What is going to develop into of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ musical legacy? Specialists weigh in following his indictment
NEW YORK — NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs is well known as one of the vital influential figures in hip-hop, however his indictment Tuesday on intercourse trafficking and racketeering expenses additional clouds his legacy. For some, it could change their relationship to his music.
The indictment, detailing allegations relationship again to 2008, accuses him of abusing, threatening and coercing girls for years “to meet his sexual needs, shield his status, and conceal his conduct.”
Some specialists imagine the severity of the crimes could tarnish his profession shifting ahead.
“The possibility to only be checked out strictly in musical phrases, and that being the defining a part of his legacy, is just about gone,” says Peter A. Berry, a music journalist with work in XXL and Advanced.
“I’m undecided you may play ‘Mo Cash, Mo Issues’ on the barbeque now,” he says. “You may’t have a look at Diddy’s music in a vacuum the identical approach you probably did earlier than.
“He’s gone from this aspirational, go-getting music business legend to basically, arguably, the Invoice Cosby of hip-hop.”
Berry views Combs indictment as “a continuation of a reckoning for the rap world,” which incorporates sexual misconduct allegations leveled at Russell Simmons by a number of girls, in addition to R&B-singer R Kelly who’s serving a 30-year jail sentence for utilizing his fame to sexually abuse younger followers, together with some who have been simply kids, in a scientific scheme that went on for many years.
Sowmya Krishnamurthy, music journalist and creator of “Vogue Killa: How Hip-Hop Revolutionized Excessive Vogue,” sees it otherwise.
“It is at all times a query of — are followers going to separate the individual from the artwork? Can you differentiate the nice musical contribution anyone has made, the artists they’ve launched us to, the hit songs they’ve given us, the soundtrack to our lives versus what’s happening of their private life, the authorized points that they’re going through?” she asks.
“In terms of Puff, similar to numerous extremely proficient, profitable however problematic males, I do assume many followers will be capable of differentiate the 2.”
She says you may nonetheless anticipate to listen to Diddy’s music out on this planet — the information he made, produced, launched and past — however the results can be felt elsewhere.
“We’re not going to see his music synced in TV reveals and movies. You’re not going to see his music being synced, for instance, in commercials,” she says.
As for streaming platforms: “So long as individuals maintain streaming information, watching music movies and supporting it behind the scenes, I feel numerous firms haven’t any drawback quietly profiting,” she provides.
Combs is among the best-known music executives, producers and performers throughout hip-hop, having gained three Grammys and labored with artists similar to Infamous B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Religion Evans and 112. He based Dangerous Boy Information in 1993, the influential vogue line Sean John, a vodka model and the Revolt TV community. He offered off his stake within the latter firm in June of this 12 months.
Within the ‘00s, he was a producer on MTV’s actuality tv sequence “Making the Band,” and “Making His Band,” launching the careers of artists just like the lady group Danity Kane whereas embodying a type of temperamental, “grandiose tv persona,” A.D. Carson, affiliate professor of hip-hop at College of Virginia factors out.
“Does MTV cease operating these reveals in the event that they’re operating in syndication?” he asks. “No firm that’s getting cash off of one thing that they produce goes to willingly surrender that cash.
“I don’t assume anyone who’s nonetheless dedicated to listening to Diddy’s music in 2024 goes to be satisfied by this indictment to cease listening to it in the identical approach that anyone who’s, , listening to R. Kelly in 2024,” he provides.
Diddy hasn’t constantly launched new solo music the final 20 years. Carson theorizes that may make it simpler for others to cease enjoying his information. “The simplest place to boycott is a spot that you simply have been by no means going to patronize anyway.”
It has been 17 years since Combs had a high 10 hit — 2007’s “Final Evening” that includes Keisha Cole hit No. 10 on the Billboard Scorching 100. Nonetheless, his profession and cultural contributions proceed to be celebrated. In 2022, Combs acquired the Lifetime Achievement Award on the BET Awards. Final 12 months, he carried out on the MTV VMAs and launched his fifth studio album, “The Love Album: Off the Grid,” his first new album since 2006 chart-topping “Press Play.”
“The Love Album” was nominated for greatest progressive R&B album on the Grammy Awards. Combs didn’t attend.
“This time final 12 months, Diddy was being handed a key to the town,” Berry factors out. “Now he is being indicted.”
The lawsuits Combs faces started in November 2023, when singer Cassie Ventura sued him for alleging years of sexual abuse together with rape. (New York State’s Grownup Survivors Act, enacted in 2022, permits victims to file past sure statute of limitations.)
In June, video that appeared to indicate Combs attacking Cassie in a Los Angeles lodge hallway in 2016 surfaced, leading to public outcry. Howard College lower ties with Combs, rescinding an honorary diploma that was awarded to him and disbanding a scholarship program in his title consequently. Combs returned his key to New York Metropolis after a request from Mayor Eric Adams in response to the video. And in December, Billboard reported {that a} forthcoming Hulu actuality present following Combs and his household was not in manufacturing.
So, what does that say of his profession?
“I do assume that sure accolades, , business awards, I may see them being rescinded,” says Krishnamurthy. “However who is aware of what the long run holds. And I do assume as time goes on, generally the impact is that folks do have a look at the previous with rose-colored glasses or it turns into simpler to take away ourselves from the negativity and deal with the music and the nice instances.”
“I feel Diddy is principally canceled,” says Berry. “I do not see him making a comeback.”
“His music is simply too nice to disregard,” he provides. ” quantity of individuals will nonetheless play it. However they are going to get a side-eye.”
“My hope is that folk don’t use Diddy instance to scapegoat hip-hop, as a result of this isn’t an issue that’s distinctive to hip hop,” says Carson.
Moreover, he says “we focus numerous consideration on the legacy on the individuals who did the hurt. The extra accountable factor to ask is: What do reparations seem like for the individuals who have been harmed?”
