Diddy (previously – Puff Daddy)
P. Diddy, who got a nickname Puff from his mother in his early childhood when the future star was a rather fat tot, is not only one of the most famous and popular rap singers in the world but a producer and co-founder of Bad Boy Entertainment record company. In fact, he began not as a singer but as a talented director and (some day or other it had to happen), finally, he started his solo career.
In 1997, P. Diddy (at that time – Puff Daddy) released his first album No Way Out after seven years of cooperation and, later, the blood feud with such popular rappers as Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. Earlier recorded single “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” (later it was included into the debut album) soared to the top of the Billboard chart and spent there almost two months but no one was surprised by that. It was quite obvious that business acumen, music talent, and clear-cut idea of the audience’s tastes, would bring Diddy a success. No Way Out became the best rap album of the year, and the song “Ill Be Missing You”, written in memory of his dead friend, earned him a Grammy Award.
In 1999, trying to reach the previous success, P. Diddy released his second album Forever, which was met rather reservedly in comparison with the debut one. However, Puff Daddy was still one of the prominent figures in rap and hip-hop world, his name did not leap from the pages of Mass Media, and his songs appeared on the charts of different countries from times to times. Daddy’s video clips were shown on MTV, he received a number of prestigious awards, affianced with Jennifer Lopez, and it seemed that everything was going in the best way possible but suddenly a run of black luck came to the life of the singer, composer, and businessmen. First of all, the arrest for weapon violation played its role. The singer did not go to jail but it led to a breakup with Lopez, who did not want any problems with the law.
Having the cast of mind that is more typical of an imposing businessman rather than of a cheeky rapper, Puff Daddy was hypersensitive to everything that happened to him. Although the majority of his colleagues had conflicts with the law, Daddy could not follow their suit and wash out of what had happened. Wishing to begin a new chapter of his life, first of all, he changed his stage name for P. Diddy, and this step, as critics and Mass Media supposed, was one of the most stupid actions, which representatives of show-business ever made.
However, having got to the List of the most stupid people of America because of his rashness, Diddy remained a rather popular rap singer and continued his work in Bad Boy Entertainment. His next studio work was quite successful, and the song “Bad Boy For Life”, included into The Saga Continues album, became a real super hit. From 2002 to 2010, P. Diddy recorded three more successful albums, one of which (Press Play, 2006) started from the first position in American Billboard 200 and appeared on charts of Australia and many European countries including Great Britain.
Although Diddy’s creative activity is not always successful, he is one of the most commercially successful rappers both in USA and all over the world. He presented many new talents to the audience, and in whole, his contribution to the music industry development is very significant.
