Diddy: The Early Years | That Was the News Then: Ep. 21

Whether you've known him as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, or simply Diddy

Sean Combs is arguably one of the biggest superstars in music. All right, and as this titan of the music industry gets ready to go on trial for alleged sex trafficking

we take a look back at Diddy's early years as his music climbed up the charts and he rose to superstardom

This is how the news covered the hip-hop mogul back then. We begin in 1997

Back then, he called himself Puff Daddy. His debut album, No Way Out, was climbing the charts

And shortly after its release, he sat down with Fox 5 for this one-on-one interview

Today, Sean Puffy Combs is in the house. the notorious CEO of a mega million dollar enterprise

Bad Boy Entertainment comes from behind the mixing board into the spotlight

You a little nervous about it? Yes, I'm definitely nervous about putting out, you know, my own album

just like I'm nervous every time I put out a record. I think that's the way to not fall off

As soon as you get comfortable, that's when you find yourself walking right off the cliff

But I'm even more nervous now because stepping from behind the scenes, in front of the scenes, it's kind of the backwards way to do it

but it's not backwards for me, it's the way that, you know, I decided to do it. Good Day New York was invited to a rehearsal

where we talked about this moment in his life. Every day is rough, but, you know, I just pray

I wake up and I pray to the Lord every day, and I thank him at night, and, you know

just try to keep the faith, and, you know, and just try to look at how fortunate and blessed I am

you know, because I am, even though they are hard times, I am very fortunate and blessed still

Hard realities are not easy to live down. memories of another day find their place in this new beginning just how to erase the past

I don't erase the past with any of my past life experiences

I use every last one of my past life experiences whether it's success or tragedy

to help me become more of a wiser person. But I can never forget any mistakes I've made, any successes I've had, any tragedies I've seen

I keep that all in front of my face when I wake up every morning to know what I'm faced with

I don't run from anything. Hardcore rap is one style of hip-hop

To talk tough is to live tough. Messages not to be tempered or veiled

Hip-hop is the voice of young America. And a lot of people have tried to come down on Big, or even myself or other artists that are out there

of having that voice of young America. If you feel frustration in our voices and our songs sometimes, you come in the communities that help us to alleviate some of the frustrations

If you feel like sometimes there may be songs that talk about killing or violence or things that we've seen hands-on

you have to come and do something to help the youth not to see that

But you should not try to snuff out their voices of them just reporting what they see

We're going to tell you what the reality is, but at the same time we're going to have those songs that help you to dream of a better day

I'm Marianne Etwa Watson. Good day, New York. In 1999, Puffy was arrested on assault charges

He was accused of beating record executive Steve Stout. Rapper Sean Puffy Combs is in court today

He is facing assault charges, and he doesn't seem to be denying them either

Mike Sheehan is in Lower Manhattan with this story. Hi, Mike. How you doing, Mario

Well, today's date was what they call a control date. It really was a meeting with the judge to set a future date

All motions can be put in front of the judge at that time. That's really to finalize this thing, at least in the criminal courts, and the victim has asked that the charges be dropped

John Puffy Combs arrived all dolled up for court, surrounded not by his usual bodyguards, but instead with high-priced mouthpieces

The rap star faces assault charges in an attack on fellow record exec Stephen Stout back on May 15th at Stout's Midtown office

According to court records, Combs was angry about a video that played on MTV in which he was depicted as nailed to a cross

Combs had asked Stout not to run the clip, and when he refused, Puffy and two burly bodyguards allegedly wrecked Stout's office

and pummeled Stout with a champagne bottle, telephone, and a chair. Stout said he suffered a broken arm and a jaw in the attack, but Combs says he never broke any part of Stout, and that's why he won't plead guilty

