Latest news with #DiddyFree
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ye & Sean Combs' Son King Release ‘Never Stop' EP, Including a Song Called ‘Diddy Free'
Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) and Diddy's son King Combs have dropped a surprise EP titled Never Stop. The embattled rapper and Puff's son released the project on streaming services at midnight Friday (June 27). Ye served as executive producer, and North West — his eldest daughter with ex-wife Kim Kardashian — is featured on the song 'Lonely Roads.' Another track worth noting is 'Diddy Free,' which includes the chorus, 'N—as ain't goin to sleep 'till we see Diddy free.' More from Billboard Adrian Quesada's Psychedelic Journey: How the Black Pumas Co-Founder Delved Into Latin America's Romantic Past LL Cool J Gives Fans an NYC Rap History Crash Course in 'Hip Hop Was Born Here' Trailer Teddy Swims Welcomes His First Child With Girlfriend Raiche Wright: 'We Love You Lil Man' The release makes sense, considering Ye has been one of Diddy's most high-profile defenders throughout the latter's federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial, which is in the midst of closing arguments this week. Ye pulled up to Puff's trial in Manhattan earlier this month. The rapper — who has been facing criticism over his repeated hate speech the last few years — told one journalist that he had come to show support for the disgraced Bad Boy Records founder. Sean Combs has been on trial since May, facing allegations of sex trafficking and racketeering. Federal prosecutors have accused him of managing an elaborate criminal ring aimed at facilitating his alleged freak-offs — drug-fueled events wherein he allegedly coerced women, including his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, to have sex with others. His legal team has denied all of the charges, with Combs' attorney Teny Geragos claiming in opening statements: 'Sean Combs is a complicated man, but this is not a complicated case. We take full responsibility that there was domestic violence. Domestic violence is not sex trafficking.' Diddy's family has remained firmly in support of him, with his daughters attending his trial on Thursday (June 26). Listen to King Combs and Ye's new EP below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean Combs Prosecutor Says ‘It's Time for Justice' in Closing Argument
Follow all of our Sean Combs trial coverage Sean Combs acted as the all-powerful kingpin atop a racketeering conspiracy that used violence, silence, and 'shame' to trap two women in episodes of sex trafficking where they had no choice but to perform drug-fueled sex acts with male escorts for his voyeuristic fantasies, a federal prosecutor told jurors Thursday. More from Rolling Stone Sean Combs' Son Releases New Song 'Diddy Free' With Help From Kanye West Sean Combs' Lawyer Calls Cassie Relationship 'Great Modern Love Story' in Closing Argument Sean Combs' Longtime 'Right Hand' Looms Large at Trial Despite Absence During closing arguments at Combs' sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik walked jurors through the government's five felony charges against the music mogul that have been the subject of his closely watched, seven-week trial in lower Manhattan. Slavik called Combs the 'leader of a criminal enterprise' who refused to 'take no for an answer' and always got what he wanted. 'The defendant was a very powerful man, but he became more powerful and more dangerous because of the support of his inner circle and his businesses — the enterprise,' Slavik said. She told jurors Combs made it clear to his alleged victims that he commanded an 'armed and ready' security staff willing to 'protect' him against any perceived threats. 'It's his kingdom,' she said of Combs. 'Everyone was there to serve him.' Tying together the government's case after weeks of sometimes disjointed testimony, Slavik told jurors they could find Combs guilty of racketeering conspiracy if they determine he and just one other alleged co-conspirator agreed to two of the eight so-called 'predicate' acts listed in his indictment. She said the acts could be two separate instances of the same crime, such as drug distribution or instances of bribery, arson, kidnapping, sex trafficking, forced labor, witness tampering or transportation to engage in prostitution. Slavik meticulously laid out testimony related to each option, including the time Combs allegedly handed a hotel security guard a $100,000 cash 'bribe' for what he believed was the only copy of surveillance video showing Combs beating Ventura at Los Angeles' InterContinental Hotel in March 2016. She said forced labor could include the 'grueling' sex marathons that Combs allegedly forced his ex-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura and a more recent ex-girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym 'Jane' to endure over multiple days in darkened hotel rooms. Slavik also clarified that Combs could be found guilty of sex trafficking if jurors decide he coerced the women into just one unwanted sex act with a paid male escort. 