P. Diddy

It is a rare and significant occasion when a musical artist captures and expresses the sentiments of a generation and expands his horizons to make an impact on society, creating a union between music and life. Sean “P. Diddy” Combs is undoubtedly among this very select, very small group. With the roots of his talent stemming from rap and hip-hop but reaching way beyond those parameters, Sean has torn down the barricades that continue to segregate music and society. Through his music, he has allowed different genres – be it hip-hop, pop, soul, rap or underground – to integrate, and in the process, has given birth to a new and unique form. For superstar artists like Mary J. Blige, Smashing Pumpkins, Jennifer Lopez, R. Kelly, Sting, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston, Jay-Z, Dream, Lil’ Kim, LL Cool J, Janet Jackson, Busta Rhymes, Faith Evans, 112, B2K and many more, Sean has produced multi-platinum, chart-dominating hits. As CEO and founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, a pioneering producer, rapper and pop phenomenon, Sean has become one of today’s most extraordinary, accomplished and unforgettable talents.

Sean Combs was born on November 4, 1969, in Harlem to Melvin and Janice Combs. The tragic murder of his father when he was just two years old forced his mom Janice to move Sean and his sister Keisha to a safer environment in Mount Vernon, New York. Janice Combs worked three jobs to provide the best opportunities for her family and education for her children. Sean attended the Mount Vernon Montessori School and later the Mount St. Michael Academy, where his entrepreneurial flair was first exhibited through his successful paper route at the age of 12.

Sean attended Howard University in Washington, D.C, but his real education began when he signed up for an internship at Uptown Entertainment, where he met the man who would become his mentor, industry leader Andre Harrell (former President of Bad Boy Entertainment). Shuttling back and forth from Washington D.C. to New York City, Combs’ extraordinary energy and commitment earned him the leap from intern at Uptown to Director of A&R at the age of 19. Shortly thereafter, in 1991, he became the careful sculptor of the careers of Uptown artists Jodeci and Mary J. Blige. He produced their music and influenced their image by tapping into the style and flare of urban youth. This brilliant combination ushered in the new musical genre of hip-hop soul, catapulting the music and style of African-American youth into the American mainstream and super-stardom. In 1993, Sean left Uptown, but he reemerged later the same year with a groundbreaking new company of his own, which he branded Bad Boy Entertainment.