Latest news with #Can'tNobodyHoldMeDown
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Who is Sean ‘Diddy' Combs, acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges
US rapper and music producer Sean 'Diddy' Combs was on Wednesday (July 2) acquitted of the serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, but convicted of transportation for prostitution to participate in his 'freak-offs', or drug-fuelled sex parties. He now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years, but may ultimately serve a shorter prison term. He has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, since his arrest last September. However, Judge Arun Subramaniam ordered Combs to remain in detention until his sentencing. While the judge proposed October 3 as a sentencing date, Combs' lawyers have sought an expedited schedule and will meet again on July 8, the BBC reported. Combs was accused of heading a criminal enterprise with some of his closest employees, who allegedly used threats, coercive tactics, outright violence, bribery and other crimes to force his ex-girlfriend Cassandra 'Cassie' Ventura, and a woman identified as 'Jane', to participate in his 'freak-offs' with male escorts. His lawyers claimed that the sexual acts were consensual, that Combs' accusers were suing him for financial gain, and that he stood to be disadvantaged by the media trial given his public status. Music producer who enjoyed the limelight Sean Combs is a music mogul who dominated the hip-hop scene in the 1990s and 2000s, and is credited with helping bring it to the mainstream today. The 56-year-old rapper was reportedly nicknamed 'Puff' as a child as he would 'huff and puff' while throwing a tantrum. His first single, 'Can't Nobody Hold Me Down,' was released in the aftermath of the killing of the famous rapper, The Notorious B.I.G. It stayed at Number 1 for six weeks, raising anticipation for the associated album. Titled 'No Way Out,' it debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and earned him Grammy wins for 'Best Rap Album' and 'Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group'. Combs is credited with launching musicians like Usher and Mary J Blige through his record label, Bad Boy Records. As a rapper and producer, he has used the stage names Puff Daddy, P Diddy and Diddy over the decades, and collaborated with artists like Nelly, Jennifer Lopez, Drake, Lil Kim, Pharrell and The Weeknd to chart-topping success. In 2008, he became the first male rapper to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has also ventured into other businesses, like fashion, vodka and television, to amass a portfolio valued by Forbes at $1 billion in 2022. His clothing line Sean John, launched in 1998, enjoyed critical and commercial success, which a 2023 GQ article valued at $525 million in annual sales. Combs once famously likened himself to Jay Gatsby, the protagonist of the 1925 novel 'The Great Gatsby', who was known for hosting extravagant parties and rose from poverty to become incredibly wealthy. Combs hosted parties that were attended by the wealthy and influential, featuring guests such as Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, Donald Trump, Salman Rushdie and Leonardo DiCaprio. The so-called 'White Parties' featured a white dress code for all in attendance, and were coveted by artists and businesspeople alike who sought to mingle. The parties also helped to boost Combs' personal profile. His former publicist, Rob Shuter, told the BBC that Combs was obsessed with power and desired fame. 'He was just figuring out that how he could get the most attention was to become the party king of New York,' Shuter said. 'The reason he was such a superstar is because all he thinks about is Diddy. From the minute he wakes up until the minute he goes to bed.' Combs had several run-ins with the law over the years. In 1999, he was first charged with assault for beating up a music producer, a case that was dropped following a public apology. He was allegedly involved in a public altercation and a shootout in a nightclub with his then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez. In the resulting case, he was cleared of charges of gun possession and bribery, but his protege, Jamal 'Shyne' Barrow, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for assault, gun possession and reckless endangerment. Barrow, who was deported to Belize at the end of his term, alleged in April 2024 that he was the 'fall guy' and had taken the blame to keep Combs out of jail. While several women anonymously accused Combs of sexual assault and coercion over the years, he was able to settle these cases outside court. All that changed when his ex-girlfriend, Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, sued him in November 2023. Ventura's lawsuit alleged among other things, rape, sexual assault, sex trafficking, sexual battery and human trafficking. It accused him of physically assaulting her and coercing her into drug-induced sexual encounters with hired men. Having met him as a 19-year-old in 2005, she alleged that he exerted complete control over her life and decisions for the