'This is not an all-or-nothing situation,' she emphasized. Slavik noted that it doesn't matter if the women previously expressed some level of enthusiasm for the encounters. If there was just 'one instance' where Ventura or Jane felt coerced into a freak-off through 'force, threats of force, fraud or coercion,' that's enough, she said, 'Mr. Combs should be found guilty of sex trafficking.' At the end of her nearly five hour presentation, Slavik said Combs committed 'crime after crime' over a span of two decades, and he should face consequences. 'It's time to hold him accountable. It's time for justice,' she concluded. 'It's time to find the defendant guilty.' The defense will begin their closing argument on Friday ahead of the government's final rebuttal, with the jury set to begin deliberations on Monday. The 55-year-old Bad Boy Records founder, who faces up to life in prison if convicted as charged, has pleaded not guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. (Combs' lawyers said his relationships may have been 'toxic' and sometimes physically abusive, but not criminal.) On Thursday, the courtroom's rows reserved for Combs' family were packed with his mother, three sons and three eldest daughters. In the final days of the trial, Combs appeared to be pleased with his all-star legal team's handling of the case — evident in the hugs he gave to his attorneys after they rested their defense within 25 minutes on Tuesday. But the start of closing arguments was markedly different. Combs appeared nervous, steadying his hands while pouring himself a cup of water. He sat mostly still, facing straight ahead and taking occasional glances at the jury. Speaking to jurors while members of Combs' family watched on, Slavik pointed to both Ventura and Jane's tearful testimony where they told jurors they felt 'obligated' to participate in, and sometimes facilitate, the sexual encounters with male escorts to keep Combs happy. Slavik said Combs personally paid the escorts and sometimes flew them cross-country to join the days-long sex marathons. The women said they came to know these highly degrading, ecstasy-induced nights by a variety of names. For Ventura, they were freak-offs, but for Jane, they were known as 'hotel nights' and 'debauchery.' But Slavik said domestic violence was a key factor in Combs' multifaceted coercion of Ventura in order to keep her under his control and for her to continue to give Combs his sexual fantasy. She said for Ventura, the idea she would pay a price for any defiance — whether in the form of a beating or threats to release her sex tapes — became her 'new normal.' 'It became her job,' Slavik said, referring to Combs' demands Ventura dress up in sky-high platform heels, slather herself in baby oil, have sex with strangers for days at a time, then spend the rest of the week recovering from the come down of drugs. 'It became her shame.' The prosecutor said Combs expected 'total compliance,' and if he didn't get it, he would lash out with aggression. 'She's knew that when he was happy, she was safe,' Slavik said. 'If the defendant wanted a freak-off, it was going to happen.' Slavik pointed to a 2023 cross-country trip to New York that Jane initially refused because she didn't want to have a freak-off, but eventually agreed to when Combs insisted it would be a romantic weekend together. Unbeknownst to Jane, text messages show that Combs was still organizing a freak-off for that night. Slavik said Combs 'tricked' Jane into making the trip, pulling the 'rug out from under her.' In that moment, 'before the plane even lands,' Slavik added, 'that is a completed act of sex trafficking.' Slavik also zeroed in on one night last June when Combs allegedly choked, kicked, and punched her in a fight at her house and forced her into a subsequent freak-off. Referencing Jane's testimony, Slavik said when Jane protested, Combs even leaned in and whispered, 'Is this coercion?' – an alleged nod to his awareness he was already under investigation for the alleged sex trafficking of Ventura. Slavik said Combs was 'taunting' Jane and 'brazenly acknowledging that he was breaking the very same law, the very same law that he'd broken repeatedly before.' In her arguments Thursday, Slavik said Combs coerced Ventura and Jane through both threats and violence and making them turn down work so they became financially dependent on him. She added that he would ply them with drugs that made them helpless to resist. She said with Ventura, a then 37-year-old Combs took a 'moldable' 19-year-old aspiring singer and took advantage of her naiveté, grooming her for freak-offs amid a relationship with a clearly skewed power dynamic. She said Ventura also understood Combs was a danger to others around her. Ventura watched as Combs allegedly assaulted her friend Deonte Nash when he once stepped in to protect her, Slavik said, and she was present the day Combs allegedly dangled designer Bryana Bongolan off her 17th-story balcony. Ventura also knew Combs paid her friend Kerry Morgan after allegedly choking and chucking a wooden hanger at Morgan's head. (The three friends all corroborated the alleged attacks in testimony.) Prosecutors said on Thursday that Ventura knew that Combs broke into Kid Cudi's house with a gun and explicitly threatened the rapper's life, Slavik said. Combs also allegedly told Ventura he planned to blow up Mescudi's car. Days later, Kid Cudi's Porsche exploded in his driveway in broad daylight, she said. 