their very first meeting, and according to hip-hop photographer Monique Bunn, Pac viewed Diddy as a 'corny executive', and even after several attempts made by the latter to befriend the California rapper, Pac wasn't interested. His relationship with Biggie grew stronger, but as the months passed, a certain incident would sow the first seed in one of the biggest and most destructive feuds in hip-hop history. ALSO READ: Frank Sinatra 'facilitated' John F Kennedy's other life, but couldn't outrun his mafia connections: The rise and ruin of their unlikely friendship While fighting a trial for sexual abuse, Pac travelled to Quad Records in Manhattan in order to record a few songs in order to manage his growing expenses. Here, the rapper was confronted by three armed men, who robbed him and shot him 5 times, and it did not help that this happened on Biggie's turf. Like it or not, the West and the East division matters in hip-hop; it is a line in the sand, which only a few rappers have dared cross, and Pac getting shot 'behind enemy lines' was a major step back in relations between the two coasts. After recovery, Pac was found guilty and was jailed, and on the other side of the wall, Biggie was now surrounded by only yes-men and, of course, Diddy, who had his golden goose all to himself. The fallout of the shooting was bad for safety but good for business, as Biggie and Pac both released diss tracks, and both songs broke the charts. The feud continued until September 7, 1996, when Pac was shot dead while travelling in his BMW with Death Row record label exec Suge Knight. Though reports suggested that Diddy's associated were involved in the shooting, he was never convicted. Just like his contemporary on the other side of the country, Biggie's career was short-lived too, as the rapper was assassinated just a year later, in Los Angeles, California. After his death, Diddy fought to regain the rights to Biggie's music, and according to an exec from the record label, he went on record and said, 'I will never give it up until I'm dead and my bones are crushed into powder.' After Pac's death, Biggie had started wising up, and wanted to leave Bad Boy Records, but Diddy wouldn't let him. Rolling Stone magazine had even offered putting Biggie on the cover after his death, but Diddy refused, and said he wanted to be on the cover to promote his debut album, 'No Way Out.' At the end of it, no matter how tragic their deaths were, all one wants to do is remember the things they did when they were alive. None of them were close to perfect, but somehow a gangster and a fiend found themselves perched up right at the top of hip-hop history. Most artists or rappers have multi-decade careers, their fan base spanning across several generations due to their longevity. But Pac and Biggie were active for a combined 8 years, and yet they did more for the genre than anyone ever could. While we acknowledge what manipulative managers or record executives have done to the careers and personal lives of artists, no one will remember the Colonel or Yeller, just like no one will remember Diddy for being an exec. We will remember Biggie, though. We will pray that on a cold winter evening, when our joints are old and hearing is weak, someone from the next generation will ask us, Who was he? The chubby, angry kid from New York, who ruled the world from his 'Life After Death'.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial: Timeline of the rise and fall of the music mogul
For more than two decades, Sean "Diddy" Combs was one of hip-hop's most opportunistic entrepreneurs, spinning his hitmaking talents into a broad business empire that included a record label, a fashion brand, a TV network, deals with liquor companies and a key role in a reality TV show. But U.S. prosecutors say behind the scenes, Combs was coercing and abusing women with assistance from a network of associates who helped silence victims through blackmail and violence. Combs has pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations. Testimony in his trial began Monday. Here is a timeline of major events in his rise and fall: 1990 - 1999 1990 : Combs, then a student at Howard University, gets his start in the music business with an internship at Uptown Records in New York. Dec. 28, 1991: Nine people die at a celebrity basketball game promoted by Combs and the rapper Heavy D when thousands of fans try to get into a gym at the City College of New York. A mayoral report lays part of the blame for the catastrophe on poor planning by Combs. 1992: Combs is one of the executive producers on "What's the 411?," the debut album by Mary J. Blige. 