Bad Boy Records
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2025) |
| Bad Boy Entertainment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | Kirk Burrowes, Sean Combs |
| Status | Active |
| Distributors | Epic (2015–2022) Interscope (2009–2015) Atlantic (2005–2009) Rhino (2005 – present; back catalog only) Universal (2003–2005) Arista (1993–2002) |
| Genre | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | New York City, U.S. |
Bad Boy Entertainment, doing business as Bad Boy Records,[1][2] is an American record label founded by Kirk Burrowes and Sean Combs. The first signee, Craig Mack, gained significant commercial success after the release of his 1994 single "Flava In Ya Ear". The label then signed other hip-hop and R&B acts, including Faith Evans, Mase, 112, Total, the Lox, Shyne, and Carl Thomas. At its peak in 1997, Bad Boy was worth an estimated $100 million. During the 2000s, Bad Boy Records signed several notable artists, including French Montana, Machine Gun Kelly, Janelle Monáe, and Cassie Ventura.
In 2023, Combs founded a successor label, Love Records, to independently release his fifth studio album, The Love Album: Off the Grid, in September of that year.[3][4][5]
History
[edit]Beginnings
[edit]After his climb from an unpaid internship to an artists and repertoire executive at Uptown Records, Sean Combs was fired in 1993 by Andre Harrell and soon founded his own label, Bad Boy Records, taking with him his artist the Notorious B.I.G. With leverage from his success at Uptown, Combs negotiated a $10-15 million deal with BMG Music's Arista Records, then headed by Clive Davis.[6][7] The label's first release was "Flava in Ya Ear" by Craig Mack, followed quickly by Mack's debut album, Project Funk da World in 1994. On the heels of these releases came "Juicy" and Ready to Die, the lead single and debut album from the Notorious B.I.G., released the same year. Mack's album went Gold and Ready to Die multi-platinum. Dominating the charts in 1995, the Notorious B.I.G. became one of the genre's biggest names and Bad Boy's premier star. Also in 1995, the label had platinum releases by Total and Faith Evans. It had a bevy of in-house writer/producers,[8] including Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, and D-Dot—each of whom is credited on a bulk of Bad Boy's releases during this time.
Feud with Death Row Records and loss of the Notorious B.I.G.
[edit]The rapid success of Bad Boy and the Notorious B.I.G. raised some tension, especially with the Beverly Hills, California-based Death Row Records. For three years leading up to 1995, West Coast hip-hop, dominated by labels such as Death Row, had been preeminent in mainstream rap. Death Row CEO Suge Knight held Combs responsible for the shooting death of his friend Jake Robles, allegedly at the hands of Combs's bodyguard Anthony "Wolf" Jones. The tension heightened when Death Row signed Tupac Shakur, who alleged that Bad Boy, notably the Notorious B.I.G. and Combs, had been complicit in his November 1994 shooting at Quad Studios in Times Square.
After the June 1996 release of 2Pac's "Hit 'Em Up", smearing Bad Boy, tensions escalated. Shakur was shot in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 7 and died on September 13. Bad Boy issued a statement of condolences. On March 9, 1997, while Bad Boy was preparing the release of the Notorious B.I.G.'s double album Life After Death, he was killed in Los Angeles, California. Their deaths left many to speculate that the coastal hostility had been responsible for their deaths. The police investigations were criticized by public and judicial sources. Both cases remain officially unsolved.
Life after the Notorious B.I.G. and rebuilding the label
[edit]Posthumously, Biggie's Life After Death reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Its first two singles, "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money, Mo Problems" also topped the singles charts. The album is one of the highest-selling rap albums ever in the U.S., selling over 10 million copies.
In 1996, Combs began recording his solo debut album. The first single, "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down", peaked at number one on the hip-hop, R&B, and pop charts that spring. In response to the Notorious B.I.G.'s death, the label rush-released Combs's tribute song, "I'll Be Missing You", which features Biggie's widow, Faith Evans, and Bad Boy's R&B group 112. The single topped the charts for 11 weeks and became the second single from Combs's album, No Way Out, which was released in July 1997. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart with over 560,000 copies sold in its first week, and seven million altogether. It features appearances by Mase, the Lox, and Carl Thomas, and introduced Bad Boy signee Black Rob.
Mase, Combs's newest protégé, was thrust into the void the Notorious B.I.G. left. His debut album, Harlem World (1997), went quadruple platinum. Due to the successes of Life After Death, No Way Out, and Harlem World, by the end of 1997 Bad Boy as a label and brand name had hit a commercial peak. It began to promote its latest signing, the hip-hop group the Lox, which had prominently featured on various Bad Boy releases that year.
