Before we get into that, though, a massive grain of salt is in order. After all, The Game just spoke on Kendrick Lamar during a recent interview, claiming he wanted to sign him back in the day. Also, Jayceon Taylor ranked K.Dot above him on his best Los Angeles rappers list, and he has been very praiseful to the former TDE artist many times in the past.

Still, The Game’s solid relationship with Kendrick’s sworn rival Drake, plus a few battle-related discrepancies here and there, have fueled a lot of speculation that he actually dislikes Lamar or is going at him for whatever reason.

As for what’s new with this new mixtape, YoEqTV provided a few theories on Twitter. While there are some interesting interpretations and coincidences, at the end of the day, it’s very unlikely that any of these were intentional shots.

Read More: The Game & D Smoke Commend Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” As Tribute To L.A. Gang Culture

Did The Game Diss Kendrick Lamar?

Regardless, it’s interesting to try to connect the dots. For example, on “AmeriKKKa’s Nightmare,” The Game references Drake and complains about fake aspects of the game, but later makes a neutral reference to Dot and GNX. On “Chrome Hearts,” he raps about being the Los Angeles King and how “a n***a y’all thought was king ain’t gon’ do nothing about it.” Also, “Left Out” had YoEqTV comparing both Compton lyricists’ flows.

All in all, these connections are flimsy at best, and frankly, completely unfounded at worst. For one, there’s a shoutout to Dot on the track “Can I.” As such, The Game’s relationship with Kendrick Lamar seems as distantly respectful and inconsequential as it’s ever been. So folks calling for a back-and-forth or celebrating this attack might be getting ahead of themselves.

Fan Reactions

Then again, all of this could change very quickly. After all, if fanbases keep fueling the fire, a simple match might become a furnace. For now, file these diss rumors under “Reaches” and just enjoy the new mixtape.

Read More: The Game Admits N3on Checked His DMs To Girlfriend & Warns Adin Ross

The post The Game’s Fans Question Kendrick Lamar Diss Rumors From New Mixtape appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Per the outlet, this conversation was about his “impending arrest” and occurred as his federal case mounted up in the background. Someone whom the Bad Boy mogul purportedly paid to document his life recorded the interaction. Apparently, he wasn’t happy with his legal team for “losing” the case at that time

“I’m tired of going back and forth with y’all, with the lawyers,” Diddy told Agnifilo, who tried to push back. Nevertheless, Combs continued: “Let me tell you something. Let me say this. I’m not a referee. So I’ma get off the phone right now – listen to me. I’ma get off the phone right now, and I am going to let you professionals look at the situation and come back to me with a solution. No matter what nobody said. Y’all are not working together the right way. We’re losing.”

On the 2 Angry Men podcast, Harvey Levin and Mark Geragos theorized as to whether or not Marc Agnifilo might feel “betrayed” by Puff Daddy. This is because Puff allegedly recorded their conversation without letting him know about it. Geragos hasn’t talked to Agnifilo about it (they both have ties to Combs’ legal team), but he thinks he would be very mad if he was in that situation.

Read More: Diddy Sold Us The Mogul Myth

Diddy Allegedly Sent 50 Cent Flowers

Amid the drama over Sean Combs: The Reckoning itself, we will see if we get clarity on this matter. It seems like a small detail, but it could be a consequential one.

Elsewhere, 50 Cent thinks Diddy backhandedly celebrated his documentary. He claimed that his rival sent him a bouquet of flowers, although this is most likely a false claim. We will see what the next troll online is…

Read More: Everyone Who Appears in “Sean Combs: The Reckoning”

The post Diddy Allegedly Recorded Conversation With Case Lawyer Without Permission appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The shoes are expected to sell for between $500,000 and $700,000 before the auction closes on December 15, 2025, and the estimate makes sense. This is not just another game-worn pair. It is a forensic artifact, complete with an actual shard of the broken backboard still embedded in the left outsole.

These are the true origins behind the later “Shattered Backboard” colorways that flooded the market decades afterward. Those were tributes and this is the real thing.

Jordan handed the pair to Italian player Gianni Bertolotti after the game, and the shoes have been carefully preserved since, complete with photo-matching verification that ties them directly to the moment. For collectors, opportunities like this almost never appear.