1993: After being fired by Uptown, Combs establishes his own label, Bad Boy, which quickly cuts a lucrative deal with Arista Records. 1994: Bad Boy releases Notorious B.I.G.'s album "Ready to Die." Two months later, Tupac Shakur survives a shooting in New York and accuses Combs and Biggie of having prior knowledge of the attack, which they deny. Shakur was later killed in a 1996 shooting in Las Vegas. The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die (Official Audio) 1996: Combs is convicted of criminal mischief after he allegedly threatened a photographer with a gun. 1997: Biggie is killed in Los Angeles. Combs, then known as Puff Daddy , releases "I'll be Missing You" in honor of his slain star. Puff Daddy [feat. Faith Evans & 112] - I'll Be Missing You (Official Music Video) 1998: Combs wins two Grammys, one for best ralbum for his debut "No Way Out" and another for best rap performance by a duo or group for "I'll Be Missing You" with Faith Evans. Also that year, Combs' Sean John fashion line is founded. April 16, 1999: Combs and his bodyguards are charged with attacking Interscope Records music executive Steve Stoute in his New York office in a dispute over a music video. Combs is sentenced to an anger management course. Dec. 27, 1999: Combs is arrested on gun possession charges after he and his girlfriend at the time, Jennifer Lopez , fled a shooting that wounded three people at a New York City nightclub. Some witnesses tell police Combs was among the people shooting in the club. He is later charged with offering his driver $50,000 to claim ownership of the 9 mm handgun found in his car. 2001 - 2008 March 17, 2001: Combs is acquitted of all charges related to the nightclub shooting. One of his rap proteges, Jamal "Shyne" Barrows, is convicted in the shooting and serves nearly nine years in prison. Two weeks after the trial, Combs announces he wants to be known as P. Diddy. 2002: Combs becomes the producer and star of "Making the Band," a talent search TV show. Feb. 1, 2004: Combs performs at the Super Bowl halftime show along with Janet Jackson , Justin Timberlake and others. A week later, Combs, Nelly and Murphy Lee win a Grammy for best rap performance by a duo or group for "Shake Ya Tailfeather." April, 2004: Combs makes his Broadway acting debut in "A Raisin in the Sun." 2005: Combs announces he is changing his stage name to Diddy, getting rid of the P. March, 2008: Combs settles a lawsuit brought by a man who claims Combs punched him after a post-Oscar party outside a Hollywood hotel the previous year. In May, Combs is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 2015 - 2022 2015 : Combs is arrested after a confrontation on the campus of UCLA, where one of his sons played football. Assault charges are later dropped. 2016: Combs launches a Harlem charter school, the Capital Preparatory School. Also that year, he announces he is donating $1 million to Howard University. 2017: Combs is named the top earner on Forbes' list of the 100 highest-paid celebrities, which says he brought in $130 million in a single year. 2018: Kim Porter , Combs' former girlfriend and the mother of three of his children, dies from pneumonia at age 47. 2022: Combs receives a lifetime honor at the BET Awards. 2023 - 2025 Sept. 15, 2023: Combs releases "The Love Album - Off the Grid," his first solo studio project since 2006's chart-topping "Press Play." Nov. 16, 2023: R&B singer Cassie sues Combs, alleging he subjected her to years of abuse, including beatings and rape. A day later, the lawsuit is settled under undisclosed terms. Combs, through his attorney, denies the accusations. Nov. 23, 2023: Two more women accuse Combs of sexual abuse in lawsuits. Combs' attorneys call the allegations false. Dozens of additional lawsuits follow by women and men who accuse Combs of rape, sexual assault and other attacks. Plaintiffs include singer Dawn Richard , a "Making the Band" contestant who alleged years of psychological and physical abuse. Combs denies all the allegations. March 25, 2024: Federal agents search Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami Beach, Florida. May 17, 2024: CNN airs video that shows Combs attacking and beating Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. Two days later, Combs posts videos on social media apologizing for the assault. Sept. 16, 2024: Combs is arrested at his Manhattan hotel. A sex trafficking and racketeering indictment unsealed the next day accuses him of using his business empire to coerce women into participating in sexual performances. Combs denies the allegations. His attorney calls it an unjust prosecution of an "imperfect person." May 5, 2025: Jury selection began for Combs' trial. May 12, 2025: A jury is selected and testimony begins in Combs' trial. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . And don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Edinburgh Live