Bad Boy found success with the Lox. In January 1998, it released the group's debut album, Money, Power & Respect, to commercial success. It debuted within the top three on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum. The album was executive produced by Combs and Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, and features guest appearances by Combs and Carl Thomas. That year, Combs expanded Bad Boy's roster to genres other than hip-hop and R&B, signing Fuzzbubble as its first rock act.[9] The group appeared on the rock remix of Puff Daddy's "It's All About the Benjamins" but parted ways with the label before releasing a full-length album.[10]
In the following years, Bad Boy declined commercially. In 1999, Mase became religious and abruptly retired from the business, leaving a serious dent in the company, especially since his second album had just been released. Bad Boy found some success with Shyne, a young rapper from Brooklyn, who received generally mixed reviews for his deep voice and slow flow—which many considered too reminiscent, and perhaps a ripoff, of the Notorious B.I.G. Combs's later albums failed to generate the same acclaim his debut had.
In an attempt to further market himself, he underwent several name changes, from "Puff Daddy" to "Puffy" to "P. Diddy" to "Diddy" to "Diddy- Dirty Money". But with the split of the group, he returned to "Diddy".
In June 1999, it was reported that Clive Davis and Arista had given Combs a $50 million advance on future earnings in 1998, but Bad Boy only generated around $30 million in 1999.[11]
In the early 2000s, Bad Boy noticeably floundered. Many of its more popular acts left, while those that stayed saw their album sales dwindle. Despite continually releasing new material and various attempts to build artists of the status of the Notorious B.I.G., few proved as successful as the company hoped. Bad Boy had success in 2000 with Black Rob, a New York City rapper who began associating with Bad Boy in 1996. His album Life Story was released through Bad Boy on March 27, 2000, debuted in the top three on the Billboard 200, and was certified platinum.
On June 20, 2002, it was confirmed that Combs and Bad Boy had parted ways with Arista. Combs walked away with ownership of Bad Boy's catalogue and recording roster.[12] Around this time, Combs began overseeing the MTV's Making The Band 2, a reality music show about the development of a group act. Making the Band 2's three seasons focused on Combs's new group, Bad Boy's Da Band.
In January 2003, Combs and Bad Boy entered talks with The Warner Music Group's Elektra Records about Elektra possibly housing Bad Boy for a reported $10 million,[13] but the deal fell through. On February 6, 2003, it was confirmed that Bad Boy had signed a distribution deal with The Universal Music Group's Universal Records. Under its terms, Combs retained 100% of the company and Universal would handle distribution and provide marketing and promotional support.[14] In September 2003, Bad Boy's Da Band released its debut studio album, Too Hot for TV. The group's exposure on MTV helped the album secure a Gold certification by the RIAA.
Southern rap duo 8Ball & MJG released an album called Living Legends to some success in 2004, prompting the creation of Bad Boy South, which eventually housed acts such as Yung Joc. The label also signed the rapper Aasim, whose Bad Boy debut album has never been released.
By January 2005, Bad Boy began clashing with Universal Records. It is alleged that the tension between the labels stemmed from Combs's belief that Universal had not done enough to market its music, while Universal refused to offer more money until Bad Boy produced more hit records. Though Bad Boy's contract with Universal was set to expire in 2006, Combs began talking to other record labels, in particular The Warner Music Group and Sony Music's Columbia Records, for distribution.[15]
Resurgence
[edit]In 2005, the company formed a joint venture with Warner Music Group (WMG). This saw WMG become the worldwide distributor of the company’s back catalog of classic hits, and take 50% equity in Bad Boy Entertainment.[16] Combs, however, retained joint control over the label and could buy back his equity stake at a later date.
Bad Boy would also see its fortunes improve in 2005,[17] with the success of releases from new signees: Cassie and Yung Joc (both of whom would score top-five singles/debut albums). Also in 2006, Bad Boy hit pay dirt with Making the Band 3's Danity Kane, whose debut album topped the charts at number one (the label's first chart-topping album since the Bad Boys II soundtrack three years prior), and spun off a top-five singles. Its second album, Welcome to the Dollhouse, also debuted at number one, and contained the group's second top-ten single, "Damaged". Diddy also signed Day26 and Donnie Klang to the label.
By 2009, Combs dissolved Danity Kane, terminating Aubrey O'Day's, D. Woods's, Shannon Bex's and Aundrea Fimbres's contracts.[18] Dawn Richard remained a Bad Boy solo artist and songwriter. In March 2009, it was reported that Richard and Combs were assembling a new girl group but later formed Diddy – Dirty Money, composed of Combs, Richard, and the singer-songwriter Kalenna Harper. In April 2009, Bad Boy signed Red Cafe.