It’s a physical snapshot from Jordan’s rookie era, carrying both historical weight and undeniable cultural value. With the auction live, all eyes now turn to how high the bidding climbs. Moments like this remind the sneaker world why Jordan’s legacy remains untouched.

Read More: Lil Yachty Reveals Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 “Sail” Ahead Of Potential Release

Air Jordan 1 “Shattered Backboard” Auction

The shoe features a worn white and red leather upper with clear aging throughout. The black Swoosh sits against cracked and softened panels that show real game use.

The collar has scuffs, creases, and visible discoloration. The midsole has yellowed with time, giving the pair a vintage look only natural wear can create. Black laces add contrast to the distressed leather tongue.

The outsole is stained from the court, and the left shoe contains a shard of glass embedded in the rubber. Every mark feels authentic, reminding you that these were used in an actual game by Michael Jordan.

Read More: First Look At 2026 Air Jordan 14 “Forest Green” Retro

The post Sotheby’s Auctions Jordan’s Backboard-Shattering Air Jordan 1 “Chicago” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

This colorway first dropped in 1993 and immediately became tied to Jordan’s run of dominance as well as his connection to pop culture through the original Space Jam era. The white leather, the playful red details, and the signature cross-straps helped define an entire generation of sneakers.

Every retro of the “Bugs Bunny” 8 brings new energy, but this one feels especially timely. Jordan Brand has been leaning into nostalgia throughout the year, and this pair is one of the most important icons from that early 90s lineup.

The sneaker’s mix of performance-driven design and cartoon-era personality made it a standout back then, and it still holds up today. With a release only two weeks away, demand is already rising.

The official images show a faithful execution of the original shape, colors, and textures, which is exactly what collectors want. This drop will be available in full family sizing, so expect a wide release with plenty of attention from both longtime fans and younger buyers who have only seen the pair through photos and old highlights.

Overall, the “Bugs Bunny” 8 has always been one of the most memorable Jordan models. Its return is a reminder of how great that era truly was.

Read More: Lil Yachty Reveals Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 “Sail” Ahead Of Potential Release

Air Jordan 8 “Bugs Bunny”

The Air Jordan 8 Bugs Bunny comes in white leather with soft grey accents. The straps sit across the upper and add that classic AJ8 look. Red hits appear on the strap hardware and the midsole.

The collar padding looks thick and comfortable and also the mudguard features the familiar brush-stroke pattern in red, black, and grey. The shoe sits on a white outsole with small grey sections.

Further, the tongue shows the colorful chenille Jumpman patch. The back of the shoe has a sculpted heel and a clean shape. Overall this pair feels bold, playful, and true to the original.

Air Jordan 8 “Bugs Bunny” Release Date

Nice Kicks reports that the Air Jordan 8 “Bugs Bunny” will be released on December 20th, 2025. Also, the retail price of the sneakers will be $210 when they drop.

Read More: First Look At 2026 Air Jordan 14 “Forest Green” Retro

The post Official Look At The Air Jordan 8 “Bugs Bunny” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

He has been represented the apex of Black cultural capital for decades. First as the Harlem-born exec with a golden ear, then as the platinum-selling artist, brand-builder, and self-appointed face of the remix era. He was the industry’s most visible success story, the mogul you couldn’t ignore. Sean Combs became the blueprint others chased.

Yet, beneath that shine sat a different story. It is one many in the industry had heard in whispers but never named aloud. Now, in 2025, the dam has broken. In the wake of multiple lawsuits, disturbing surveillance footage of domestic violence involving his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and allegations stretching back decades, Combs’s name no longer brings up only legacy. It evokes harm.

Read More: DJ Akademiks Wants To See Daphne Joy In 50 Cent’s New Diddy Docuseries

On December 2, Netflix released Sean Combs: The Reckoning, a four-part documentary from director Alexandria Stapleton and executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Diddy’s long time foe. It promised a wide lens on the allegations and on the man. Further, it examined the myth of the empire he constructed. Still, to understand how we got here, to this public collapse, you have to understand what Diddy built, and what it cost the people who helped him build it.

