Sean John Combs Aka P. Diddy or Puff Daddy was born on November 4, 1969, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Raised in Mount Vernon, New York, his mother Janice Combs (née Smalls) was a model and teacher’s assistant. Combs attended Howard University, where he studied business but left before completing his degree to pursue a career in music.
Career
Combs began his career as an intern at Uptown Records in 1990. While working as a talent director at Uptown, under the guidance of label founder Andre Harrell, he helped develop Jodeci and Mary J. Blige. In 1993, he founded Bad Boy Records, which became home to several successful artists, including the Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, and 112. Combs’ debut album, No Way Out (1997), was a commercial success and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1998.
Business Ventures
Beyond music, Combs has ventured into various business endeavors. He launched his own clothing line, Sean John, in 1998, which earned him the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year award in 2004. Combs has also invested in beverages, including Ciroc vodka and Aquahydrate water. In 2002, Fortune magazine listed Combs at number 12 on their top 40 of entrepreneurs under 40. Forbes magazine estimated that for the year ending May 2017, Combs earned $130 million, ranking him number one among entertainers.
Personal Life
Combs is a father to seven children. His first biological child, a son, Justin, was born in 1993 to fashion designer and stylist Misa Hylton. He attended UCLA on a football scholarship and graduated in 2016. Combs had an on-again, off-again relationship with Kimberly Porter, with whom he had three children. Porter passed away in 2018. Combs has also been linked to several other high-profile relationships.
Legal Issues
Throughout his career, Combs has faced various legal challenges. In 1997, he was sued for landlord neglect by Inge Bongo; Combs denied the charges. On April 15, 1999, shortly after the music video for Nas’ “Hate Me Now” aired on MTV featuring Combs being crucified, he was involved in a nightclub shooting incident but was acquitted of all charges. More recently, he has faced allegations of sexual misconduct and racketeering.
Discography
- No Way Out (1997)
- Forever (1999)
- The Saga Continues… (2001)
- Press Play (2006)
- Last Train to Paris (with Dirty Money) (2010)
Tours
- No Way Out Tour (1997–1998)
- Forever Tour (2000)
- The Heavyweights of Hip-Hop (with Snoop Dogg) (2007)
- Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour (2016)
Sean Combs continues to be a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, known for his entrepreneurial spirit and influence on hip-hop culture. His contributions to music, fashion, and business have solidified his legacy as one of the most influential figures in contemporary pop culture.
