A timeline of the rise and fall of Sean 'Diddy' Combs
A timeline of the rise and fall of Sean 'Diddy' Combs
For more than two decades, Sean "Diddy" Combs was one of hip-hop's most opportunistic entrepreneurs, spinning his hitmaking talents into a broad business empire that included a record label, a fashion brand, a TV network, deals with liquor companies and a key role in a reality TV show.
But US prosecutors say that behind the scenes, Combs was coercing and abusing women with help from a network of associates who helped silence victims through blackmail and violence.
Combs has pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations. Jury selection for his trial was due to start on Monday.
Here is a timeline of major events in his rise and fall.
National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
1990
Combs, then a student at Howard University in Washington, D.C, gets his start in the music business with an internship at Uptown Records in New York.
December 28, 1991
Nine people die at a celebrity basketball game promoted by Combs and the rapper Heavy D when thousands of fans try to get into a gym at the City College of New York.
A mayoral report lays part of the blame for the catastrophe on poor planning by Combs.
1992
Combs is one of the executive producers on What's the 411?, the debut album by Mary J. Blige.
1993
After being fired by Uptown, Combs establishes his own label, Bad Boy, which quickly cuts a lucrative deal with Arista Records.
1994
Bad Boy releases Notorious B.I.G.'s album Ready to Die.
Two months later, Tupac Shakur (pictured) survives a shooting in New York and accuses Combs and Biggie of having prior knowledge of the attack, which they deny.
Shakur was later killed in a 1996 shooting in Las Vegas.
1996
Combs is convicted of criminal mischief after he allegedly threatened a photographer with a gun.
Here he is pictured when he was known as Puff Daddy in Sydney in 2004.
1997
Biggie is killed in Los Angeles.
Combs, then known as Puff Daddy, releases I'll be Missing You in honour of his slain star.
1998
Combs wins two Grammys, one for best rap album for his debut No Way Out and another for best rap performance by a duo or group for I'll Be Missing You with Faith Evans.
Also that year, Combs' Sean John fashion line is founded.
1999
April 16: Combs and his bodyguards are charged with attacking Interscope Records music executive Steve Stoute in his New York office in a dispute over a music video. Combs is sentenced to an anger management course.
December 27: Combs is arrested on gun possession charges after he and his girlfriend at the time, Jennifer Lopez, fled a shooting that wounded three people at a New York City nightclub.
Some witnesses tell police Combs was among the people shooting in the club.
He is later charged with offering his driver $77,000 ($US50,000) to claim ownership of the 9mm handgun found in his car.
He is pictured at the Manhattan District Attorney's office on January 4, 2000.
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