At any rate both Combs and Stout have since kissed and made up In fact Stout has even asked the Manhattan District Attorney to drop all criminal charges I confident hopeful everything will work out I have to come back in August Everything been

adjourned. I really don't have any statement besides that. Now, Combs says there was absolutely

no money ever exchanged or involved in this deal, simply an agreement between pals. At any rate

he's going to be back in court here on August the 5th, where he says, finally, maybe

these criminal charges will go away, be dropped. Goodbye. From Lower Manhattan, Mike Sheehan

Fox News. Back to you guys. Puffy publicly apologized and stout dropped charges. He

pled guilty to a lesser charge of harassment and was sentenced to a day of anger management classes

As 1999 was about to come to an end, Puffy found himself and then girlfriend Jennifer Lopez at the

center of a Manhattan nightclub shooting, which led to the two stars being arrested. Well, it looks

like Sean Puffy Combs and his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez are in trouble with the law

It all started with a shooting at a Midtown nightclub. Looking rested despite 17 hours of

police custody yesterday, Sean Puffy Combs held court, again proclaiming his innocence in a shooting

that left three people wounded at Club New York. I do not own a gun, nor did I possess a gun that

night. I had nothing to do with a shooting in this club. I want to make this 100% clear

His attorney, Harvey Slovis, was not as reserved, blasting media outlets for coverage based on

witness reports portraying his client as being involved. I don't give I don't care what the

police department says. The witnesses are lying. I got 30 witnesses. What do you mean? If I tell

you robbed me that they should believe me? When is it going to be fair for Sean Puffy Combs

But last night at his arraignment, it was prosecutors quoting witnesses who said Puffy

was one of two men who brandished guns at the club and that the other man, 19-year-old rapper

Jamal Barrows, opened fire. Barrows has been charged with attempted murder, but Puffy was

charged with criminal possession of a weapon after a gun was found in the front seat of his

company's Lincoln Navigator. Combs' driver and bodyguard sitting in the front seat were also

charged. Combs and Jennifer Lopez, Lovis points out, were in the back seat and charges were dropped

against Lopez. The reason Mr. Combs' case was not dismissed is a simple one because every time

someone lies, you all take it as true. One of the things that I see in every report that is being

reported that there's an allegation that I have something to do with the shooting and I'm trying

to make it clear to you, I want to say to you all face to face, I had nothing to do with a shooting

that night in a nightclub. Greg Treadway, Fox News. Yes, we told you three people were wounded

in that nightclub shooting that led to Puffy Combs and Jennifer Lopez, excuse me, running with the law

Now, one of those victims is speaking out about what happened. Mike Gilliam has that story. He's

in Midtown right now, Mike. Well, Maria, you know, we thought we'd hear exactly what happened inside

Club New York that night or who Natanya Rubin plans to sue over her injuries. In the end

we heard none of that. A huge number of reporters and camera crews turned out to hear Natanya Rubin

describe the shooting that's left her face badly injured and Puffy Combs under investigation

But she read a statement and refused to say if the rap mogul is responsible for her injuries

The mother of two who owns two beauty salons complained about the attention given to Combs

and what happened that night. One would have hoped that those individuals who spend endless amounts of money

on their own opinions and their own appearances would have given some thought to the jeopardy

in which they've placed my life by their reckless acts. Ruben was shot at Club New York

in the early morning hours of December 27th. Jamal Barrow, a rapper on Combs' Bad Boy Records

who goes by the name Shine, is charged with attempted murder. Prosecutors say he fired to defend Combs

against insults someone hurled at him, wounding three people. Combs and actress-singer Jennifer Lopez

were stopped after the shooting when police say they fled the scene. Fox News has learned a third gun in the case has been recovered

after someone threw it out of Puffy's SUV. Cops allegedly found a second gun in the vehicle

Puffy Combs has denied having a gun or any knowledge of guns that night

So Ms Rubin and her attorneys refuse to point fingers saying that the investigation is still ongoing and the mystery continues In Midtown Mike Gilliam Fox 5 News Sean Puffy Combs took the stand in a packed courtroom and testified that on the night of the shootings in Club New York he never had a gun

Under direct examination by defense attorney Ben Brafman, Combs said that after paying a $4,000 tab for champagne, he and Jennifer Lopez were leaving

