Add Murder to Sean 'Diddy' Combs Scandal
The hip-hop world has been rocked by fresh revelations about the strained relationship between Sean "Diddy" Combs and his once-closest protégé, The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie), in the months before Biggie's tragic death. Known for their partnership that helped define 1990s rap, the two stars' ties were reportedly fractured by financial disputes, personal tensions, and Biggie's rumored plans to walk away from Bad Boy Records entirely. As new details emerge, fans are left to wonder if the explosive fallout between these two icons played a bigger role in Biggie's fate than anyone realized.
The Money Feud That Couldn't Be Hidden
Under Diddy's Bad Boy Records, Biggie rose from Brooklyn streets to hip-hop stardom. But while their partnership appeared to be unstoppable, insiders claim it was plagued by financial disagreements. Rolling Stone recently reported that Biggie had hired lawyers to negotiate control over his publishing rights and to wrest back a larger portion of his earnings from Bad Boy Records® — a move that threatened to cut into Diddy's stake in his music.
Photographer Monique Bunn, who knew Biggie, confirmed his determination to leave Bad Boy, telling Rolling Stone, "He was absolutely about to leave Puff." Other industry sources echoed her claim, with some saying Biggie's disillusionment with Diddy's management style and tight control was part of a larger dissatisfaction shared by multiple Bad Boy artists.
Personal Tensions and the Tupac Rivalry
Money wasn't the only issue straining Biggie and Diddy's bond. According to those close to Biggie, Diddy's handling of the East Coast-West Coast rivalry and Biggie's growing friendship with Tupac Shakur only fueled the rift. The feud had led to tension between Diddy, who was protective of his East Coast brand, and Biggie, who was caught in the middle. Voletta Wallace, Biggie's mother, has also shared her negative opinion of Diddy, saying she believed he had disrupted Biggie's life and was jealous of his bond with Tupac.
Diddy's actions following Biggie's death added further controversy. Former Bad Boy partner Kirk Burrowes revealed that Diddy allegedly refused to put Biggie on the cover of Rolling Stone just a few months later, stating, "No, he's dead. I'm putting out 'No Way Out' in July. I need to be on the cover."
Eminem Joins the Fray
The Diddy-Biggie drama has been further amplified by rapper Eminem, who recently stirred up old suspicions about Diddy's possible involvement in both Biggie's and Tupac's deaths. On the track "Fuel – Shady Edition" from his latest release, "The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce): Expanded Mourner's Edition," Eminem pointedly referenced the Biggie's and Tupac's deaths, casting doubt on Diddy's innocence. Rapping, "Notorious B.I.G.'s death was the domino effect of Tupac's murder / Like facial tissue, whose card should I clean next? Puff's?" Eminem fueled speculation that Diddy knows more than he's let on about these tragic killings.
This isn't the first time Eminem has alluded to the theory — he previously mentioned Diddy in connection with Biggie's death in his 2018 track "Killshot." Whether his accusations are simply intended to provoke or point to something darker remains a mystery, but they have rekindled interest in what truly led to the rapper's untimely death.
Hip-Hop's Greatest 'What-If?'
The revelations surrounding Biggie's possible departure from Bad Boy Records leave fans speculating about how the rapper's legacy might have evolved had he taken control of his career. Could he have reached new heights on his own terms? The idea of Biggie breaking away from Diddy is a bittersweet twist, suggesting that the rapper's journey could have looked very different if he had lived to cut ties and pursue his solo vision.
For fans of 1990s hip-hop, the ongoing drama paints a more complex picture of the era's greatest icons and the intense personal and professional struggles that marked their lives behind the scenes.
References: The Notorious B.I.G. Planned to Cut Ties with Diddy Before His Murder | Eminem Doubles Down on Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Connection to Tupac and Biggie Murders on New Song | There Were Tensions Between Notorious B.I.G. and Sean "Diddy" Combs Before Biggie's Death