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Wu-Tang Clan fans stunned as they discover how band got their name
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The name Wu-Tang Clan is instantly recognisable to any hip-hop enthusiast. With iconic tracks like 'C.R. E.A.M.' and 'Protect Ya Neck', their music is as integral to the genre as classics by Biggie or Tupac. However, despite their three-decade legacy, some newer fans may not know the origin of the Wu-Tang Clan moniker - or what the group was almost named. The story begins in Staten Island, New York, in the late '80s when three cousins - Robert Diggs, Gary Grice and Russell Jones - decided to form a rap trio, reports the Mirror US. They initially called themselves Force of the Imperial Master, a name that seems more suited to a sci-fi film marathon than the hip hop scene. The trio also went by the All in Together Now Crew - another name that's hard to associate with the group. At this point, Diggs was known as Prince Rakeem, Grice went by The Genius, and Jones performed as The Specialist. They gained respect in the underground scene, and by 1991, both The Genius and Prince Rakeem had signed solo deals. The Genius released Words from the Genius on Cold Chillin' Records, and Rakeem put out Ooh I Love You Rakeem on Tommy Boy. Neither release made much impact, and the labels dropped them. This led to a rebrand: Rakeem became RZA, The Genius became GZA, The Specialist became Ol' Dirty Bastard. And in 1992, with the addition of Staten Island's Dennis Coles (soon to be known as Ghostface Killah), they laid the groundwork for something far greater. Wu-Tang Clan. The name Wu-Tang Clan took inspiration from the 1983 martial arts classic 'Shaolin and Wu Tang', featuring Gordon Liu, capturing the story of a lethal clash between two kung fu schools. RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard, who had a penchant for kung fu cinema, found the filmic link fitting. Yet, the collective didn't just settle on the name; they took it further by creating backronyms in quintessential '90s rap style. Some of the standout interpretations included: "We Usually Take All N****s' Garments', 'Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game", and "Wisdom of the Universe, and the Truth of Allah for the Nation of the Gods." Their 1993 breakthrough album 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)' redefined the East Coast hip hop landscape. By 1997, their sophomore effort 'Wu-Tang Forever' soared to No.1 on the Billboard 200 and snagged a Grammy nod for Best Rap Album. "We reinvented the way hip hop was structured," asserted RZA. The band's success allowed each member freedom of movement within the industry. Whether it was Meth joining Def Jam, Rae sticking with Loud, Ghost signing with Sony, GZA linking up with Geffen—all still credited 'Razor Sharp Records. ' The Wu-Tang brand had become a formidable force in the music business.
Irish Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Wu-Tang Clan fans only just realising where their name comes from
The name Wu-Tang Clan is instantly recognisable to any hip-hop enthusiast. With hits like 'C.R. E.A.M.' and 'Protect Ya Neck', their music is as integral to the genre as iconic tracks by Biggie or Tupac. However, despite their three-decade-long legacy, some newer fans may not know the origin of the Wu-Tang Clan moniker - or what the group was nearly named. The story begins in Staten Island, New York, in the late '80s when three cousins - Robert Diggs, Gary Grice and Russell Jones - decided to form a rap trio, reports the Mirror US. They initially called themselves Force of the Imperial Master, a name that seems more suited to a science fiction film marathon than the hip hop scene. The trio also went by the All in Together Now Crew - another name that's hard to associate with the group. At this point, Diggs was known as Prince Rakeem, Grice performed under The Genius, and Jones was The Specialist. They gained respect in the underground scene, and by 1991, both The Genius and Prince Rakeem had secured solo deals. Wu-Tang Clan's story began in the late 1980s (Image: PA) The Genius released Words from the Genius on Cold Chillin' Records, and Rakeem put out Ooh I Love You Rakeem on Tommy Boy. Neither release