As they headed for the front door, Combs said, I saw a guy facing me. He was mouthing off

I couldn't tell what he was saying, but it was very aggressive. Looked like a problem

Combs says seconds later he hears gunfire coming from behind him and thought he was being shot at, so he hit the floor

But he says he never saw anyone with a gun or firing one. Combs was then rushed out of the club and into his Lincoln Navigator

with Jennifer Lopez and Anthony Jones, and they sped away up 8th Avenue until stopped by the police

who arrested all three passengers and the driver, Wardell Fenderson, when they found a gun on the floor of the Navigator

Combs flatly denied having anything to do with that gun. When asked if he offered 50 grand to Fenderson to accept responsibility for the gun

Combs answered, absolutely not. I didn't offer him anything. Combs was asked about something that happened in 1995

the only prior incident the judge would allow into evidence. A New York Post photographer was taking pictures of his car in front of his studio

Combs said he asked the guy for the film, saying he didn't want trouble

and the photographer just handed it over. Combs destroyed the film and was charged with and convicted of criminal mischief

But that story changed dramatically under cross-examination by Assistant District Attorney Matt Bogdanos

who had photographer Gary Miller stand up in court. Bogdanos suggested that the real story went like this

Combs threatened Miller keeping his hand in his pocket on a black pistol

and surrounding the photographer with eight to ten pals before Miller finally gave him the film

Puffy answered, that's not how I remember it. Outside the court, Miller, a retired detective, called Combs a liar

He didn't ask me for the film. He didn't say, please, could I have the film

He demanded the film with other people around him, around me, saying, should we hit him in the back puff

And that's their statement. And I gave up the film unwillingly. As Combs retold the events of that night under cross-examination

he stuck to the same story for the most part that he told under direct, that he never had a gun and never tried to bribe the driver to take the blame for the gun

After Combs left the stand, his defense and that of Anthony Jones rested

Next up will be the defense case for Jamal Shinebarrow. He's the man who was actually accused of doing the shooting inside the club on that night

The jury is expected to get the case next week. From Lower Manhattan, Mike Sheehan, Fox 5 News

Charges against Lopez were dropped and Puffy was acquitted. Shinebarrow, who was also at the club the night of the shooting, was convicted and sentenced to prison

Sean Puffy Combs and the man he argued with at Club New York allegedly wanted to kill each other

That's according to newly released court documents following Puffy's acquittal. Matthew Scar Allen claimed that Puffy wanted him dead to keep him from testifying

Puffy's attorney said it was Allen who plotted to kill Combs. Jamal Shine Barrow will have 10 years to think about making the wrong decision

The 21-year-old rapper was sentenced today for shooting a moony three people inside a packed Club New York back on December 27, 1999

Barrow was convicted while his co-defendants, Sean Puffy Combs and Anthony Wolf Jones, walked free

Natanya Rubin, who was shot in the face inside the club, called Barrow a coward

She says she suffers from daily headaches and seizures from the seven bullet fragments still lodged in her head

Shine's lawyer said he fired in self-defense. We were very disappointed with a 10-year sentence

I think Shine is a very unusual defendant, has so much to contribute, so much positive to contribute

especially to the community of young black males who need somebody who can deliver a message like him

It was a sentence within the guidelines. I do believe that it was a tad heavier than I thought would be imposed

I was hoping for a sentence in the realm of between seven and eight years

Assistant D.A. Matt Bogdanos wasted few words describing Barrow as a gun-toting braggart

who was anything but a role model for today's teenagers. Barrow quoted from scripture, reciting a psalm before apologizing to his victims

saying that he was sorry and never meant to hurt them. As he left court in shackles, he turned and said, I love you, Mom

New York state law requires that Barrow must spend a minimum of eight and a half years behind bars before he released and that provided he keeps his nose clean while upstate The judge defended his sentence by saying the victims of this crime must live with their scars for a lifetime From Lower Manhattan Mike Sheehan Fox 5 News

