Puff Daddy
The Bad Boy architect who helped Nas conquer the charts.
Puff Daddy—born Sean Combs—is a hip-hop mogul, producer, and artist who appears as a featured performer on Nas's third studio album *I Am...*, released April 6, 1999, by Columbia Records. He is featured on the single "Hate Me Now," which was produced by D-Moet, Pretty Boy, and The Trackmasters. The song became a Billboard Hot 100 hit and had a controversial music video directed by Hype Williams. Puff Daddy's contribution helped bridge Nas's street narratives with mainstream pop appeal, marking a key moment in the album's commercial push.
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Sean John Combs
- Birth Date
- 1969-11-04
- Birth Place
- New York City, U.S.
- Other Names
- Puffy · Puff · Puff Daddy · P. Diddy · Diddy · PD · Love · Brother Love
- Occupation
- Rapper · songwriter · record producer · entrepreneur · record executive · television producer · actor · dancer
- Years Active
- 1990–2024
- Works
- Discography · filmography · production
- Children
- 7, including Quincy, Justin, and King Combs
- Criminal Charges
- Transportation to engage in prostitution (2 counts)
- Criminal Penalty
- 50 months' incarceration (with time served) and $500,000 fine
- Criminal Status
- Incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Dix
- Partner
- Kimberly Porter (1994–2007) · Jennifer Lopez (1999–2001) · Cassie Ventura (2007–2018) · Yung Miami (2021–2024)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Puff Daddy's collaboration with Nas on *I Am...* centers on the single "Hate Me Now," a track that samples a version of O Fortuna from Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana." The song's music video, directed by Hype Williams, stirred controversy upon release. Puff Daddy's presence on the track added a layer of mainstream visibility, as the single charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
Reader's Guide
Puff Daddy's most notable collaboration with Nas on *I Am...* is the single "Hate Me Now," where he is a featured performer. The track was produced by D-Moet, Pretty Boy, and The Trackmasters, and samples O Fortuna from Carl Orff's "Carmina Burina." It became a Billboard Hot 100 hit and had a controversial music video directed by Hype Williams. For fans looking to explore this partnership, "Hate Me Now" remains the essential track—a fusion of Nas's storytelling and Puff Daddy's polished, radio-ready energy that defined late-90s East Coast hip-hop.
Did You Know?
- Puff Daddy appears on the single "Hate Me Now" from Nas's 1999 album *I Am...*, which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200.
- The music video for "Hate Me Now" was directed by Hype Williams and was controversial upon release.
- The song became a Billboard Hot 100 hit, helping drive the album's first-week sales of over 470,000 copies.
- Puff Daddy's collaboration with Nas on *I Am...* followed their earlier work together on the "Street Dreams" remix from Nas's 1996 album *It Was Written*.
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