next decade. Combs allegedly resorted to multiple intimidation tactics, even blowing up the car of the man she dated while the two were on a break. Combs denied all the allegations and settled the lawsuit out of court for $20 million the very next day. However, in May 2024, CNN released a graphic hotel surveillance video from 2016, which showed Combs stopping Cassie from leaving the premises by physically overpowering and even kicking her. A day later, Combs offered a public apology. Following Cassie's testimony, two more women stepped forward in November 2023 to accuse Combs of rape, with one survivor reportedly aged 17 at the time of her encounter, The New York Times reported. Two more women came forward in May and September 2024, accusing him of sustained sexual abuse and physical violence for years. Ventura was the star witness in the federal case brought against him last year, which presented him as the bigwig at the helm of a racketeering conspiracy using a changing set of staff to help him commit crimes. The case relied on accounts by Ventura and 'Jane' of forced sex under the influence of drugs in hotels countrywide. These accounts recounted the extensive use of party drugs like MDMA or Ecstasy. Both women claimed that Combs directed the women to use baby oil and engage in sex with the escorts, while he watched. Credence to these claims was lent by the recovery of 200 bottles of the oil from Combs' Los Angeles home in March 2024 by federal investigators from Homeland Security. The NYT reported that jurors saw video clips of the sexual encounters, while they remain hidden from the public eye. Combs' legal team claimed that the federal case, alleging sex trafficking and racketeering, was an overreach, while they acknowledged the domestic violence against Ventura. 'Domestic violence is not sex trafficking,' Combs' attorney Teny Geragos argued in May.
Edinburgh Live
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
The ominous reason behind P Diddy's original stage name 'Puff Daddy'
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 Hip-hop titan Sean 'P Diddy' Combs, famously known by a plethora of stage names over the decades, finds himself in the spotlight at a New York City courthouse, standing trial over allegations of sex trafficking and racketeering. The 55-year-old celebrity, alongside his legal team, stoutly refutes the charges levelled against him, asserting his innocence as the proceedings pass the third week mark. Amidst ongoing legal battles and with P Diddy's purported criminal acts seizing public attention, many fans are only now uncovering the roots of his original moniker, Puff Daddy. Launching into fame in 1997, Combs skyrocketed to success when "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down," his first single, dominated the charts. READ MORE - Kate Middleton's brutal response when told she's lucky to have Prince William READ MORE - Meghan Markle's honest one-word response when asked about meeting Kate Middleton Throughout the years, he's opted for diverse aliases, starting as the infamous Puff Daddy before later adopting the tags P Diddy and Diddy. Pulled straight from Combs' own accounts, "Puff Daddy" traces back to his childhood moniker "Puff," stemming from his childhood habit of "huff and puff" antics whenever he lost his temper, reports the Mirror US. The epithet "Puff" laid the foundation for his initial foray into the rap game as Puff Daddy, clinching the top spot with his opening single in 1997. By then, Combs had already established himself as a major force in music, having founded Bad Boy Records in 1993 and crowning himself as its chief. In a bid for reinvention after being acquitted of gun possession and bribery charges in 2001, he swapped out Puff Daddy for P. Diddy, setting his sights on a fresh start. Sean Combs, the renowned rapper, had announced a name change from Puff Daddy to P Diddy back in 2001. "No more Puff Daddy - the first week in June, we're going to have a name-change ceremony," Combs stated at the time, adding: "I'm not doing it as serious as Prince. I just want something fresh. I'm rocking with P Diddy just now." He subsequently released his album, The Saga Continues, under the new moniker, although he had previously used the alias in record credits for his work with other artists. Combs attributed the origin of the name P. Diddy to his friend, the late rapper Notorious B.I. G. who was tragically shot and killed in 1997. Meanwhile, Combs' ongoing sex trafficking trial, which has featured testimony from his ex-partner Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, is expected to continue for at least five more weeks. In a recent development, imprisoned rapper Suge Knight has urged his long-time rival Combs to take the stand in the trial. Suge, currently serving a 28-year sentence for a 2015 fatal hit-and-run, believes Combs should defend himself in court to "humanize" himself and persuade the jury to "give him a shot". Suge commented that Combs' silence makes him appear "scared to face the music" and advised him to "have his faith in God." He added, "I feel if he does tell his truth, he really would walk."