In 2003, now known as P. Diddy, the music and fashion mogul

ran the New York City Marathon to help city kids. All right, P. Diddy is passing the box, two million of them to be exact

He raised it in the New York City Marathon. A million of it is going to city schools. The other half will go to various children's charities

Mayor Bloomberg even made a deal with him for next year involving the school's chancellor

If you run it next year and raise another few million bucks, maybe I could get the chancellor to wear those earrings

Okay. By the way, he finished the marathon in about four hours and 15 minutes

He did. He got a lot of publicity with a lot of promises to give away millions

when he ran the marathon last year. But is he a deadbeat when it comes to dead presidents

Len Cannon has that one for you. Len? John, he did get a lot of publicity for running in the marathon. You're right about that

Some of the money has made its way to local charities, but not all that was promised

A million dollars was set aside for local schools. $333,000 was supposed to go to the Children's Hope Foundation

So far, the foundation has only gotten $150,000, and a half million has gone to the school system

But Combs, who is reportedly worth several hundred million dollars, says he'll hand over the rest of the cash when he gets proof the money is actually being used to help kids

The school's chancellor has no doubts Combs will deliver. He's paid some of the money. I expect to live up to his commitments to the schools

I have no reason to doubt that. He has contributed some of the money, and we look forward to getting the rest

The head of the Hope Children's Foundation says that he didn't think the money was given with any strings attached

but he went on to say that he can account for every penny. In 2004, P. Diddy took on Broadway and made his stage debut in A Raisin in the Sun

Well, you can call P. Diddy a lot of things. Rapper, producer, even marathon runner

Now the hip-hop mogul is doing Broadway. Fox 5's Lisa Evers is in Midtown, where he's getting set to make his stage debut tonight

Lisa. Rosanna, that's right. He is a multi-millionaire hip-hop mogul who made his fortune on music and a fashion empire

And now tonight, Sean Combs. Get used to that name, because that's the one he wants everyone using now

but also known as P. Diddy and Puff Daddy is making his Broadway stage debut

Advanced ticket sales for Raisin in the Sun at the Royale Theater are going through the roof

and have already hit $2.2 million. The play, an American classic, is about three generations of a family struggling together under the same roof

Raisin in the Sun, Audra McDonald, she's my favorite in the world, and I would love to see her

And Phyllisa Rayshard, who was The Cosby Show, love her and I can't wait to see it. It's going to be an amazing show

We caught up with Derek Gary, who is buying tickets to celebrate his birthday with his mother and wife

He can't wait to see how Puffy does on stage. This may be a little tough for him. This is tough right here

This is a lot of concentration, and I don't know if he's ready for that

He's great. I love his music. It's going to be different because he's more in the hip-hop world

and now he's doing Broadway, so we'll see how he does. I'm sure he's going to do a great job

And you can see all the excitement outside the theater right here, Coming up at 10, I'll bring you the latest and let you know what the audience thought of Sean Combs' performance

Reporting live from the Royale Theater in Times Square, Lisa Evers, Fox 5 News

It was shortly after his acquittal back in 2001, Puff Daddy decided to change his name to P. Diddy

But just a few years later in 2005, he made another change to his name

I'm here at MTV with none other than P. Diddy except one thing. He's no longer P. Diddy

We had to make an adjustment. The P was getting in the way of us

You know, it was an obstacle. Now it's just Diddy. Here at MTV Studios, I'm Lisa Evers, Fox 5 News

Not one to shy away from controversy, Diddy launched his new fragrance, Unforgivable

with some major department stores refusing to show the print ad featuring a scantily clad trio

Its mainstream release is still two weeks away, but already his cologne smells of controversy

Starting with this print ad, major department stores have refused to show it

saying this scantily clad trio is too racy. I guess that, you know, people's minds, you know, wandered a little bit

I think the ad was successful. It's something that you believe in so much and you're so right in

that you can't be forgiven for it. And that was the news then