For greater than 20 years, Sean “Diddy” Combs was considered one of hip-hop’s most opportunistic entrepreneurs, spinning his hitmaking abilities right into a broad enterprise empire that included a document label, a trend model, a TV community, offers with liquor firms and a key function in a actuality TV present.
However U.S. prosecutors say behind the scenes, Combs was coercing and abusing girls with help from a community of associates who helped silence victims by way of blackmail and violence.
Combs has pleaded not responsible and denied the allegations. Opening statements in his trial are anticipated Monday.
Here’s a timeline of main occasions in his rise and fall:
1990 — 1999
1990: Combs, then a pupil at Howard College, will get his begin within the music enterprise with an internship at Uptown Information in New York.
Dec. 28, 1991: 9 folks die at a star basketball recreation promoted by Combs and the rapper Heavy D when hundreds of followers attempt to get right into a health club on the Metropolis Faculty of New York. A mayoral report lays a part of the blame for the disaster on poor planning by Combs.
1992: Combs is among the government producers on “What’s the 411?,” the debut album by Mary J. Blige.
1993: After being fired by Uptown, Combs establishes his personal label, Dangerous Boy, which shortly cuts a profitable take care of Arista Information.
1994: Dangerous Boy releases Infamous B.I.G.’s album “Able to Die.” Two months later, Tupac Shakur survives a capturing in New York and accuses Combs and Biggie of getting prior information of the assault, which they deny. Shakur was later killed in a 1996 capturing in Las Vegas.
1996: Combs is convicted of prison mischief after he allegedly threatened a photographer with a gun.
1997: Biggie is killed in Los Angeles. Combs, then often known as Puff Daddy, releases “I’ll be Missing You” in honor of his slain star.
1998: Combs wins two Grammys, one for greatest rap album for his debut “No Way Out” and one other for greatest rap efficiency by a duo or group for “I’ll Be Missing You” with Religion Evans. Additionally that 12 months, Combs’ Sean John trend line is based.
April 16, 1999: Combs and his bodyguards are charged with attacking Interscope Information music government Steve Stoute in his New York workplace in a dispute over a music video. Combs is sentenced to an anger administration course.
Dec. 27, 1999: Combs is arrested on gun possession fees after he and his girlfriend on the time, Jennifer Lopez, fled a capturing that wounded three folks at a New York Metropolis nightclub. Some witnesses inform police Combs was among the many folks capturing within the membership. He’s later charged with providing his driver $50,000 to assert possession of the 9 mm handgun present in his automobile.
2001 — 2008
March 17, 2001: Combs is acquitted of all fees associated to the nightclub capturing. One among his rap proteges, Jamal “Shyne” Barrows, is convicted within the capturing and serves practically 9 years in jail. Two weeks after the trial, Combs broadcasts he needs to be often known as P. Diddy.
2002: Combs turns into the producer and star of “Making the Band,” a expertise search TV present.
Feb. 1, 2004: Combs performs on the Tremendous Bowl halftime present together with Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake and others. Every week later, Combs, Nelly and Murphy Lee win a Grammy for greatest rap efficiency by a duo or group for “Shake Ya Tailfeather.”
April, 2004: Combs makes his Broadway appearing debut in “A Raisin in the Sun.”
2005: Combs broadcasts he’s altering his stage identify to Diddy, eliminating the P.
March, 2008: Combs settles a lawsuit introduced by a person who claims Combs punched him after a post-Oscar occasion outdoors a Hollywood resort the earlier 12 months. In Might, Combs is honored with a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame.
2015 — 2022
2015: Combs is arrested after a confrontation on the campus of UCLA, the place considered one of his sons performed soccer. Assault fees are later dropped.
2016: Combs launches a Harlem constitution college, the Capital Preparatory Faculty. Additionally that 12 months, he broadcasts he’s donating $1 million to Howard College.
2017: Combs is called the highest earner on Forbes’ record of the 100 highest-paid celebrities, which says he introduced in $130 million in a single 12 months.
2018: Kim Porter, Combs’ former girlfriend and the mom of three of his youngsters, dies from pneumonia at age 47.
2022: Combs receives a lifetime honor on the BET Awards.
2023 — 2025
Sept. 15, 2023: Combs releases “The Love Album — Off the Grid,” his first solo studio undertaking since 2006’s chart-topping “Press Play.”
Nov. 16, 2023: R&B singer Cassie sues Combs, alleging he subjected her to years of abuse, together with beatings and rape. A day later, the lawsuit is settled below undisclosed phrases. Combs, by way of his legal professional, denies the accusations.
Nov. 23, 2023: Two extra girls accuse Combs of sexual abuse in lawsuits. Combs’ attorneys name the allegations false. Dozens of extra lawsuits observe by men and women who accuse Combs of rape, sexual assault and different assaults. Plaintiffs embody singer Daybreak Richard, a “Making the Band” contestant who alleged years of psychological and bodily abuse. Combs denies all of the allegations.
March 25, 2024: Federal brokers search Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami Seashore, Florida.
Might 17, 2024: CNN airs video that reveals Combs attacking and beating Cassie in a Los Angeles resort hallway in 2016. Two days later, Combs posts movies on social media apologizing for the assault.
Sept. 16, 2024: Combs is arrested at his Manhattan resort. A intercourse trafficking and racketeering indictment unsealed the subsequent day accuses him of utilizing his enterprise empire to coerce girls into taking part in sexual performances. Combs denies the allegations. His legal professional calls it an unjust prosecution of an “imperfect person.”
Might 5, 2025: Jury choice started for Combs’ trial.