Economic Times
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
How did Sean 'P Diddy' Combs become Puff Daddy? The surprising story uncovered amid his trial
Agencies Sean Combs, famously known as Puff Daddy, earned his nickname from a childhood temper habit of 'huffing and puffing.' As his high-profile sex trafficking trial continues, the origin of the name resurfaces with new significance. In the swirl of headlines surrounding the ongoing sex trafficking and racketeering trial of hip-hop tycoon Sean Combs, better known as P Diddy, a curious revelation has reemerged from the depths of pop culture memory: the eerie, almost poetic story behind his original stage name—Puff Daddy. While Combs faces intense scrutiny at a New York City courthouse, where the trial is now in its fourth week, online sleuths and fans are digging into the rapper's past, not just his legal one. And in the process, many are only now discovering the odd childhood trait that inspired the name that first catapulted him into the limelight. According to The Mirror , long before he was a chart-topping mogul, a record label founder, or the face of luxury hip-hop, young Sean Combs was just a kid with a temper. He once admitted that the nickname 'Puff' was given to him because, as a child, he would 'huff and puff' whenever he got angry. That harmless nickname eventually grew into 'Puff Daddy,' a persona that would go on to define the sound and swagger of '90s hip-hop. It was under that name that he released Can't Nobody Hold Me Down in 1997—a debut single that rocketed to number one and introduced the world to his sharp beats, unapologetic bravado, and uncanny ability to create hits. But today, as allegations of a very different kind circulate, the origin of that name—once a fun footnote in a rags-to-riches story—feels strangely unsettling. While Combs has gone by many names over the decades—P. Diddy, Diddy, even briefly just Sean—Puff Daddy remains the most iconic, a symbol of his rise in both music and pop culture. He founded Bad Boy Records in 1993, a label that would launch the careers of legends like The Notorious B.I.G. and Mase, securing Combs' place in music royalty. But in 2001, he traded Puff Daddy for P. Diddy, saying at the time he 'wanted something fresh.' That rebrand came on the heels of his own courtroom victory, having been found not guilty on charges of gun possession and bribery. Now, over two decades later, Combs finds himself back in court, facing far more serious allegations. His legal team continues to deny all claims of sex trafficking and racketeering, maintaining his innocence amid a storm of accusations and media frenzy. — nicksortor (@nicksortor) In an age where celebrity names are brands, stories, and symbols, the revelation that Puff Daddy was born from childhood rage adds an ironic twist to the saga. What once seemed like a charming anecdote about an angry boy has resurfaced in the shadow of disturbing allegations—inviting scrutiny not only of the man behind the name, but the myth that surrounded him. As the courtroom drama unfolds, so does the unraveling of a public persona built over decades. The boy who huffed and puffed his way to fame now stands in the eye of a storm that threatens to rewrite everything we thought we knew about Puff Daddy.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
How did Sean 'P Diddy' Combs become Puff Daddy? The surprising story uncovered amid his trial
Amid Sean 'P Diddy' Combs' ongoing sex trafficking trial, fans are revisiting the surprising origin of his famous nickname, Puff Daddy. The name stems from his childhood habit of 'huffing and puffing' when angry. Once a symbol of his rise in hip-hop, the nickname now gains a darker resonance as Combs faces serious legal challenges. Sean Combs, famously known as Puff Daddy, earned his nickname from a childhood temper habit of 'huffing and puffing.' As his high-profile sex trafficking trial continues, the origin of the name resurfaces with new significance. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Boy Who Huffed and Puffed Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads From Boardrooms to Courtrooms In the swirl of headlines surrounding the ongoing sex trafficking and racketeering trial of hip-hop tycoon Sean Combs , better known as P Diddy , a curious revelation has reemerged from the depths of pop culture memory: the eerie, almost poetic story behind his original stage name—Puff Combs faces intense scrutiny at a New York City courthouse, where the trial is now in its fourth week, online sleuths and fans are digging into the rapper's past, not just his legal one. And in the process, many are only now discovering the odd childhood trait that inspired the name that first catapulted him into the to The Mirror, long before he was a chart-topping mogul, a record label founder, or the face of luxury hip-hop, young Sean Combs was just a kid with a temper. He once admitted that the nickname 'Puff' was given to him because, as a child, he would 'huff and puff' whenever he got harmless nickname eventually grew into 'Puff Daddy,' a persona that would go on to define the sound and swagger of '90s hip-hop. It was under that name that he released Can't Nobody Hold Me Down in 1997—a debut single that rocketed to