Latest news with #Jodeci
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who is Diddy? Everything to know about hip-hop mogul facing federal sex crimes trial
Sean "Diddy" Combs, who rocketed to worldwide fame with his musical prowess and business acumen, has been thrust into the legal limelight. A year after becoming the subject of a federal sex-trafficking investigation, the award-winning hip-hop mogul is set to go to trial May 5 on various sex-crimes charges, which collectively claim Combs used his multimedia empire as a criminal enterprise to victimize several people. The court battle also follows a barrage of damning civil lawsuits — spearheaded by a civil complaint from singer and ex-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura — that have upended Combs' public persona and accused the rapper of numerous abuses, including sexual assault, rape and physical violence. Despite run-ins with the law stretching back three decades, Combs managed to solidify his status as a pop cultural juggernaut thanks to a steady stream of platinum albums, hit TV shows and retail ventures that included a fashion label and alcoholic beverages line. Combs has denied all allegations against him and pleaded not guilty to the five criminal counts he faces. Here's a look back at the hip-hop icon's life, career and fall from grace. In September 2024, Combs was arrested in New York based on an indictment filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. He was subsequently charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Federal authorities claimed Combs turned his "multi-faceted business empire" into a "criminal enterprise" in which he and his associates engaged in kidnapping, arson and physical violence, sex trafficking and forced labor, among other alleged crimes. A superseding indictment filed April 3 — the third revised indictment following an amended indictment in January and a superseding indictment in March — charged him with two additional counts: one of sex trafficking and one of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Despite repeated attempts at bail, Combs was ordered to remain in custody at the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center ahead of his May 5 trial — a ruling his legal team has challenged. He's been in jail since his arrest on Sept. 16, 2024. Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as rapper faces sex crimes, trafficking charges Combs got his start in the music industry in the early 1990s as an intern — and later talent director — at Uptown Records, where he worked with emerging acts such as Mary J. Blige and Jodeci. He then founded his own music label, Bad Boy Records, in 1993. The company has sold over 500 million records, produced 38 platinum singles and earned multiple Grammy Awards, according to the official website for Combs Global. The Bad Boy founder, under the stage name Puff Daddy, launched a solo music career in the summer of 1997 with the album "No Way Out." The hip-hop LP, which featured the No. 1 hit "I'll Be Missing You," sold 7 million copies and earned Combs a pair of Grammys for best rap album and best rap performance by a duo or group. Combs has also gone by the aliases Puffy, Puff, P. Diddy, Diddy, Love and Brother Love. Combs' showbiz success wasn't limited to the radio airwaves. He proved himself a television personality when he took on the reality-TV franchise "Making the Band." The talent competition series spawned Combs-produced groups including Danity Kane, Da Band and Day26. In the fashion world, Combs struck gold with his Sean John line, which launched with a sportswear collection in 1998. The style retailer, which expanded to include accessories, fragrances and footwear, won Combs a Council of Fashion Designers of America Award in 2004 for menswear designer of the year, the first Black designer to earn the honor. As an entrepreneur, Combs also found success in the spirits world, collaborating with British beverage maker Diageo on its vodka brand Cîroc in a since-terminated "equal-share venture." As a producer, Combs helped define the sound of '90s hip-hop by crafting hits for the likes of The Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey and Faith Evans, such as "Juicy," "Real Love," "Honey" and "You Used to Love Me." Combs' musical prowess seamlessly carried over to his solo act. The rapper has amassed 15 top 10 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, which include the No. 1 hits "I'll Be Missing You," "Mo Money Mo Problems," "Shake Ya Tailfeather," "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" and "Bump, Bump, Bump." Combs is not married, although he has had several longterm relationships. The rapper's most enduring romance was with model-actress Kimberly Porter, who died of pneumonia in November 2018. The on-again, off-again couple officially called it quits in 2007 after 13 years of dating, but the two remained friendly, often spending holidays together. Combs also dated R&B singer Ventura in the mid-2000s. The two became involved professionally and sexually when Ventura was 19 and Combs was 36. Their relationship spanned a decade. Combs' most recent high-profile relationship was with rapper Caresha Brownlee, better known as Yung Miami from the rap duo City Girls. Brownlee, who was first linked to Combs in 2021, confirmed she was single in an April 2023 interview with The Cut. Ventura accused the rapper of rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse in a November 2023 civil lawsuit. After being lured into an "ostentatious, fast-paced and drug-fueled lifestyle" and romantic relationship with Combs, the singer claimed he "took control" of her life, ranging from her healthcare to her career opportunities, and plied her with drugs and alcohol. Combs also allegedly raped Ventura in 2018 and forced the singer into "repeated unwanted sexual encounters" with male prostitutes who he hired and recorded their encounters, per the lawsuit. Ventura and Combs settled the legal matter one day later. Combs has seven children. He had his first biological son, Justin Combs, 31, with fashion designer and stylist Misa Hylton. The rapper shared four children with longtime girlfriend Porter, including Porter's son Quincy Brown, 33, whom she had with R&B singer-songwriter Al B. Sure! The couple's other children include son Christian "King" Combs, 27, and twin daughters D'Lila and Jessie Combs, 18. Combs has two other daughters: 18-year-old Chance Combs, whom he shares with businesswoman Sarah Chapman, and 2-year-old Love