On this date in Hip-Hop history, Harlem icon Ma$e released his debut album Harlem World on the Bad Boy/Arista imprint.
A millennial piece of uptown Hip Hop history post the shooting death of rap giant Big L, Harlem World helped usher in a new era of Hip Hop in Harlem. Prior to this release, Harlem had given birth to Doug E. Fresh, Kool Moe Dee, Kurtis Blow, and Rob Base, but had yet to see an artist with the level of conceited charm coupled with chart-topping hits to back it up that a Bad Boy-backed Ma$e had on this album.
Paving the way for groups like The Diplomats and A$AP Mob, this album was chock full of the opulent content expected from a true Harlem World representative. Along with its luxurious themes, the LP is laced with high energy production and a star-studded cast of guest appearances from some of New York’s finest, including labelmates The LOX, DMX, Lil’ Kim, Jay-Z, Total, 112, and Busta Rhymes.
After the untimely passing of the Notorious B.I.G., this album was set up to be the debut of Diddy’s “new protege and although it obviously fell short of the acclaim brought by Ready to Die, commercially, this album hit the same level of success as every other Bad Boy debut. Harlem World reached the pole position across music charts, sold over 2,000,000 copies to date, and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 41st Grammy Awards.
Salute to Ma$e, Diddy and the Bad Boy fam for this piece of Hip-Hop history!
On this day in Hip-Hop history, Craig Mack released Bad Boy’s second LP as a label Project: Funk Da World. This successful debut introduced Craig Mack as one of Bad Boy’s original artists alongside The Notorious B.I.G., 112, Faith Evans and Total.
Unlike like Bad Boy’s debut, Biggie’s Ready to Die, Project: Funk Da World concentrated less on the hardcore street aspect of Hip Hop and focused more on getting its listeners moving on the dance floor. Similar to the West Coast’s G-Funk movement, this LP was smooth and effortlessly funky. It created a vibe that every time it was spun, did exactly what it’s title intended. The album featured Craig Mack’s smash hit single “Flava in Ya Ear”. The version of the is single featuring Biggie Smalls was actually Bad Boy’s first release and the duo’s only collaboration.
The album was certified gold within the year of its release although partially overshadowed by the quadruple platinum Ready to Die.
On September 13, 1994, Notorious B.I.G., alongside producers Easy Mo Bee, DJ Premier, Poke of the Trackmasters, and none other than “Puffy” (as Diddy was called then) as the executive producer, released the Hip Hop masterpiece known as Ready To Die.
As Big’s debut album, this highly anticipated release shows the lyrical prowess of the Bed-Stuy big man, and besides Method Man’s assistance on the epic “The What?” track, Mr. Wallace made it happen all by himself. Other than Nas’ Illmatic, no other solo emcee accomplished that feat on the East Coast during that era. Recognized as “The King Of New York” and as seen on a vintage 1995 Source Magazine cover, Big’s legacy was etched in stone with this LP.
Timeless classics from that four-and-a-half mic-er include the DJ Premier-produced “Unbelievable,” the back-and-forth storytelling adventures of “Warning” and “Gimme The Loot,” and the eerie title track itself were just a few of the highlights of this legendary project. That’s not to forget the mainstream success of singles such as “One More Chance,” the Brooklynplayalistic sound of “Big Poppa,” and, of course, the hood inspirational, Mtume-based “Juicy.”
We only had the chance to get one more album(prophetically named Life After Death) out of one of the game’s greatest lyricists before he was prematurely killed in Los Angeles in 1997. Still, this album will always remind us that B.I.G. was “Ready to Die” because his talent was and will always be larger than life.
Salute to Big (RIP), Premier, Easy, Poke, Lord Finesse, Diddy, Lil’ Kim, and the entire Wallace family for this classic masterpiece!
Shyne’s career was permanently disrupted in 1999. The rapper and heir apparent to Biggie was arrested and sentenced to a decade in prison for shooting a woman named Natania Reuben. Shyne has continued to release music, but his legacy is defined by this incident. Calling it a complicated legacy, however, is an understatement. Reuben claims that Shyne did not actually shoot her, but won a settlement against the rapper for his involvement in the incident. A settlement that he’s apparently yet to pay.