number one and introduced the world to his sharp beats, unapologetic bravado, and uncanny ability to create today, as allegations of a very different kind circulate, the origin of that name—once a fun footnote in a rags-to-riches story—feels strangely Combs has gone by many names over the decades—P. Diddy, Diddy, even briefly just Sean—Puff Daddy remains the most iconic, a symbol of his rise in both music and pop culture. He founded Bad Boy Records in 1993, a label that would launch the careers of legends like The Notorious B.I.G. and Mase, securing Combs' place in music in 2001, he traded Puff Daddy for P. Diddy , saying at the time he 'wanted something fresh.' That rebrand came on the heels of his own courtroom victory, having been found not guilty on charges of gun possession and over two decades later, Combs finds himself back in court, facing far more serious allegations. His legal team continues to deny all claims of sex trafficking and racketeering, maintaining his innocence amid a storm of accusations and media an age where celebrity names are brands, stories, and symbols, the revelation that Puff Daddy was born from childhood rage adds an ironic twist to the saga. What once seemed like a charming anecdote about an angry boy has resurfaced in the shadow of disturbing allegations—inviting scrutiny not only of the man behind the name, but the myth that surrounded the courtroom drama unfolds, so does the unraveling of a public persona built over decades. The boy who huffed and puffed his way to fame now stands in the eye of a storm that threatens to rewrite everything we thought we knew about Puff Daddy.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs used to be incredibly influential. Many of the people he helped to make stars aren't talking about him
TV and radio personality Big Tigger remembers a moment he had years ago with Sean 'Diddy' Combs. The DJ had connected with Combs at the music mogul's restaurant, Justin's, and a photographer captured a moment of the two men talking about life. 'I still had the picture and I had given it to my grandmother before she passed. It was a really great picture, like me and him just had a conversation about family,' Big Tigger recalled to CNN. 'He had already had some of his kids and I had told him, you know, I hadn't had any yet, and he was just talking about family and how important family was to him. And I never forgot that personal conversation.' Combs is no longer in the position to easily offer such wisdom. His federal sex-trafficking trial in Manhattan is entering its third week. Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges that include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Cassie Ventura, an artist and former girlfriend of Combs whom he also produced, has spent more than 15 hours on the stand this week, detailing disturbing allegations of abuse she said she suffered at the hands of Combs. Dawn Richards, another artist who worked with Combs as both a solo singer and a member of the girl group Danity Kane, which Combs founded on his MTV reality series 'Making the Band,' is expected to testify next week. Ventura settled a civil claim with Combs in 2023. He admitted no wrongdoing. Richards filed a lawsuit in September 2024, accusing Combs of sexual battery, sexual harassment and false imprisonment. He has denied her allegations. It's not the trajectory many expected for the founder of Bad Boy Records, whose music and artists ruled the airwaves in the 1990s and early 2000s. Big Tigger likened him to Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, for a younger generation. 'I lightweight grew up a little bit to Puff with the music, and then by the time I actually got into the business, he was already Puff,' Big Tigger said, referring to one of Combs' many nicknames. 'Puff from a business standpoint and a possibility standpoint was an inspiration.' The influence of Combs extended beyond the music industry, as he also had various businesses that included fashion, hospitality and spirits. But music - from being an intern at Uptown Records to founding his own label - is what opened the doors to those other industries for Combs. Many of the artists he helped introduce to the world have so far been silent about his legal issues. Here's what some of them have said - or not said - since Combs has been accused of running afoul of the law. The rapper was a frequent collaborator with Combs and signed to his label. And while they had joint success on songs like 1997's 'Can't Nobody Hold Me Down' and the late Christopher Wallace a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G's hit 'Mo Money Mo Problems' that same year, Mase and Combs fell out after he accused Combs of exploiting him and other Bad Boy artists, which Combs denied. Mase recently attended to the funeral service for Wallace's mother Vonetta Wallace which Comb's adult son Christian Combs also attended. Mase told Billboard he would be open to reconnecting with his former mentor. 'I mean, if my name was on the list I'd go visit Puff,' he said. 'I would visit him, make sure he was good.' He expressed his gratitude to Combs for helping to launch his career, adding that he has no idea as to whether Combs is innocent or not. 