Sean John Combs, better known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor and entrepreneur. Entrepreneur Sean Combs has produced big-name artists like Mariah Carey, created the Sean John clothing line, and recorded his own platinum albums.
Background
Born in Harlem, New York, on November 4, 1969, Sean Combs launched his music production company, Bad Boy Entertainment, in 1993, and worked with artists like Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige and Biggie Smalls. After Biggie was murdered in 1997, Combs recorded the tribute "I'll be Missing You," which topped the Billboard singles chart for eleven weeks and launched Combs's first album, No Way Out (1997) to platinum status.
Education
Combs attended Mount Vernon Montessori School and later completed his secondary education at the private, Catholic boys’ school Mount Saint Michael Academy.
After attending a private Catholic boys school, he moved on to study business administration at Howard University, during which time he also began working as an intern at Uptown Records. His business aptitude served him well in this context and by the age of 19 he had moved up to director of A&R, directing the careers of Uptown artists such as Jodeci and Mary J. Blige.
Howard University didn't just change my life -- it entered my soul, my heart, my being and my spirit," he said.
Although he did not receive his official graduation diploma, Combs' success story proves to be an inspiration for many, making it understandable why he was chosen as a guest speaker for the Howard University Graduation ceremony.
His business aptitude served him well in this context and by the age of 19 he had moved up to director of A&R, directing the careers of Uptown artists such as Jodeci and Mary J. Blige. Eventually, his ambition began to work against him, and by 1993 he was fired from the label.
After a short period doing remixing, Combs set up his own organization, Bad Boy Entertainment (a name he has since worked hard to live up to). The beginnings of the company were extremely modest, with Combs running everything out of his apartment; but by early 1995 two platinum records were already on the wall and operations were expanding accordingly, with Combs adding singer Faith Evans, the all-female trio Total and the group 112 to the label's roster. This success in his own camp increased his demand as an outside producer, and before long he was taking charge of sessions by Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin and TLC, to name a few.
The positive vibes would suddenly turn evil the following year, however, when a feud between Bad Boy and rival label Death Row Records escalated beyond reason, resulting in the murders of first Death Row's Tupac Shakur and then Bad Boy's Notorious B.I.G. six months later. Allegations of Combs' involvement in the attacks were brought up in an interview with talk show host Roger Mills, later precipitating a suit by Mills against the producer when Combs' representatives forcibly took the interview tape and allegedly assaulted him. By this time, Combs was already well-accustomed to legal battles, having already been involved in paternity and child-support suits with the mother of his second child (among other incidents).
In 1997 Combs released his first solo venture No Way Out, featuring a tribute to his murdered friend B.I.G. in the song I'll Be Missing You. Also included on the record was the single Can't Nobody Hold Me Down, which would reach the #1 position on the R&B charts. The album itself would eventually achieve multi-platinum status and win two Grammy awards. His second album, Forever (1999), failed to match the popularity of the first, but Combs kept himself in the headlines courtesy of both his tumultuous relationship with singer/actress Jennifer Lopez and his remarkable talent for getting into trouble. An assault charge from Interscope executive Steve Stoute served as a mild prelude to a subsequent debacle surrounding a shooting in a New York nightclub, which ended in the apprehension of both Combs and Lopez and charges for weapons possession and bribery being brought against Combs. Following a lively trial/media circus the charges were dropped.
The non-musical shenanigans took a toll on the rapper's reputation, who had already been under fire for his immoderate reliance on samples in his music. In 2001 he changed his rap moniker from "Puff Daddy" to "P Diddy" and released P. Diddy & The Bad Boy Family: The Saga Continues. By the release of his next effort, We Invented the Remix (2002), a lot of his credibility (in the music business at least) had been regained. This of course could only mean one thing: an acting career. Appearances in films such as Made and Monster's Ball have taken place, with more on the way.
In 2005 Combs altered his stage name again, performing as just plain "Diddy" and explaining (presumably in jest) that "the P was getting between me and my fans". He promptly faced legal action from a British performer who had been using the name Diddy for his entire career, leading to a settlement whereby, for several years, he called himself "Diddy" everywhere in the world except in the United Kingdom, where he was still billed as "P. Diddy". He has also briefly gone by the stage name "Diddy Dirty-Money," and from 2011-14 he asked to be called "Swag," before returning to his 1990s moniker of "Puff Daddy."
Quotations:
I feel safe in white because deep down inside, I'm an angel.
[on his name change] You gonna see that in the entrance. You gonna see that swagger. You gonna see how I'm gonna navigate you through the journey.
Membership
Daddy's House Social Programs
,
United States
1995
Personality
Sean don’t drive a car. Home is a favorite place to go. He like to visit Perez Hilton's website. Sean's favorite drink is a Ciroc martini. His favorite food is Italian food.
Interests
Charity, clothes
Philosophers & Thinkers
Steve Jobs.
Artists
Audrey Hepburn.
Connections
Combs is the father of six children. Five biological and one through adoption.In 1994, he had his first son, Justin Combs, with his ex-girlfriend, hip-hop fashion stylist Misa Hylton-Brim; he had his second son, Christian Casey Combs, with his girlfriend, actress and model Kim Porter. His son Justin later played football at UCLA. He also has three daughters named D'Lila, Chance and Jessie.
Voted Hollywood's Sexiest Single Father, in a 2005 poll for Web site Date.com.
In 1998, he received the Grammy Award twice for the category of ‘Best Rap Album’ for ‘No Way Out’ and for the category of ‘Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group’ for ‘I’ll Be Missing You’.
Also in 2004, he received the Grammy Award for the category of ‘Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group’ for ‘Shake Ya Tailfeather’.
In 1998, he received the Grammy Award twice for the category of ‘Best Rap Album’ for ‘No Way Out’ and for the category of ‘Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group’ for ‘I’ll Be Missing You’.
Also in 2004, he received the Grammy Award for the category of ‘Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group’ for ‘Shake Ya Tailfeather’.
In 2009 he received the Image Award for the category of "Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special" for "A Raisin in the Sun".
In 2009 he received the Image Award for the category of "Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special" for "A Raisin in the Sun".