from his relationship with model and cybersecurity specialist Dana Tran. On March 25, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations agents raided Combs' Los Angeles home. Agents also searched Combs' Miami residence at that time, Rolling Stone, NBC News and The Associated Press reported. A Homeland Security Investigations spokesperson later told USA TODAY that the agency's New York branch "executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation." Authorities have since confirmed the searches were part of a state sex trafficking investigation. Just three months before the kickoff of Combs' trial, attorney Anthony Ricco withdrew from the rapper's legal team on Feb. 21. Ricco declined to offer the specific details that led to the decision, but he said in a statement: "Although I have provided Sean Combs with the high level of legal representation expected by the court, under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs." Despite Ricco's resignation, Combs' defense received a boost on April 17 when Georgia-based attorney Brian Steel joined the case, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. Steel previously represented rap star Young Thug during his RICO trial. During a September 2024 press conference, U.S. attorney Damian Williams detailed the paraphernalia discovered during the federal raids of Combs' homes. The items included multiple AR-15 guns, large-capacity magazines, "evidence" of Combs' alleged sex crimes and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant. According to Combs' original indictment, the baby oil bottles were used during the hip-hop mogul's alleged "freak off" parties, which were described as "elaborate and produced sex performances" that involved sex workers. Combs and his employees conducted freak offs by booking hotel rooms and stocking them with supplies such as baby oil, lube, extra bedsheets and lighting, per the indictment. The rapper allegedly "arranged, directed" and "masturbated" during these sometimes dayslong "performances," and drugs were reportedly distributed to victims, in part, to keep them "obedient and compliant." Contributing: Naledi Ushe, Anna Kaufman, Taijuan Moorman, Cydney Henderson and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Diddy? What to know about hip-hop mogul facing sex crimes trial
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
R&B star K-Ci hospitalized with pneumonia, Jodeci cancels NYC Valentine's Day show
Jodeci's eagerly anticipated Valentine's Day show in New York City has been canceled after frontman K-Ci Hailey was hospitalized with pneumonia. The Soul Train Award-winning act, known for '90s R&B hits like 'Freek'n You' and 'Forever My Lady,' had been set to perform Friday at the historic King's Theatre in Flatbush, Brooklyn. 'Due to K-Ci being admitted to the hospital and suffering from pneumonia (he will not be able to travel nor perform this weekend under doctor's orders), Jodeci will unfortunately have to cancel the show at the Kings Theatre,' the venue announced on Instagram, noting that ticketholders would be automatically refunded within seven business days. The 55-year-old's ailment similarly impacted a Saturday show scheduled for the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Conn. Jodeci member Mr. Dalvin took to social media, asking followers to keep K-Ci in their prayers and promising the group would be back as soon as possible. K-Ci's manager confirmed to TMZ on Thursday that the singer had been released from the hospital and was resting at home on antibiotics. He reassured fans that Jodeci had already begun working on rescheduling the canceled show for later dates. Their next upcoming performances aren't scheduled until March and are expected to continue as planned. Formed in the late 1980s in North Carolina, Jodeci began as a duo of DeVanté Swing and JoJo Hailey, before they brought in their brothers, Mr. Dalvin and K-Ci. Under the tutelage of Sean 'Diddy' Combs (then known as Puffy), the group went on to achieve platinum-selling status and top the Billboard R&B charts in the early '90s. K-Ci and JoJo later broke from the group to form their eponymous duo, earning crossover success with the ballads 'All My Life' and 'Tell Me It's Real.' In 2014, Jodeci reunited to release their first single in over 18 years, followed by their fourth studio album, 'The Past, the Present, the Future.' All four members reunited again in 2021 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut opus, 'Forever My Lady.'
USA Today
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Jodeci shows canceled after K-Ci was hospitalized with pneumonia
Jodeci is canceling a pair of shows as K-Ci recovers from an illness that landed him in the hospital. A representative for K-Ci confirmed to USA TODAY on Thursday that the R&B star, 55, was "briefly" hospitalized after he "fell ill with a bout of pneumonia." He is now out of the hospital and is recovering. As a result, two shows that Jodeci had scheduled for this weekend — one on Friday in Brooklyn, New York, and the other on Saturday in Ledyard, Connecticut — have been canceled. They are expected to be rescheduled, but new dates haven't yet been confirmed. Jodeci's shows for next month are still on track to proceed, as "we anticipate (K-Ci's) full recovery with rest and care from his doctor," K-Ci's representative said. The group is scheduled to perform on March 27 in Highland, California; March 28 in Lincoln, California; and March 29 in Porterville, California. TMZ was the first to report on K-Ci's illness. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Barack Obamareveals summer 2024 playlist, book recs: Charli XCX, Shaboozey, more Jodeci member Mr. Dalvin shared news of K-Ci's illness and the show cancellations in an Instagram video on Wednesday. He said that he was "looking forward" to this weekend's concerts but that "as we were gearing up to hit the stage and do our thing, K-Ci came down with pneumonia." He added, "Keep my brother in your prayers, and get well soon, K. But we'll be back, and looking forward to seeing you guys real soon. Love each and every one of you." 'AGT':Singer fighting cancer earns Golden Buzzer from emotional Simon Cowell Jodeci, which also consists of DeVante Swing and JoJo, is known for songs like "Cry for You" and "Freek'N You." Their debut studio album, "Forever My Lady," was released in 1991, and according to their website, they have sold over 20 million records worldwide. K-Ci is also known for performing as part of the R&B duo K-Ci & JoJo.