How Diddy Became An Empire

At some point in the mid-90s, Combs stopped being an executive and started becoming the moment. He’d already made his name at Uptown Records, carving out R&B that felt like it belonged to the streets and the runways at the same time. When Andre Harrell let him go, Combs built a brand with himself at the center.

Bad Boy was styled and precise. The artists have imprinted classics on our playlists. Every rollout felt aggressive, yet, not forced. Then there was Diddy, still Puff Daddy at the time, who was in every frame. His image was attached to the music and threaded into the business. He stood beside Biggie, over Total, behind 112, while pushing Danity Kane in front of the camera. Puff’s name came with the rhythm.

Read More: From Diddy To Weinstein: Sexual Misconduct Allegations Shaking Up Hip Hop & Hollywood

Later, what followed was scale. There was Sean John. Ciroc. Revolt. Making the Band. Fashion weeks, press runs, Forbes lists. The performances and music videos grew flashier and ambition became more public. Diddy wasn’t trying to build quietly. He branded his ambition, sold it back to us, then raised the price. In the process, he rewired how people thought about success in Hip Hop. It wasn’t just money, but ownership and control.

However, that control came with consequences. Some surfaced early with artists like The LOX and Mase pushing back against their contracts. Many others stayed quiet. Nevertheless, as Combs expanded the empire, few came forward to challenge how it was built. It was easier to believe in the story of the hustle and the parties and win. Maybe that was the point. If you kept the spotlight bright enough, nobody could see the cracks.

The Cost Of Who Was Left Behind

For all the celebration of what Diddy built, there’s always been a quieter conversation about what it cost, and who paid the price.

When reading the list of people who have called out harm against Combs, the names are familiar. Mase, one of Bad Boy’s most successful early artists, spent years publicly asking for the return of his publishing rights. The LOX had to fight their way out of contracts they called exploitative, even going on Hot 97 to call him out.

Further, Danity Kane crumbled under the weight of overexposure and underprotection. Day26. Dawn Richard. Cassie. There’s a long list of artists whose careers were shaped by Diddy’s machine, and often, they were left stalled inside of it. Then there are the people who never spoke at all.

Read More: 50 Cent Rants About Diddy & Cassie’s Explicit Pictures In Resurfaced Interview: Listen

Kim Porter, mother of three of his children, died in 2018 after a years-long on-and-off relationship that many said alleged was defined by control. In November 2023, Cassie filed a civil lawsuit accusing Combs of rape, abuse, and long-term coercion during their tumultuous relationship that lasted over a decade. They settled the suit within 24 hours.

Still, the stories didn’t stop because more lawsuits followed. Even more footage surfaced. Slowly, a record began to form that painted a very different picture from the myth of the charming mogul who just wanted to win.

Throughout it all, silence did its job. Those who worked with Diddy or were in his circle saw the signs. At the very least, they sensed the power dynamics, but said nothing. In Hip Hop, the proximity to Diddy meant a door to a new world. Walking away, if he was in pursuit of your partnership, allegedly could mean exile. That kind of control is managed and protected.

The Unraveling Of The Mogul Myth

The recent years may have been a life-changing era for Diddy, but for years, the myth held. Puff was an untouchable mogul with the world at his fingertips. The scandals didn’t stick. The criticism barely grazed him. He was too powerful, too charming, too embedded in the machinery of entertainment to ever truly be challenged. When his name came up in industry whispers or viral rumors, people lowered their voices. When it surfaced in lawsuits, they disappeared by morning.

However, the Cassie lawsuit in November 2023 was a turning point, not just because of the severity of the allegations, but because of how quickly others followed. The pattern became harder to ignore. Then came the footage, and next, the lawsuits multiplied. Then the silence started to break from people who had worked alongside him for years.

Read More: Diddy’s Ex Bodyguard Alleges He’s “Demonic” While Addressing Cassie’s Trial Testimony

The reckoning wasn’t just about one man. It was about the space he occupied at the intersection of celebrity capital, and culture. It asked real questions about who gets protected, how long power can shield someone, and what we allow ourselves to ignore in the name of “greatness.” Diddy wasn’t alone in that mythmaking. He was just one of the most visible examples.