made much impact, and the labels dropped them. This led to a rebrand: Rakeem became RZA, The Genius transformed into GZA, The Specialist became Ol' Dirty Bastard. And in 1992, with the addition of Staten Island's Dennis Coles (soon to be known as Ghostface Killah), they laid the groundwork for something much bigger. Wu-Tang Clan. The name was plucked straight from a cult classic - the 1983 martial arts flick Shaolin and Wu Tang, featuring Gordon Liu and showcasing the lethal rivalry between two kung fu schools. RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard had a thing for kung fu movies, so the filmic nod was bang on. But the crew didn't just settle on the moniker. In peak '90s hip-hop style, they began crafting backronyms to match it. Some of the standout interpretations included: "We Usually Take All N****s' Garments", "Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game" and "Wisdom of the Universe, and the Truth of Allah for the Nation of the Gods." Come 1993, they dropped Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - an album that turned the East Coast rap scene on its head. Fast forward to 1997, and Wu-Tang Forever was topping the Billboard 200 and snagging a Grammy nod for Best Rap Album. "We reinvented the way hip hop was structured," RZA once said. "We still could negotiate with any label we wanted... Meth went with Def Jam, Rae stayed with Loud, Ghost went with Sony, GZA went with Geffen. And all these labels still put 'Razor Sharp Records' on the credits. Wu-Tang was a financial movement."
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Wu-Tang Clan fans left 'speechless' as they learn how group got their name
Wu-Tang Clan are one of the most legendary hip hop groups of all time - but some fans may not know the story behind how they got their name The name Wu-Tang Clan is instantly recognisable to any hip-hop enthusiast. With hits like 'C.R. E.A.M.' and 'Protect Ya Neck', their music is as integral to the genre as iconic tracks by Biggie or Tupac. However, despite their three-decade-long legacy, some newer fans may not know the origin of the Wu-Tang Clan moniker - or what the group was nearly named. The story begins in Staten Island, New York, in the late 1980s when three cousins - Robert Diggs, Gary Grice and Russell Jones - decided to form a rap trio, reports the Mirror US. They initially called themselves Force of the Imperial Master, a name that seems more suited to a science fiction film marathon than the hip hop scene. The trio also used the name All in Together Now Crew - another moniker that's hard to associate with the group. At this time, Diggs was known as Prince Rakeem, Grice performed under The Genius, and Jones went by The Specialist. They gained respect in the underground scene, and by 1991, both The Genius and Prince Rakeem had secured solo deals. The Genius released Words from the Genius on Cold Chillin' Records, while Rakeem put out Ooh I Love You Rakeem on Tommy Boy. Neither release made much impact, and they were dropped by their labels. This led to a rebrand: Rakeem became RZA, The Genius transformed into GZA, The Specialist became Ol' Dirty Bastard. In 1992, with the addition of Staten Island's Dennis Coles (soon to be known as Ghostface Killah), they laid the groundwork for something much bigger. Thus, the Wu-Tang Clan was born. The name was lifted straight from the 1983 martial arts cult classic, "Shaolin and Wu Tang," featuring Gordon Liu, which depicted a lethal rivalry between two martial arts factions. RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard had a passion for kung fu flicks, making the filmic nod a perfect fit. Yet, even after settling on the moniker, the collective didn't rest on their laurels. In quintessential '90s hip-hop style, they began concocting backronyms to complement it. Some of the standout interpretations included: "We Usually Take All N****s' Garments", "Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game" and "Wisdom of the Universe, and the Truth of Allah for the Nation of the Gods." Their groundbreaking debut album, "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)," dropped in 1993, revolutionising East Coast rap. By 1997, "Wu-Tang Forever" soared to No.1 on the Billboard 200 and snagged a Grammy nod for Best Rap Album. "We reinvented the way hip hop was structured," RZA once remarked. "We still could negotiate with any label we wanted... Meth went with Def Jam, Rae stayed with Loud, Ghost went with Sony, GZA went with Geffen. And all these labels still put 'Razor Sharp Records' on the credits. Wu-Tang was a financial movement."