In September 2009, it was announced that Combs would leave WMG, inking a new deal with Universal's Interscope Records. Under the terms of the deal, Combs rebooted the Bad Boy name and trademark, to be operated by Interscope, while the previous Bad Boy catalog and roster remained under Warner's control.[19]
2010–present
[edit]In 2010, Combs offered Mase a one-year release from Bad Boy to settle their differences after the 2009 incident with Mase wanting to be released from Bad Boy. With this, Mase decided to retire from rap for good, although he was to be reassigned to Bad Boy after his year break was done.
In 2011, under his new deal with Interscope-Geffen-A&M, Combs stated he was looking for new talent to add to his new Bad Boy roster. Jay Electronica, who had close ties with Combs, was originally planned to be signed to the label, but had signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation imprint instead.[20][21] Machine Gun Kelly announced that he signed to Bad Boy/Interscope on August 3, 2011.[22] French Montana and Los also were announced as signees to the label in 2012.
On April 25, 2012, Mase featured alongside Combs on Wale's "Slight Work" remix, marking the first appearance of the Harlem rapper on record since 2010. Rumors began to start that Mase, as well as singer Omarion, were both signing to Rick Ross's Maybach Music Group. It was later revealed that Bad Boy artist French Montana was the reason Mase was making his third comeback. According to Montana, Mase was to serve an A&R role on Montana's major-label debut studio album, Excuse My French, as well as appearing on the remix of Montana's "Everything's a Go". Upon the album's release, Mase was not credited on the project. "I'm not sure what kind of decisions he's going to make," Montana said, "[but] I would love to see him in my camp." Mase briefly resigned to Bad Boy Records during this period, but left the label once again without any releases.[citation needed]
In April 2013, Cassie released her first full-length project seven years after her debut album, a mixtape titled RockaByeBaby, to positive reception. Rapper Los announced his departure from Bad Boy Records on March 19, 2014.[23]
On October 5, 2015, Combs announced that Bad Boy would be distributed by Epic Records.[24][25] This will mark the second time that Epic president L.A. Reid oversaw distribution for Bad Boy, having previously overseen distribution for the label fifteen years earlier after being appointed president of Arista in 2000. Despite founding the label in 1993, Bad Boy began celebrating its twentieth anniversary in 2015 with a twenty-minute mega-medley performance at the BET Awards. It stretched into 2016, starting with the label's May reunion sold-out shows at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and originating the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour, starting in North America in the last week of August 2016.[26][27][28]
Roster
[edit]Current
[edit][when?]
| Act | Year signed |
Releases under Bad Boy |
|---|---|---|
| Sean Combs | Founder (1993) | 5 |
| Janelle Monáe | 2008 | 3 |
| King Combs[29] | 2016 | 2 |
| Quincy[30] | — |
Former
[edit]- Craig Mack (deceased) (1993–1996)
- The Notorious B.I.G. (deceased) (1993–1997)
- Faith Evans (1994–2004)
- Total (1994–2000)
- 112 (1995–2005)
- Mase (1996–2010)
- Tanya Trotter (1996–2000)
- Mario Winans (2001–2008)
- The Lox (1996–1999)
- Styles (1996–1999)
- Jadakiss (1996–1999)
- Black Rob (deceased) (1996–2010)
- Carl Thomas (1997–2005)
- Shyne (1998–2001)
- Mark Curry (2000–2002)
- Dream (2000–2004)
- G. Dep (1999–2005)
- Loon (2001–2006)
- Da Band (2002–2004)
- Fuzzbubble
- 8Ball & MJG (2002–2008)
- Foxy Brown (2002–2004)
- Boyz n da Hood (2004–2008)
- Cheri Dennis (2000–2009)
- Kalenna Harper
- New Edition (2003–2006)
- Red Café (2011–2014)
- B5 (2004–2008)
- Yung Joc (2004–2009)
- Dirty Money (2009–2012)
- Gorilla Zoe
- Danity Kane
- King Los (2012–2014)
- Day26
- Elephant Man (2006–2009)
- Donnie Klang (2006–2008)
- Cassie (2006–2021)
- Pitbull (2006–2007)
- Christian Daniel
- Machine Gun Kelly (2011–2024)
- French Montana (2012–2022)[31]
The Hitmen
[edit]The Hitmen | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Hip-hop |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels | Bad Boy |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
The Hitmen is the production team for Bad Boy Records. The collective consisted of several notable producers and musicians that either worked solo or alongside Combs in composing tracks for the artists on Bad Boy as well as outside the label.[33]
On August 20, 2015, it was announced that Kanye West was part of the Hitmen's roster.[34]
Discography
[edit]