Other men built similar empires—Russell Simmons, Kanye West, even Jay-Z to a more curated extent—but few mastered the art of public redemption the way Diddy did. He turned every scandal into a rebrand. Every critique morphed into a Ciroc commercial. The image always bounced back. Until now.

Read More: Former Bad Boy Artist Mark Curry Slams Diddy & JAY-Z With Getting Rich By Getting Over On Everyone Claim

What’s happening isn’t just a fall. It’s a refusal to keep up the illusion. Moreover, once a myth starts to unravel, what’s left behind is a question: What were we really looking at all along?

The Reckoning: What Now?

It’s easy to call this a reckoning, but the truth is slower than that. Empires don’t fall in a day. Legacies don’t vanish on impact. This isn’t just about Diddy. It’s about the industry that surrounded him. The writers who didn’t report it. The executives who signed off. The collaborators who stayed quiet. The audience that looked away. You don’t build a myth alone.

Read More: The Notorious B.I.G. Was Allegedly Preparing To Leave Diddy & Bad Boy Prior To His Death

What The Reckoning offers, or what it seems to demand, is a pause. We’re not just to reconsider one man’s legacy, but to ask why it took so long for this story to be heard. Further, what it says about us that it took a Netflix documentary to make it louder.

Because the truth is, the damage was always there. We just kept dancing around it.

[via][via][via]

The post Diddy Sold Us The Mogul Myth appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The photo was reposted by Levi’s collab lead Leo Gamboa, which all but confirms that the shoe is real and part of an upcoming rollout. With rumors pointing toward a Spring 2026 release, the anticipation is already building.

The Jordan 3 has always been a strong canvas for collaborations, and Levi’s has a proven record with Jordan Brand after the iconic denim-based 4s. This new “Sail” version leans into a softer, more neutral look.

Instead of heavy denim, the upper uses a cream canvas with frayed edges and subtle texture changes. It feels more wearable and more modern than past Levi’s collabs, and the touches of red on the heel add just enough contrast to give the shoe personality.

If this pair does release in 2026, it could easily become one of the most sought-after Jordan 3s of the year. Levi’s fans will want it and Jordan collectors will want it too. And casual sneakerheads who just want a clean everyday pair will want it too. Yachty’s preview was the spark, and now everyone is waiting for the official details.

Read More: First Look At 2026 Air Jordan 14 “Forest Green” Retro

Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 “Sail” Release Date

The Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 “Sail” features a cream canvas upper. The material has a soft texture with light fraying near the toe. The midsole comes in a clean off-white shade.

Also the heel features a bright red panel with a bold Air Jordan logo and the collar and tongue use smooth white fabric. The outsole is a gum color that adds warmth.

Further, stitching across the shoe keeps the look simple. The overall design definitely feels clean and easy to wear.

Sneaker Bar Detroit reports that the Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 will be released in the spring of 2026. Also, the retail price of the sneakers will be announced closer to when they are released.

Read More: Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Banned” Receives 2026 Release Date

The post Lil Yachty Reveals Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 “Sail” Ahead Of Potential Release appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“Yeah, it got to be,” he remarked, as caught by CY Chels on Twitter. “I’m a fair n***a, bro. Kendrick’s Super Bowl was the moment of the year. Not only did it break all the records for the Super Bowl – yes, I get it, it was championed around hate, this, that, and the third. But everybody wanted to watch that moment to see if this n***a was going to still say these things in light of a lawsuit. He did. We got to be honest, bro.”

“I got to be honest, I remember the chicken wing I was eating when that s**t came on,” the commentator and journalist told Wayno. “I remember everything down to the performance. And I remember sitting there speechless watching him on the screen really popping it. I think that was, to me, the moment of the year.”

Wayno agreed, remarking that Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s battle provided a wild road up to that point. “Kendrick is good at moments,” DJ Akademiks added. “When he dropped ‘Control’… It’s important when you make moments. He’s good at that.”

Read More: Sounwave Reveals Kendrick Lamar Started ‘GNX’ Right After ‘Mr. Morale’ And Recorded Up To 100 Songs

DJ Akademiks’ Kendrick Lamar Criticisms

DJ Akademiks’ past criticisms of Kendrick Lamar have sometimes been about the artist, and at other times about the fandom. For example, he recently called out fan pages on Twitter who purportedly claim to be Kendrick fans from the United States but are actually based in other countries.