Natania Reuben blasted Shyne during an interview on The Art of Dialogue. She not only called the rapper names, but declared that he still owed her money. “Shyne did not shoot me because he didn’t, but Shyne is a con artist,” she claimed. “Everybody’s like, ‘Oh, we know Shyne was innocent.’ No, you don’t know… Because he’s far from innocent.” The concept that Shyne is “innocent” is something the rapper has been quick to put forth after his release. He told Chanel 5 Belize that he took the fall for artists who were more powerful than him. Reuben dismissed this narrative as being the rapper’s attempt at political power in his native country.
Shyne Has Maintained His Innocence In The Shooting
“He’s going to jockey off of me,” the shooting victim asserted. “Saying Shyne didn’t shoot me to try to leverage himself to get that prime minister seat. You ain’t nothing but a penny Annie Shyer, a shady car salesman, a dressed-up fraud, a liar.” Worse, still, according to Reuben, the rapper has yet to make good on his financial responsibilities. The victim claimed that the rapper is driving a Maybach around Belize, yet has not paid her what she is owed. “You still owe me money,” Reuben added. “In the settlement, Shyne was responsible… He didn’t have the money to pay [then].”
Natania Reuben was paid $1.8M by Diddy, however, after the incident. It was a sizable amount, but it also prompted decades of alleged harassment against Reuben at the mogul’s behest. The victim claimed that Diddy flattened the tires on her vehicle on several occasions. “Not only did he pew pew me in the face,” she stated. “He also set off a course of harassment against me for the past 24 years.” Diddy has repeatedly denied these claims.
Right now, Diddy seems to be completely radioactive, as his many alleged crimes and instances of misconduct have placed his every move under intense scrutiny. As a result, fans have been hyper-fixating on every nook and cranny of his decades-spanning legacy. This includes the existence of the short-lived group Diddy Dirty Money, which released one album and two mixtapes before seemingly dropping off of the face of the Earth. Despite their brief tenure behind the mic, Diddy’s Dirty Money released some chart-topping hits. So, what exactly happened to the group, and where are they today? Let’s take a moment to look into the history of the R&B trio, and see what we can uncover about their legacy.
The Group Consisted Of Diddy And Two Bad Boy Signees
The members that comprised Diddy Dirty Money include Diddy himself, as well as Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper. Richard was a winner of Diddy’s reality television show Making The Band on MTV, and originally signed with Bad Boy as part of the all-girl group Danity Kane. The label initially brought on Harper as a songwriter after she found similar success penning hits for several major industry names. In numerous interviews, Diddy expressed an interest in teaming with the women on his label for an album, in order to create love songs that provide both a male and female perspective.
In 2009, Diddy Dirty Money was formed, and the trio began cranking out major hits such as “Loving You No More” featuring Drake, “Coming Home” with Skylar Grey, and “Angels,” which featured a posthumous verse from The Notorious B.I.G. The group’s only studio album Last Train To Paris released in December 2010, and peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard 200.
Diddy Followed Other Interests
UPDATE: Diddy has reached a settlement with the spirits giant Diageo. He will no longer be a joint owner of the tequila brand DeLeón or have any ties to Cîroc vodka. pic.twitter.com/4ORsdqhsen
While Diddy has never directly spoken on why Dirty Money stopped producing records after the success of Last Train To Paris, Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper agree that the mogul had other investments to tend to. During a 2023 interview with Vibe, Harper explained, “It was never another album because Cîroc was his next album. He’s like, ‘Do I keep dealing with these two baldhead b****es, or do I jump on this Cîroc that ain’t gon talk back? …Dirty Money started to become something that he didn’t think was going to happen. Dawn, she’s exceptional at what she does—he didn’t think two Leo women was going to come in and body that s*** like we did.”
Dawn Richard seems to echo these claims, explaining in an interview with Billboard, “It died out. I think Puff was tired. He had so many different things going on. I think he wanted to produce and act a little bit more. Sometimes you don’t have a choice. If we would have wanted to continue, and he couldn’t do it, then there’d be no sense in it.”
Despite the downfall of Diddy’s Dirty Money, the trio seems to still be on good terms. In fact, Diddy even recruited his former group-mates for a reunion song on his 2023 album The Love Album: Off the Grid. The track, which is titled “Deliver Me,” is the third song on the album, and also features vocals from Busta Rhymes. Unfortunately, the song may be one of the projects that led to Diddy’s downfall, as it features production credits from Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones. Lil Rod’s lawsuit against Diddy regarding payment for his work on the album is largely considered to be the first domino in the ongoing legal trouble the Bad Boy exec is facing.
