The Black Hole Known As Bad Boy Records

By June 15, 2009 1:52 pm

For more than a decade now, it’s been clear that when it comes to starting and then rapidly ending people’s music careers, Sean Combs can’t stop, won’t stop.

The Diddy Curse. The Bermuda Triangle of Hip-Hop. The Black Hole.

What happens to artists who sign with Bad Boy Records has many different names, but the story is always the same: Diddy discovers (or manufactures) some promising new musical act. They record a breakout hit, and of course the producer is all up in the video. The poor saps get one, maybe two hits more, and then vanish. All America is left with is Diddy. A few notable names got away relatively safely: The LOX, Mase, Faith Evans, Mary J. Blige. But in honor of Black Music Month, here’s a look at those artists who got sucked into The Black Hole known as Bad Boy Records and were pretty much never seen or heard from again.

Hits From Disappeared Bad Boy Artists

“Let’s Get It” – G. Dep

“I Wish” – Carl Thomas

“Whoa” – Black Rob

“Can’t You See” – Total

“Flava In Ya Ear” – Craig Mack

“Damaged” – Danity Kane

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Comments (170)

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  • 7-6-2009 6:50 pm

    I don’t understand either, Puff led many of those artist to the water,the rest is up to them to be able to piggy back off of the publicity,It is very funny how they blame Puffy 100% for there success.I guess it is easy for people to point there finger and criticize,but until you are able to do half of what that dude”Puff” does then all you have is an opinion!….”Do not be so quick to judge….try putting out over 10 groups,and see if you can make all of them 10 “Top Sellers” forever……

  • 7-1-2009 6:21 pm

    Kain Cioffie, has a new video up on YouTube talking about what happened to him at Bad Boy Records, “Letter To Puff.” He tries to ’set the record straight’ about what happened and Diddy’s alleged broken promises to him. Sounds about right…

  • 6-30-2009 8:41 pm

    it’s hilarious how convenient it is to blame Puff, not saying he’s innocent by any means. BUT the music biz is a DIRTY game. i know from 1st hand knowledge, a lot of former Bad Boy artists, are lazy as hell and do NOTHING to promote their careers. as an artist, you should always PROMOTE YOURSELF. second, get good representation(lawyer, agent, publicist) 3rd. GRIND LIKE YOU ARE UNSIGNED… never stop working. hell Puff is actually a good person to watch on that end. dude is mega rich, and still working his ass off, and he knows how to promote himself. how many of those artists did you see on tour??? damn near NONE… TOURING BRINGS DOLLARS that doesn’t always make it back to a label… if you ain’t willing to grind, then you doomed to fail. quit blaming your label for what you can do for yourself…

  • 6-26-2009 9:24 am

    I’m not surprised

  • 6-22-2009 4:36 pm

    Of all the artist mentioned,how many do yall think had potential to do more than they did?? I think most of them had their moment in the light..Its business..You cant keep putting money into someone thats not making you money,thats not smart..Im not saying he hasnt done some scandolous things,im just saying most of them had their run.. And if he really didnt help g.dep get off dope,he just wrong…

  • 6-21-2009 9:46 pm

    I heard G-Dep got strung out on dope and Diddy wouldnt help him. I recently saw him on some battle rap show, he looked strung out and needless to say he got killed in the battle.

    So is that how you help out your people Diddy? Wow.

  • 6-19-2009 2:55 pm

    everytime diddy sign folks dey blow up den dissapear. he signed biggie and he was the only one who was actually worth listening to. really i think its diddy, he rippin people off im thinking

  • 6-19-2009 12:48 pm

    I don’t know why it took so long for this story to be told. Diddy works with artist then once they stop selling he kicks them to the curb. I know everything is not Diddy’s fault, cause the artist have responsibilites as well. But this has happened too many times on his label. He’s the biggest star at BadBoy.

  • 6-19-2009 9:36 am

    The phrases “on your fall from grace you see everyone you stepped on to get to the top/ you reap what you sow”
    Diddy should take note from the many rich and famous before him who have made their way back to the poor house. Your never to big to fail, right GM,Chrysler?

  • 6-19-2009 6:01 am

    Correction: disses women of his own skin color.

  • 6-19-2009 5:00 am

    I knew it all along! When i said it, nobody wanted to hear it. Now look, how many artists from bad boy are out now? NONE, well except for cassie. Where’s Cheri Dennis, Young City A.K.A. Chopppa, and now Young Joc career is over, unless he moves to another label. The next to go after Danity Kane will be…… Day 26!
    All puffy is known as is a career killing, non singing or rapping (stop jumping in everyone’s s**t! People are tired of hearing you) ass, light skinned lover who disses people with his skin color!
    I.E: The ciroc company that he own 50% of. He *supposedly* wrote an e-mail stating that he didn’t want dark skinned women in his Ciroc commerical. Don’t you think when you’re selling a product to mainstream that prefence should not be a factor?
    On the real, i miss total, they were the s**t!

  • 6-19-2009 2:09 am

    damn puff try to get Shyne out of prison pull those golden strings lol!!!!

  • 6-18-2009 8:45 pm

    Puff is a genius. He’s the ultimate promoter! He uses these artist to promote his brand “bad boy” and disposes of them once they are no longer useful. He’s pimpin these young fools and getting richer in the process…lol

  • 6-18-2009 11:41 am

    I don’t know, i mean i remember “Making The Band”2 or 3, when he put “Da Band” on. They had much potential, can’t blame him totally for that one! I miss them though!

  • 6-17-2009 1:38 pm

    Dame-another girls group by Diddy was tight also and gone. How We Roll.

    i agree with the comment made by mslovely(6/17, 12:29) Diddy made them.

  • 6-17-2009 1:32 pm

    puffy a career killa aka b***h ni**a

  • 6-17-2009 1:05 pm

    Puffy is a b***h…Shyne, Black Rob to Total…those were all decent artists ..well Shyne that was more of his fault but still…Puffy getting away with too much s**t in the Industry and needs a good smack to the face…where is Maino when u need em? haha..

  • 6-17-2009 12:56 pm

    I have BEEN talking about this Diddy/Career Destroyer thing since day one! I need to read Mark Curry’s book, but I do need to say that when that girl group “Dream” was hot, they were showcased on Cribs, and they were sleeping on BUNK BEDS! In the same room! In their house! You couldn’t give them enough money for separate beds?

    And where has Cheri Dennis been?

  • 6-17-2009 12:52 pm

    all you hipocrites are lying. get a fuggin life.

  • 6-17-2009 12:29 pm

    In all fairness it’s not like these artist had booming careers and came to bad boy and their career died. For the most part Diddy made them hot. He must be doing something right.

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