DJ Akademiks’ Drake support against Kendrick Lamar is also apparent via direct comparison. The reporter recently claimed that Drizzy aims to take over Lamar’s worldwide tour record with his ICEMAN album. We’ll see whether or not that pans out, and if Akademiks has more rare praise for Kendrick.

Read More: DJ Akademiks Reveals Why He Told Drake To Leave Kendrick Lamar Alone

The post DJ Akademiks Gives “Moment Of The Year” To Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The California rapper told DJ Vlad about how his exes Chrisean Rock and Jaidyn Alexis were visiting him in prison. “They was coming in the beginning,” he explained. Then, Vlad brought up Chrisean Rock’s face tattoo of Blueface and asked what his thoughts were.

“She was dope. She was holding it down in the beginning, honestly,” he expressed. “To the point where I became hella dependent of her. And I even got her name tatted, you feel me? But I got to cover it up… She ain’t even get to see it. She’ll never see it. I got a Bentley sign but with a C [to cover it up].”

Read More: Jaidyn Alexis Claims Blueface Tried To Take Her “Baddies” Check Amid Prison Stay

Blueface’s Face Tattoos

Then, DJ Vlad asked about Blueface’s other face tattoos he got in prison, and he broke them down. There’s a paper plane because he’s “fly,” an MLB logo because he’s “slid before,” a YSL logo associated with the School Yard Crips, the Chase Bank logo (“I chase bank, bank with Chase”), a Washington Nationals logo because “my hood is on Washington,” poker chips to represent high-stakes gambling, sergeant stripes to flex his status, and “No Warning Shots” as a reference to prison rules.

Blue also explained that he got a tattoo write-up for getting new ink in jail, which inmates are not supposed to do. Still, he revealed that an inmate with a tattoo gun would go into people’s cells and provide that service.

Meanwhile, Blueface revealed he will remove his face tattoos only under one condition: if his daughter doesn’t approve. “Most important girl in my life if she say she don’t like my tattoos that would be only way I’d even consider removing,” he wrote on social media. Given all the conversation around the new ink and the prison release as a whole, this should be curious to see for fans.

Read More: Blueface Breaks Up Fight Between His Mom & His New Girlfriend Nevaeh Akira

The post Blueface Explains Meanings Behind His Prison Face Tattoos appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

This quickly went viral, especially as Ray said that his sister hadn’t approved of his remarks towards Beyoncé and her husband. But according to Bossip, Monica somewhat cleared the air and responded to the whole thing in a funny way during their Atlanta concert on Thursday (December 4).

In a clip caught by @4everRnbGenius on Twitter, you can see the singer take a pause to address the situation somewhat indirectly. “Before we leave here, I am going to take Ray J’s phone,” she said, making the crowd laugh. “Give me your phone, Ray. Ray, give me your phone…” Monica reached into the front row onstage, taking the phone before continuing: “Thank you for your phone, thank you. We love you, Ray J. No, y’all make some noise for Ray J. He’s not just Brandy’s brother, but he’s my brother. And all he does… He means well.” The two R&B stars laughed onstage after the moment.

Read More: Ray J & Princess Love’s Relationship Never Escaped Chaos

Ray J & Monica’s Relationship

For those unaware, Ray J and Monica’s friendly relationship has had its fair share of ups and downs. For example, last year, he apologized to her for urging her to tour with Brandy, which is now ironic to look back on. “Monica, if I said anything wrong I apologize,” Ray expressed. “You are a great artist, you and Brandy have made history together, and all I want to do is just kind of shake it up a little bit to get y’all to see that.”

Also, here’s what Ray J said about Jay-Z and Beyoncé. “N***as need to pull up when they pull up to the show,” he shared in a social media clip. “Come on, say ‘What’s up’ to Brandy. Jay-Z and Beyoncé, for y’all to come to every show and not speak to B? I don’t like that. […] I love you, Jay, and I love you, Bey. Y’all the two biggest stars in the world.”

Elsewhere, Ray’s dealing with much heavier trouble. He was arrested after a domestic dispute with his former partner Princess Love, facing accusations of pulling a gun on her and their daughter.