Regardless, it seems increasingly likely that we won’t see another Diddy Dirty Money reunion again, as the rapper has become something of a pariah within the music industry. If this is truly the case, then that means that “Deliver Me” is the last-ever collaboration between the chart-demolishing trio.
Diddy’s ongoing legal issues have led to a wide array of deep dives into his character, as well as his past conduct. According to a new report in Rolling Stone, Biggie planned to leave Diddy and Bad Boy Records in the days leading up to his untimely death. Although no one can confirm this information 100 percent, eyewitnesses and sources close to the famed rapper offer quite damning evidence against Diddy’s cause. The report is fairly comprehensive and outlines an alleged pattern of behavior from Diddy that would likely drive any self-respecting rapper such as Biggie to depart the Bad Boy label if true. So, let’s dive into the available information and unpack the story.
The Issues Stem From A Financial Dispute
Insiders have confirmed and told Rolling Stone that Biggie was indeed preparing to leave Bad Boy Records before his death and that Biggie’s lawyers were entangled in a legal battle with Diddy to get Biggie back his publishing rights before he was murdered.
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 29, 2024
Long before this new report about Biggie hit the web, Diddy and Bad Boy Records had been maligned for being cursed. Many hip hop fans have noted throughout the years that droves of Bad Boy signees have fallen on hard times. This includes financial disputes, physical violence, and lengthy prison sentences. The so-called Bad Boy curse famously affected Shyne, a Bad Boy rapper who received a 10-year prison sentence for a nightclub shooting that involved Diddy. In the case of Biggie, it seems that he was in a fight with Diddy and the mega-label during his final months regarding finances and publishing rights.
Per the Rolling Stone report, Biggie was in the process of lawyering up before his passing in 1997. When pressed about the publishing at the time, Diddy is quoted as purportedly saying, “I will never give it up until I’m dead and my bones are crushed into powder.” So, there was allegedly bad blood developing behind the scenes. Biggie and Diddy always appeared to get along well in public settings, though Tupac Shakur’s negative view of the Bad Boy head honcho is one of the main contributing factors to the explosive East Coast vs. West Coast beef.
The Notorious B.I.G.’s own mother has recently come out to condemn Diddy, specifically stating, “I hope that I see Sean one day and the only thing I want to do is slap the daylights out of him.” While her strong words aren’t necessarily related to Diddy’s relationship with her late son, it seems clear that Volleta Wallace wouldn’t offer such strong words regarding the Bad Boy founder if she believed that he and Biggie had ended things on good terms.
According to a write-up in People, it seems that Wallace’s wish to slap Diddy stems from her knowledge that he allegedly abused his former girlfriendCassie on camera and held a great deal of jealousy regarding Biggie’s friendship with Tupac. While speaking with the press, Wallace continued, “I liked him. I didn’t want to believe all the awful things, but I’m so ashamed and embarrassed.”
Diddy Took Biggie’s Spot On The Rolling Stone Cover
Former Bad Boy President Kirk Burrows details a time when Rolling Stone approached Bad Boy Records with a front cover opportunity after Biggie died, but Diddy selfishly refused to allow Biggie to be on the cover because he wanted to promote his solo album, “No Way Out”.
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 29, 2024
To further indicate the growing animosity between Biggie and Diddy, former Bad Boy partner Kirk Burrowes claims that Diddy refused to let Biggie take his place on the cover of Rolling Stone shortly after the “Who Shot Ya” rapper’s death. Apparently, Diddy was scheduled for a July 1997 cover shoot, though Burrowes and Rolling Stone agreed that the space would be better reserved for the recently slain rapper, arguing that Diddy would have plenty of chances to appear on the cover later.
Diddy refused and took the cover position for himself, apparently stating, “No, he’s dead. I’m putting out No Way Out in July. I need to be on the cover of Rolling Stone,” according to Burrowes. Indeed, there were many growing tensions at the label, which fans were not aware of up to this point. As more information comes to light about Diddy’s ongoing legal and personal drama, stories like this will likely continue surfacing.
The Notorious B.I.G. was apparently preparing to leave Bad Boy Records and Diddy behind in the months preceding his tragic death in 1997, according to a new report from Rolling Stone. The outlet explained the situation as part of a broader investigation into Diddy, amid the numerous allegations the label’s founder is facing. Biggie’s lawyers were allegedly focused on getting back his publishing rights at the time.
