Sean Combs

Sean John Combs was born on Nov. 4, 1969 in Harlem, New York to Melvin and Janice Combs.

At two years old, his father was murdered in a park in New York City. Combs attended private school at Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx. He later attended Howard University in Washington D.C.

Combs music career began when he became an intern for Uptown Records. A few months later, he was an A&R executive and helped produce such albums as Mary J. Blige’s 1992 album, “What’s The 411?” In 1993, Combs began plans for his own record label and was dismissed from Uptown. He created Bad Boy Records and soon signed artists like The Notorious B.I.G.

Combs, known as “Puff Daddy,” signed artist like Faith Evans, 112 and Total. He also produced tracks for Lil’ Kim, TLC, Mariah Carey. Around this time, the rivalry between Bad Boy and west coast’s Death Row Records heated up.

Combs’ own recording career began in 1993 when he rapped on Supercat’s “Dolly My Baby.” He released “No Way Out, “ in 1997, which produced the hit “It’s All About The Benjamins,” which featured Lil’ Kim, The Lox and The Notorious B.I.G. Combs’ won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “All Around The World,” while “No Way Out,” won best Rap album.

Combs’ next album, 1999’s “Forever,” was a commercial failure.

Currently, Combs’ who now goes by the nickname, “P. Diddy,” is recording his latest record which will feature collaborations with artists like Kanye West, Christina Aguilera and Mary J. Blige

Combs has been embroiled in some controversy over the years. In December 1999, Combs and then-girlfriend singer Jennifer Lopez were at Club New York, a Manhattan nightclub and gunfire broke out. Combs and fellow rapper Shyne were arrested for weapons violations. Combs was indicted after his driver claimed that he tried to bribe him nto taking the weapon after the shooting. He was later acquitted of all charges and changed his stage name to “P. Diddy.” He broke up with Lopez soon after.

In 2002, Combs made his own reality show, “Making The Band 2,” the sequel to “Making The Band.’ The group, “Da Band,” was the show’s result. The group was bashed by critics. A third version of “Making The Band” is currently airing on MTV.