Read More: Brandy Explains Abrupt Ending To Chicago Concert With Monica

The post Monica Snatches Ray J’s Phone Mid-Show After Beyonce & Jay-Z Rant appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

However, what gives the docuseries power isn’t just the behind-the-scenes forces but those who stepped in front of the camera with the courage to share their stories. A lot of them worked with Diddy in some capacity, having uncovered some of his more sinister ways intimately and covering up the trails. It’s quite the exposé that threads the patterns from his upbringing to Uptown Records, establishing Bad Boy, and eventually, his RICO trial that concluded earlier this year. And it wouldn’t be the case had it not included childhood friends and colleagues to employees, and collaborators. 

Below is a breakdown of everyone who’s appeared in the documentary, from forgotten Bad Boy co-founder to the jurors who decided on Diddy’s fate. 

Erick Sermon (EPMD)

Erick Sermon’s role in the narration of this docuseries highlights Diddy’s early days in the music industry, but more specifically, one of the earliest tragedies associated to his name. Sermon discussed his relationship with Misa Hylton, but more importantly, the celebrity basketball game at City College of New York in 1991, where a stampede killed nine people, took place. That specific incident sparked massive news coverage and, as Sermon explained, “how [Combs] got super-famous. That’s the beginning of Puff Daddy.” But it’s a moment in the docuseries that marks the starting point of controversy and tragedy in Diddy’s career. 

Read More: Diddy’s Ex Bodyguard Makes Bold Claim About 50 Cent’s Documentary Footage

Kirk Burrowes (Bad Boy Co-Founder)

Kirk Burrowes was Puff Daddy’s longtime business partner and co-founder of Bad Boy Entertainment. In the documentary, Burrowes details his dealings with Diddy and the alleged shady business practices that took place behind the scenes at Bad Boy. His role underscored his own complicity in how Diddy’s business and personal affairs would collide with each other, and his allegations were far more intimate than most others included in the documentary, especially as it pertained to much of the mythology around Diddy. He made revelations that made Diddy complicit in the murders of Tupac and Biggie, along with how he handled finances. Perhaps one of Burrowes’ wilder claims here is that Diddy not only prevented Biggie from leaving Los Angeles before an international press run which would’ve saved his life, but also made Biggie’s funeral a recoupable cost in his contract–a claim that has since been denied. Burrowes explains that he ran Bad Boy’s budgets and even managed much of Combs’s personal finances, keeping exhaustive journals of every transaction, excerpts of which are shown in the docuseries. 

“From Day Zero, I wrote everything down, every day, so I could keep track of everything I needed to do,” said Burrowes. “I ran all the money, all the budgets for the company, as well as a lot for his personal life, and all that came with it.”

He alleges that as Combs grew more powerful, he became increasingly jealous and manipulative. In one clip, Burrowes describes how Combs was “insanely jealous of Biggie and ’Pac’s friendship”, and he repeatedly warns that “with Sean, sometimes you’re humiliated… Sometimes violent things happen to you.” Overall, Burrowes’s interview paints a picture of Bad Boy’s formative years as increasingly controlled by Combs’s personal agenda.

Greg Kading (Retired LAPD Detective)

Greg Kading is a former Los Angeles detective who was part of a task force to solve gang crimes, including the murder of Tupac Shakur. His investigations explored Diddy’s alleged connection to the Crips and their relation to the death of Tupac. However, it also looked deeper at the connections that Diddy had with Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the uncle of the alleged shooter Orlando Anderson, who claimed that Combs announced that he would give “anything” for Tupac and Knight’s death with a bounty of upwards of $1M. Diddy has always denied any accusations surrounding any involvement in Tupac’s death. However, Kading’s testimony in this, including suggesting that “Keffe D and Puffy Combs are the last men standing” in the case, taps into a theory that many have pondered over the years. 

D1 (Former Mansfield Crips Member)

“D1” is a former gang member affiliated with the Mansfield Crips. His background helps tie together his insights into Combs’ connection to Los Angeles’ gangs and the street networks that stood behind him, whether it’s the relationship he had with the Crips or even his alleged “uncle” who is said to be a Harlem drug lord. 