'He didn't do all bad, he did some good. I ain't talking about the tape stuff and all of that, I'm talking about the musical side,' Mase said, referencing a 2016 video showing Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Ventura. 'Giving me an opportunity, I think as a person of class you definitely got to show up and sit somewhere in the court if they let you.' Blige was signed to Uptown Records, where Combs served as a producer on her debut album 'What's the 411?' The pair established a long-standing friendship, working on music together as well as supporting each other's projects. Combs often referred to the singer as his 'sister.' She returned the kinship in September 2023 when she presented Combs with the Global Icon Award at the MTV Video Music Awards. 'Congrats to my brother @diddy #GlobalIconAward #vma,' Blige captioned a series of photos of her celebrating the event. She has not publicly commented on the allegations against Combs. Moses 'Shyne' Barrow was an up-and-coming recording artist in 1999, when he was signed to Combs' Bad Boy Records. He was part of the producer's entourage at a New York City nightclub, along with Combs' then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, when the evening ended in a hail of gunfire. Three people were wounded. Barrow, Combs and bodyguard Anthony Jones were tried in the shooting in 2001. Combs and Jones were acquitted, while Barrow was convicted on assault and firearm possession charges. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and deported to his native Belize following his release in 2009. Barrow told CNN in an interview last year that he blames Combs in part for the events that derailed his life and career. 'You know, there's so many things that I said so long ago about Diddy. Nobody would listen, nobody would believe,' Barrow said. 'And it makes the wounds that I've, by the grace of God, been able to heal and the accomplishments that I've been able to achieve even much more significant.' The event is a pivotal part of the Hulu documentary about his life titled, 'The Honorable Shyne.' Barrow said he and Combs reconnected 20 years later, but he is clear that he didn't witness the events which resulted in the current allegations against Combs. 'I didn't have the opportunity to engage with him to see any of those things and when I didn't engage with him, I didn't see any of those things,' Barrow said. The female rapper was instrumental in the early success of Bad Boy. As a member of the group Junior Mafia along with her former love interest Wallace, Combs was a featured artist on her single 'No Time,' a hit from her 1996 debut album, 'Hard Core.' She returned the favor on his 1997 hit, 'All About the Benjamins.' That same year, they appeared together on 'The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show,' where she explained that they initially met through Wallace, who was Combs' best friend and one of the biggest stars on his label. 'It's funny cause when I first met [Combs] I thought he didn't like me cause he would lick his tongue at me or maybe make a funny face,' she said at the time. 'But then as the years went by I saw how much love he had for me, so I love you Puff and I'm so happy for you.' She also showed off the diamond earrings she said Combs has gifted her. Lil Kim has not commented publicly on the allegations against Combs. After auditioning for producer and label owner L.A. Reid Raymond, Usher was sent at the age of 15 to learn from Combs at 'Puffy Flavor Camp.' The now adult music star and actor talked to Howard Stern about it in 2016. He said it was a heady experience being a teen in the 1990s in the Bad Boy sphere, surrounded by so many famous and artists, not to mention the women. 'They weren't there for me,' Raymond said of the groupies. 'Howard, they were not my chicks. But I did recognize that, yo, one day this could be my lifestyle.' He has not spoken publicly about the allegations. Evans was not only an award-winning singer on the Bad Boy label, she was also married to Wallace, who was shot and killed in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997. Known as 'The First Lady of Bad Boy Records,' she and Combs worked together frequently. Their single 'I'll Be Missing You' honored Wallace after his death. She spoke with Billboard about Combs on the red carpet for Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Gala in 2020. 'Puff has always been, way before Bad Boy saw the actual success in commercial sales and stuff like that, he was still a visionary,' she said. 'He still very much knew what was gonna make a hit record, he knew good talent, and he actually had ideas for all of us…He would tell me, 'You're gonna be this,' and 'I'm gonna make him into that'…and it happened.' Evans has not spoken out about the allegations against Combs. Big Tigger said he understands why some those who were part of Combs' inner circle may not currently be comfortable talking about him. 'Anytime you say anything about sexual assault or anything in that lane, no one wants to be attached to that,' he said. 'Our society is so quick to lump people together. If I just say, I went out there [to Diddy parties]…now all of a sudden I was probably there and I'm covering for him and this and that. I don't think people are running to sign up for that.'