“I will never give it up until I’m dead and my bones are crushed into powder,” Combs told the lawyers, according to The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop, as noted by Rolling Stone. Hip-hop photographer Monqiue Bunn further confirmed the rumor, adding: “[Biggie] was absolutely about to leave Puff. I know for a fact [because] he told me that.” Another source told the outlet: “Everybody wanted to leave Puffy. Everybody leaves him.”
American rappers Notorious BIG (also known as Biggie Smalls, born Christopher Wallace, 1972 – 1997) (left) and Sean Combs (also known as Puff Daddy and P Diddy) perform onstage, Anaheim California, circa 1994. (Photo by Nitro/Getty Images)
Rolling Stone also uncovered a new allegation in their investigation which stems from Diddy’s time at Howard University. Citing a friend of his college girlfriend, they reported on an alleged incident outside of one of the dorm buildings. The friend claimed Diddy showed up “belligerent” and “screamed and hollered and acted a stone fool until she [the girlfriend] came downstairs.” When she did, Diddy allegedly used a belt to hit her “all over the place.” The outlet spoke with multiple other alleged witnesses of the incident as well.
In a response to Rolling Stone’s piece, Diddy’s lawyer, Jonathan Davis, said that his client, “cannot address every allegation picked up by the press from any source, no matter how unreliable.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Diddy on HotNewHipHop.
King Los’ career has been a whirlwind of musical highs and lows. However, his talent has often spoken for itself. With impressive albums and mixtapes under his belt, King Los’ discography is always worth diving into. However, his longtime affiliation with Diddy might prove less of a benefit these days.
King Los was spotted with Diddy in Miami on May 20. The now-viral video came just a day after Diddy’s apology video hit social media, following the release of the footage of his assault on Cassie in a hotel. Now, Los is on the receiving end of backlash for maintaining a bond with Diddy amidst the heavy scandal. After on and off stints with Bad Boy Records, evidently Los and Diddy are still inseparable. Nonetheless, here are King Los’ best albums ranked.
King Los’ mixtape Shooter was released on November 8, 2010, and is most notable for its Rick Ross and Cory Gunz features. Shooter can only be described as a blend of King Los’ ambition and raw talent. On the project, Los delivers freestyles, as well as original tracks that hint at the trajectory his career would take in the industry. Long time King Los fans are likely to remember it as one of his earliest albums. Moreover, it remains a gem for its inclusion of “Money Feels Better.”
6. G5: Certified Fly (2008)
G5: Certified Fly launched King Los’ mixtape run, though its quality certainly stood alongside great hip-hop albums of its time. It was released independently in 2008 after his initial deal with Bad Boy Records fell through. The mixtape was King Los’ official return to releasing music independently and it helped set the stage for his future projects. Furthermore, it is a noteworthy entry in his catalog because the writing is credited to King Los himself. G5 is another example of King Los’ early style, artistic vision and skill. All of these are pronounced on tracks like “Top Back Freestyle.”
King Los’ Moor Bars was released on December 25, 2017. It was another project that boasted notable talent with appearances from artists like Hopsin, Royce Da 5’9″, and Jazze Pha. Unsurprisingly, Moor Bars had a few stellar standout tracks such as “Everybody’s A Bitch,” and “January 24th 2017.” “Everybody’s A Bitch,” in particular, remains a noteworthy record in his catalog.
Moor Bars is blessed with King Los’ intricate wordplay and hard-hitting bars. Production credits from AC The Producer and Daniel Dalexis further elevate the project. Diddy also appears in the album’s intro where he gives a few words of advice to King Los: “I understand your consciousness is at another level, but you gotta save yourself… before you can save others.”
4. Becoming King (2013)
King Los’ mixtape Becoming King, was released on April 25, 2013. The album remains a pivotal project in his discography as it marks his official transition from an underground artist to a mainstream contender. It also features a star-studded lineup, including Diddy, Ludacris, Wiz Khalifa, and more. Additionally, there are notable production credits from heavyweights like Harry Fraud and Sonny Digital. And so, this mixtape, unlike previous works of his, offers a variety of sounds that show King Los’ versatility as an artist. The mixtape’s most popular song, “Weak,” racked up almost half a million downloads on Datpiff within its first year.