William Lesane (Cousin of Tupac Shakur)

Lesane, Tupac’s cousin, appears in Episode 2 as someone with deep insight into Tupac’s relationship with Biggie and Diddy. He recalls arriving at New York’s Quad Studios on the night Tupac was shot (in 1994) and seeing Combs on the scene. Lesane urges viewers to “look at the facts,” noting ominously that “Puff is there. Pac has been shot in New York under [his] watch.” Ultimately, he ties together some of the behind-the-scenes details that he suggests might implicate him in that scenario. Again, Diddy has always denied involvement in Tupac’s shooting, but Lesane’s appearance adds a more personal layer to Kading’s claims.

Derrick Parker (NYPD)

In Episode 2, the film also includes commentary from Derrick Parker, the NYPD’s original “hip hop cop,” who worked on New York cases in the 1990s. Parker discusses various New York controversies involving Combs and how he often was assigned to said issues surrounding Puff. This includes the incident involving Steve Stoute and much of the more violent and contentious cases surrounded Diddy’s name in the late 90s.

Mark Curry (Former Bad Boy artist)

One of Diddy’s most vocal critics over the years has been Mark Curry, one of Bad Boy’s earliest artists. What Curry provides throughout the entirety of the doc sheds light on what it was allegedly like being signed to Diddy, and especially witnessing his rise as a solo artist following Biggie’s death. His testimony provides insight into some of Diddy’s business dealings with artists, but also how his production credits and creative output relied on others.

Read More: 50 Cent Believes Diddy Sent Him A Bouquet As A Warning Shot For Documentary

Al. B Sure (Uptown Records artist)

Al B. Sure has made several allegations against Diddy, and that’s especially true after the death of Kim Porter, who is the mother of Al. B’s son Quincy. His testimony here proves integral to diving into Diddy’s early days as an intern at Uptown Records, and his pattern of trying to take other men’s women, which he similarly did with Erick Sermon, and later attempted with Suge Knight in Atlanta. Al B. Sure’s appearance has been one that many anticipated ever since his hospitalization a few years back, though his contributions do not delve into recent rumors and allegations.

Roxanne Johnson (Ex-Wife Of Craig Mack)

Roxanne Johnson, who was married to Bad Boy rapper Craig Mack, appears in the documentary as well. She provided interesting insight into not only Mack’s dealings with Diddy and Bad Boy but also the conversations he had with Suge Knight about joining Death Row East.  Though brief, the interview involving Johnson was one of the rare moments where we heard from the spouses of the Bad Boy signees and how Diddy’s supposed decisions and handling of his artists had bigger impacts on their households. 

Read More: Diddy Documentaries To Revisit After Watching “Sean Combs: The Reckoning”

Aubrey O’Day (Danity Kane)

Former Danity Kane frontwoman Aubrey O’Day (who got her start on Making the Band 3 under Combs) in the documentary. Her on-screen segment is one of the buzzed-about parts of the series. O’Day says she was sexually harassed and possibly assaulted during her time in Bad Boy. She recounts receiving an affidavit from another alleged victim who claimed to have witnessed Combs and a man assaulting O’Day at Bad Boy’s studio while she was “out of it”

In the documentary, a dazed O’Day looks at the camera in tears and asks, “Does this mean I was raped?… I don’t even know if I was raped.” The filmmakers also show sexually explicit emails Combs allegedly sent to her. For example, O’Day reads aloud a lewd email (confronting the camera with shock): “I don’t wanna just fuck you. I wanna turn you out… I can see you being with some motherfucker that you tell what to do. I make my woman do what I tell her to do, and she loves it”. O’Day also says that she was ultimately dismissed from Danity Kane for refusing to participate sexually, hinting that her exit from the group was tied to rejecting Combs’s advances.

Kalenna Harper (Diddy – Dirty Money member)

Episode 3 also features Kalenna Harper, a singer-songwriter who performed with Diddy as one-third of the R&B trio Diddy – Dirty Money (2009–2012). Harper offers a vivid portrait of Combs’s work habits and drug use during the 2010s. She describes what she calls Diddy’s “14-day cycle”: he would stay awake for two weeks straight, fueled by lavish amounts of cocaine, to enter a “motherfuckin’ zone” of creativity. Harper recalls that during those stints, Combs would spearhead nonstop studio sessions and photo shoots under the influence – to the point that she quips “he didn’t want to go to sleep.” Her interview uses behind-the-scenes footage of Dirty Money working in the studio as she speaks. 