'Of course the defendant was behind this,' Slavik said. In yet another point of clarification, Slavik told jurors that Combs' alleged criminal enterprise was separate from his highly public, billion-dollar business empire. She said the enterprise operated in the shadows, only known to a trusted group of handsomely paid co-conspirators. One chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, was paid $600,000 per year, Slavik said. The prosecutor said the evidence provided by the government's 34 witnesses proved beyond a reasonable doubt that whenever Combs' relationships with Ventura or Jane needed attention or were on the brink of collapse – or worse yet, dreaded public exposure – the mogul and his minions did whatever was necessary to fulfill his desires and ward off bad publicity. She said while the defense claims Combs purchased the hotel video solely to safeguard Combs' reputation, that was an obvious goal that wasn't mutually exclusive from keeping his enterprise afloat. Though the high-powered defense lawyers declined to call any witnesses of their own, they focused their cross-examinations on undermining the credibility of key government witnesses and amplifying details they say showed Combs keeping personal details of his sex life separate from his employees. But prosecutors claim that even if Combs tried to keep his hiring of male escorts hidden, there were several people on his payroll — outside of his most trusted inner circle — who had seen a naked man scurrying away in a hotel room, a stranger entering Combs and Ventura's suite late at night, and an explicit video of an unknown man having sex with Jane while Combs watched. 'If all these people figured it out, it defies logic' that Combs' co-conspirators weren't aware of the hiring of male escorts, Slavik said. Some staffers testified they were aware of Combs' capacity for violence. One former assistant said witnessing a dispute between Combs and a girlfriend identified as Gina was the last straw that led him to quit. But they said working for the mogul was an all-consuming proposition, and they soon became so isolated and desensitized, they became convinced that walking away from the tight-knit Bad Boy family and what many considered a dream job would be a grave mistake. Prosecutors allege that security guards and even Khorram sent confusing signals, making them think they had allies and that things would improve. But Slavik said Thursday that the bodyguards and Khorram's loyalty was with Combs, reminding jurors that Khorram allegedly kept close tabs on Ventura for her boss and purportedly helped broker the purchase of the hotel video. Slavik reminded jurors of Combs' extreme willingness to use violence and fear 'to get what he wanted' in any situation. 'He doesn't take 'no' for an answer,' she told the jury. 'Up until today, the defendant was able to get away with these crimes because of his money, his power, his influence. That stops now.' Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
NDTV
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Son, Kanye West Call For His Freedom In New Song Amid Sex-Trafficking Trial
Rapper Kanye West has teamed up with Christian 'King' Combs, son of music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs, for a newly released song titled ' Diddy Free '. The track, part of a surprise joint extended play (EP) ' Never Stop ', arrived on streaming platforms on Friday and directly references the ongoing sex-trafficking trial against Diddy. The chorus of the track repeatedly chants: " N**** ain't goin' to sleep 'till we see Diddy free," showing support for the embattled hip-hop executive. King Christian Combs, 27, contributes a verse that declares: "They be takin' shots, they can't trigger me, nah (S*** don't trigger me) / F*** the world, critics and the witness / Face clean, they tryna dirt the image / Sittin' n**** down that stood on business (You can't stop us though)." The release comes as Diddy's federal sex-trafficking case enters its final phase. Closing arguments were delivered Thursday, with the defence and prosecution wrapping up their presentations. Jurors are scheduled to begin deliberations on Monday. Diddy, 55, faces a series of serious allegations including trafficking women across state lines, coercing them into sexual acts, and collaborating with what prosecutors have described as a "criminal enterprise." Combs has denied all charges and pleaded not guilty. Back in February, Kanye West publicly called on US President Donald Trump to release Diddy Combs, who was then in federal custody. On X, West wrote, "@realDonaldTrump PLEASE FREE MY BROTHER PUFF," and shared a screenshot of a FaceTime call with Diddy's son, Christian. Throughout Diddy's seven-week trial, the jury has heard from 