Diddy faces public scrutiny over alleged sex crimes as questions arise about future of his music

Jonathan Landrum Jr., Associated Press Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs created a hit-making empire pinch large sanction performers, earning his spot arsenic a savvy euphony mogul and becoming a three-time Grammy victor while securing high-profile deals crossed different industries.

But now, Combs’ kingdom is collapsing nether charges of activity trafficking and racketeering. He was arrested successful New York connected Sept. 16 and accused successful an indictment of utilizing his “power and prestige” to induce female victims and antheral activity workers successful “Freak Offs” on pinch allegations of maltreatment making love backmost to 2008.

If convicted, Combs could look astatine slightest 15 years successful prison. He is awaiting proceedings aft pleading not guilty.

Since respective allegations surfaced past year, Combs’ nationalist image has taken a nosedive arsenic awesome deals slipped away: He stepped down arsenic Revolt TV president past later sold disconnected his mostly liking successful nan company. He reportedly mislaid a reality show pinch Hulu and his influential manner statement Sean John nary longer tin beryllium recovered connected nan Macy’s section shop website.

After footage emerged from 2016 of Combs’ edifice hallway onslaught of then-girlfriend R&B vocalist Cassie, he mislaid nan cardinal to nan metropolis of New York, Peloton paused nan usage of his euphony and he saw his honorary grade from Howard University evaporate successful disgrace. His charter school, Capital Preparatory School successful Harlem, besides trim ties pinch him.

Earlier this year, Combs withdrew a suit revenge past twelvemonth against Diageo arsenic portion of a colony pinch nan London-based spirits giant, making nan institution nan sole proprietor of Ciroc and DeLeon.

Combs whitethorn person mislaid his awesome deals but his euphony remains untouched, astatine slightest for now. While awaiting further details, let’s delve into Combs’ euphony and his nationalist image successful nan aftermath of nan indictment.

Where his euphony stands

Combs’ Bad Boy Records mightiness beryllium associated pinch 1990s artists for illustration Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, Ma$e and 112, but his explanation was still successful nan operation pinch caller releases by a mates of celebrated performers.

Last year, Combs released his first solo workplace medium since 2006 pinch “The Love Album: Off nan Grid” and Janelle Monae put retired “The Age of Pleasure” done his label. Both projects were Grammy nominated including Monae’s album, which earned a information successful nan grounds of nan twelvemonth category.

In 2022, Machine Gun Kelly dropped his medium “Mainstream Sellout” nether nan Bad Boy umbrella too.

Despite his arrest, Combs’ euphony is still disposable connected respective awesome streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. The streamers person yet to remark connected their plans for really his euphony will beryllium featured connected their level successful nan future.

Before nan merchandise of “The Love Album,” Combs reassigned his Bad Boy publishing authorities backmost to artists and songwriters. The move came aft immoderate criticized him complete nan years for mistreating his artists.

How Diddy’s peers are reacting

Some expressed interest for Combs’ children, while others consciousness shame complete his alleged missteps and actions, which person go nan taxable of jokes.

Entertainers from 50 Cent, LL Cool J, Shyne, Aubrey O’Day, Charlamagne tha God and nan Notorious B.I.G.’s mother person publically shared their thoughts connected Combs.

“I consciousness for his kids,” LL Cool J told The Associated Press successful a caller interview. He and Combs collaborated connected nan 1997 medium “Phenomenon.”

While LL Cool J showed concern, 50 Cent took a jab successful a societal media post. The rapper turned TV mogul trolled Combs aft he learned rule enforcement seized drugs, videos and much than 1,000 bottles of babe lipid and lubricant during raids astatine his Los Angeles and Florida homes.

50 Cent posted his thoughts aft a caller quality connected nan Drew Barrymore’ talk show.

“Here I americium keeping bully institution pinch @thedrewbarrymoreshow and I don’t person 1,000 bottles of lube astatine nan house,” said 50 Cent, who often has criticized Combs during nan accusations. He expects to merchandise a docuseries connected Netflix astir nan allegations against Combs.

Shyne, a erstwhile Bad Boy artist, said he finds nary restitution successful seeing Combs perchance facing situation clip contempt past problem betwixt them.

“This is personification who destroyed my life,” said Shyne, who was convicted of battle and different charges stemming from a Manhattan nightclub shooting that injured 3 group successful 1999. Combs’ then-girlfriend, vocalist and character Jennifer Lopez, besides was location erstwhile shots rang out.

Combs was acquitted of charges that he took an forbidden weapon into nan nine and tried to bribe his driver to return nan autumn for nan weapon. However, Shyne was convicted of battle and different charges successful nan shooting and served astir 8 years successful prison.

Now going by Moses Barrow, he is simply a personnel of nan House of Representatives successful his autochthonal Belize, wherever his begetter was erstwhile premier minister.

“But do I return immoderate joyousness aliases immoderate restitution pinch what he’s going through? Absolutely not,” he continued. “I americium different than astir people. No 1 has to neglect for maine to succeed.”

After B.I.G.’s mother, Voletta Wallace, saw Combs’ onslaught of Cassie, she wanted to “slap nan daylights” retired of him. She felt embarrassed for Combs, who on pinch her boy played a immense domiciled successful shaping 1990s East Coast hip-hop.

Are group canceling Diddy’s music?

The short reply is mostly no. However, listeners of Combs’ euphony are proceeding pinch caution. Some online are questioning whether it’s clip to backmost distant from his records.

Most online are saying that could beryllium challenging, particularly since galore of his biggest hits are collaborations pinch different artists.

Combs has had respective infectious singles including “I’ll Be Missing You” pinch Faith Evans and 112, “Victory” featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes, “I Need a Girl (Part One)” pinch Usher and Loon, “Last Night” pinch Keyshia Cole and “Been Around nan World” pinch Ma$e, who besides teamed pinch Combs connected “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down.”