Clayton Howard (Former Sex Worker)

Clayton Howard, a Houston-based escort, appears in the docuseries. He has already become one of the most sensational sources from the series. Howard says he was hired (via a now-famous Las Vegas event known as a “freak off”) to participate in elaborate, four-day, drug-fueled sexual marathons that he alleged Combs organized on the anniversary of Biggie’s death. He explains that Combs held one of these orgies every year on March 9 (the date Biggie was killed). As Howard chillingly puts it, Diddy would spend the anniversary “calling me up” to come to the big party. Howard also alleges Diddy would get jealous and violent at times with Cassie. 

Read More: 50 Cent Goes Off On Diddy And Reveals Why He Made “Sean Combs: The Reckoning”

“Brooklyn Babs” (Babs Chula, Member Of Da Band)

Da Band’s Brooklyn “Babs” Chula, a contestant on Making the Band and member of the early-2000s boy band Da Band, also appears in the documentary. Her appearance provides more context for Diddy’s rise as an MTV personality and the 2000s iteration of Bad Boy, where he created groups on the MTV series to sign.

Members of Day26 (Brian Andrews, Willie Taylor, Robert Curry, Qwanell “Que” Mosley) 

Several former contestants from Making the Band 4 (the group Day26) also appear in Episode 3. Que Mosley, Brian Andrews, Willie Taylor, and Robert Curry were all signed by Combs in 2009 as the R&B group Day26. 

Joi Dickerson-Neal (Sexual Assault Accuser)

Joi Dickerson-Neal plays a central role in the documentary as one of his accusers who’ve stepped forward publicly. In 2023, Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit claiming that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Combs (alleging he also filmed the assault). Dickerson-Neal says she felt inspired to come forward once fellow singer Cassie Ventura accused Combs. “I felt very sad for her, but it was also validation to know I’m not the only one,” she explains on camera. 

She recounts how she eventually confronted Combs after learning rumors of a secretly filmed tape, and that he vehemently denied doing “this thing” to her. In emotional clips (Episode 4) she tearfully vows she’s “no longer going to be embarrassed” and will “stand up” to tell her story. 

Capricorn Clark (Former Assistant Bad Boy)

Capricorn Clark was Combs’s assistant and later a creative director at Bad Boy Entertainment (Episode 4). She has also testified at Combs’s trial, telling jurors that at one point Combs had kidnapped her and threatened her life as part of the Kid Cudi/Cassie episode. In The Reckoning, Clark reflects on her traumatic experiences and how badly the trial felt skewed. She notes that watching the jury deliberate was surreal: “I’m watching them… I think they all kinda had a like for Puff,” she says. “They were starstruck.” Clark adds that she felt none of her testimony “really got believed” by jurors. 

Roger Bonds

Another critical part of Diddy’s inner circle is Roger Bonds, who has been on a string of interviews since the allegations first emerged. Bonds’ role in this docuseries allowed him to provide critical insight into Diddy’s day-to-day activity, along with his relationship with women, such as Kim Porter and Cassie.

Jurors 75 & 160 (Combs Trial Jury Members)

One part of the documentary that really sets it apart from other docs on the subject is that it includes two members of the jury opening up about what happened during the trial. One of the jurors said she became convinced that Diddy “can be” violent, as evidenced in the hotel video involving Cassie, though Diddy wasn’t charged with domestic violence, so they could not find him guilty of that. Another juror explained that he had “zero knowledge” of Cassie and Diddy’s relationship. He said that they were “two people in love” with a complicated dynamic between them.

Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones (Producer)

Another one of the most anticipated interviews in this documentary is from Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who produced songs on Love: The Album. His appearance marked one of the first times he opened up this candidly about the lawsuit he filed against Diddy in 2023. Here, he discusses working with Diddy creatively, but also reiterates some of Diddy’s alleged devious behavior behind the scenes. He provided more insight into Diddy’s drug habits and the supposed “freak-offs.” In one part of the doc, he also dives into an incident where gunshots were fired in a bathroom.

The post Everyone Who Appears in “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.