3. The Crown Ain’t Safe (2011)
King Los’ mixtape The Crown Ain’t Safe, hosted by DJ Ill Will and DJ Drama, was released on December 5, 2011. It is inarguably one of the best projects in King Los’ discography, especially without a long list of studio albums to his name. The mixtape features a robust lineup of guest appearances, including Lola Monroe, Jazze Pha, DMX, Kid Ink, Twista, and XV. The Crown Ain’t Safe also had a decent critical reception, with most of the praise going to its lyrical content. Standout tracks include “Make You Fly” and “Living My Dreams.” These songs show Los’ ability to blend introspection with ambition, and helped boost his chances at a mainstream breakthrough The album’s release is also quite an important moment for King Los’ career, as it came shortly before his re-signing with Bad Boy Records in February, 2012.
2. Zero Gravity II (2014)
King Los’ Zero Gravity II mixtape, released on March 24, 2014, is the impressive sequel to his 2010 mixtape, Zero Gravity. The project was released through After Platinum Records after Los parted ways with Bad Boy Records once again. The mixtape features a variety of producers, including Hunter Bressan, Dot N Pro, and J. Oliver. It also features impressive guest appearances from Royce Da 5’9″, Jeremih, and Kid Ink. Furthermore, Zero Gravity II is noted for playing to one of King Los’ stronger suits: freestyle tracks, with the “Control Freestyle” shining as a standout.
1. God, Money, War (2015)
King Los’ God, Money, War is a profound exploration of themes that are central to the human experience, and the best of all his albums. Released on June 23, 2015, it was a digital-only release under After Platinum Records, 88 Classic, and RCA Records, with executive production from Diddy. The album features a diverse array of guest appearances, including Isaiah Rashad, Marsha Ambrosius, Ty Dolla $ign, Chrishan and others. It debuted at number 68 on the Billboard 200, and sold 7,400 copies in its first week, with additional units. Fan-favorite tracks from the album include “War,” “Ghetto Boy,” and “Glory to The Lord.”
Aubrey O’Day has been a vocal critic of Diddy for years now, and in a recent interview, she made even more shocking allegations against the mogul. The interview was conducted for TMZ‘s new documentary, The Downfall of Diddy, which is set to premiere on Tubi today (April 28). During her conversation with the outlet, the Danity Kane performer discussed Diddy giving all of his artists rights to their old music. According to her, she speculated that something was suspicious back in September when it happened, and is glad she didn’t agree.
Allegedly, Diddy had artists sign NDAs as part of the deal, preventing them from speaking out about their experiences at Bad Boy Records. Moreover, O’Day claims that the amount she’d get in exchange for not sharing her story was wildly low, just a few cents over $300. Nowadays, considering all of the legal trouble he’s dealing with, she’s surely more grateful than ever that she turned it down.
Aubrey O’Day has been raising red flags when it comes to Puff for a long time now, and claims that she has a lot of alleged dirt on the mogul. After her ex Donald Trump Jr. discussed Diddy during his interview with DJ Akademiks, she was sure to remind her followers of that on Twitter/X. Trump Jr. alleged that an ex-partner of his told him Kim Porter was afraid of Diddy before her death.
“Just to be clear.. my long term EX @DonaldJTrumpJr went on @Akademiks to discuss my EX boss diddy & the conspiracies behind Kim Porter’s death,” she wrote. “I keep telling you all.. I am in the CENTER of REALLY knowing ALL the information, and ALWAYS have been. […] The EXpose hasn’t even STARTED.” What do you think of Aubrey O’Day accusing Diddy of offering artists publishing rights in exchange for silence? Are you looking forward to hearing what else she has to say in TMZ‘s doc, The Downfall of Diddy? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
On this day in Hip-Hop history, Notorious B.I.G. released his second album, Life After Death. The double LP was released posthumously by Bad Boy Records. Biggie, who was killed two weeks prior to its release, was nominated for three Grammy’s for this project: Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance for “Hypnotize” and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Mo Money Mo Problems.”
Featuring artists like 112, Jay-Z, Lil’ Kim, Ma$e, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Too $hort and R. Kelly, along with tracks like “Kick In The Door,” “What’s Beef,” “Notorious Thugs,” “Ten Crack Commandments” and “Sky’s The Limit,” it can be said that Life After Death is one of the greatest rap albums of all time. The album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the US Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. It went diamond (that’s 10,000,000 copies sold) in the United States alone, double platinum in Canada, and platinum in the UK. Life After Death has also made appearances on top music charts across the globe. The album has been ranked by countless publications as one of the top rap and Hip-Hop albums of all time (The Source ranked it as #8 in 2005).
Salute to Diddy and the rest of the Bad Bot family for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!