34 prosecution witnesses, including former romantic partners, assistants, and employees. Several recounted instances of violence, manipulation, and sexual abuse, while others described being forced to assist with alleged illegal activities. The courtroom also saw graphic video evidence and readouts from text messages and social media posts. Two ex-girlfriends, identified in court as Cassie Ventura and "Jane," testified that Combs forced them into sex with strangers during drug-fuelled encounters he orchestrated. Diddy Combs ' legal team, led by attorney Marc Agnifilo, spent just over 30 minutes presenting the defence's case, following weeks of prosecution testimony. Agnifilo called the proceedings a "trial of lifestyle," claiming that prosecutors "exaggerated" their claims and argued that Cassie Ventura was a "gangster" who manipulated Combs. He acknowledged the artist had assaulted Ventura during their long-term relationship but claimed that much of the case had been sensationalised. Kanye West made a surprise 40-minute appearance at the courthouse. Upon his arrival, Christian King Combs greeted and accompanied him inside. Speaking to the Associated Press, the younger Combs said his presence was in support of his father. Sean 'Diddy' Combs could face life imprisonment if convicted. A verdict date has not been set yet.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sean Diddy Combs' son unveils new 'Diddy Free' song with Kanye West
As Sean "Diddy" Combs' criminal trial moves toward its end, his son Christian "King" Combs has released a new EP titled Never Stop on Friday. The project includes a song called "Diddy Free," which appears to support his father during his legal troubles, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The EP is a collaboration with rapper and producer Kanye West . His daughter, North West, is listed as a featured artist on the opening track "Lonely Roads." The EP dropped just before Diddy's lawyer gave closing arguments in court on Friday morning. Lead attorney Marc Agnifilo called the trial a "fake trial." According to the publication, Kanye West, who has stayed in the spotlight in 2025 for his controversial comments on social media, has publicly supported Diddy. He also appeared at the New York courtroom earlier this month. Sean Combs is facing serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. He has pleaded not guilty and could face life in prison if convicted. Earlier this week, Combs chose not to testify in his defense. On Thursday, federal prosecutors made their closing arguments, which lasted more than four hours. "All of this evidence paints a clear picture of how the defendant committed crimes," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik. "Up until today, he was able to get away with it because of his money, his power (and) his influence. That stops now. It's time for justice. It's time to find the defendant guilty."
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy's Son and Kanye West Release ‘Diddy Free' Song With Lyrics About Trial: ‘F— the World, Critics and the Witness'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' son, Christian 'King' Combs, has teamed up with Kanye West to release a new EP titled 'Never Stop,' which includes a track called 'Diddy Free.' The project dropped on streaming platforms at midnight on Friday and features seven songs. One standout track, 'Diddy Free,' includes the chorus: 'N—as ain't goin' to sleep 'till we see Diddy free.' Other lyrics include: 'They be takin' shots, they can't trigger me, nah (Shit don't trigger me) / Fuck the world, critics and the witness / Face clean, they tryna dirt the image (Fuck) / Sittin' n—as down that stood on business (You can't stop us though),' per Genius. More from Variety Diddy's Ex-Assistant Testifies About Cleaning Up Hotel Rooms After 'Wild King Nights' Sex Parties and Cocaine Arrest During FBI Raid Kanye West Makes Surprise Appearance at Diddy Trial Jamie Foxx Calls Diddy a 'Nasty Motherf-er' Amid Sex Trafficking Trial: 'All That Goddamn Baby Oil. Why You So Nasty?... For Black People, That Was Our Hero' West served as executive producer on 'Never Stop,' which also features his and Kim Kardashian's daughter, North West, on the song 'Lonely Roads.' The release of 'Never Stop' comes amid closing arguments in Combs' federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in New York City. On Friday morning, the defense presented its summation to the jury, claiming Combs is facing a 'false trial.' They argued that he is not guilty of sex trafficking, but rather a participant in the 'swingers lifestyle,' which included consensual 'threesomes' with his ex-girlfriends and male entertainers. Combs has been on trial since May, and his children — including Christian — have continued to voice their support of him. Earlier this month, West made a brief courtroom appearance, telling a reporter he was there to support Combs. Combs is pleading not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars. Listen to Christian 'King' Combs and West's new EP below: Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