Albums
[edit]| Year | Information |
|---|---|
| 1994 | The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
|
Craig Mack - Project: Funk da World
| |
| 1995 | Faith Evans - Faith
|
| 1996 | Total - Total
|
112 - 112
| |
| 1997 | The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death
|
Puff Daddy & the Family - No Way Out
| |
Mase - Harlem World
| |
| 1998 | The LOX - Money, Power & Respect
|
Faith Evans - Keep the Faith
| |
Total - Kima, Keisha, and Pam
| |
112 - Room 112
| |
| 1999 | Mase - Double Up
|
Puff Daddy - Forever
| |
The Notorious B.I.G. - Born Again
| |
| 2000 | Black Rob - Life Story
|
Carl Thomas - Emotional
| |
Shyne - Shyne
| |
| 2001 | Dream - It Was All a Dream
|
112 - Part III
| |
P. Diddy & The Bad Boy Family - The Saga Continues...
| |
Faith Evans - Faithfully
| |
G. Dep - Child of the Ghetto
| |
| 2002 | P. Diddy & the Bad Boy Family - We Invented the Remix
|
| 2003 | Bad Boys II: The Soundtrack
|
Da Band - Too Hot for TV
| |
Loon - Loon
| |
112 - Hot & Wet
| |
| 2004 | Carl Thomas - Let's Talk About It
|
Mario Winans - Hurt No More
| |
8Ball & MJG - Living Legends
| |
Mase - Welcome Back
| |
New Edition - One Love
| |
| 2005 | Boyz n da Hood - Boyz n da Hood
|
B5 - B5
| |
Black Rob - The Black Rob Report
| |
The Notorious B.I.G. - Duets: The Final Chapter
| |
| 2006 | Yung Joc - New Joc City
|
Cassie - Cassie
| |
Danity Kane - Danity Kane
| |
Diddy - Press Play
| |
| 2007 | The Notorious B.I.G. - Greatest Hits
|
8Ball & MJG - Ridin High
| |
Yung Joc - Hustlenomics
| |
B5 - Don't Talk, Just Listen
| |
Gorilla Zoe - Welcome to the Zoo
| |
Boyz n da Hood - Back Up n da Chevy
| |
| 2008 | Cheri Dennis - In and Out of Love
|
Danity Kane - Welcome to the Dollhouse
| |
Day26 - Day26
| |
Elephant Man - Let's Get Physical
| |
Donnie Klang - Just a Rolling Stone
| |
| 2009 | Notorious: The Soundtrack
|
Gorilla Zoe - Don't Feed da Animals
| |
Day26 - Forever in a Day
| |
| 2010 | Diddy – Dirty Money - Last Train to Paris
|
| 2011 | Gorilla Zoe - King Kong
|
| 2012 | Machine Gun Kelly - Lace Up
|
| 2013 | French Montana - Excuse My French
|
Janelle Monáe - The Electric Lady
| |
| 2015 | Machine Gun Kelly - General Admission
|
Puff Daddy - MMM
| |
| 2017 | Machine Gun Kelly - bloom
|
French Montana - Jungle Rules
| |
| 2018 | Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer
|
| 2019 | French Montana - Montana
|
| 2020 | Machine Gun Kelly - Tickets to My Downfall
|
| 2021 | French Montana - They Got Amnesia
|
| 2022 | Machine Gun Kelly - Mainstream Sellout
|
| 2023 | Janelle Monáe - The Age of Pleasure
|
Label compilations
[edit]| Year | Information |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Bad Boy Greatest Hits: Volume 1
|
| 2002 | P. Diddy & Bad Boy Records Present... We Invented the Remix
|
| 2004 | Bad Boy's 10th Anniversary... The Hits
|
Bad Boy's R&B Hits
| |
| 2016 | Bad Boy 20th Anniversary Box Set Edition
|
References
[edit]- ^ "Trademark Status and Document Retrieval: Bad Boy Entertainment, inactive". tsdr.uspto.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Trademark Status and Document Retrieval: Bad Boy Entertainment, active". tsdr.uspto.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (May 10, 2022). "Sean 'Diddy' Combs Launches New R&B Label, Love Records". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Guerrasio, Jason (November 5, 2022). "Sean 'Diddy' Combs recently overtook Kanye West as hip-hop's second-highest earner — here's how he makes and spends his money". Insider. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (April 15, 2005). "P. Diddy No Longer Has Total Bad Boy Control". MTV. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ Gilmore, Mike (August 7, 1997). "Puff Daddy Cometh". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ^ Hightower, Brandon (October 14, 2025). "Craig Mack Changed Everything: One Song Made History". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
- ^ "Unsupported Browser". Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ "Puffy, Jimmy Page to Share "SNL" Stage". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on November 22, 2002. Retrieved August 13, 2008.
- ^ Glauber, Gary (January 5, 2003). "Fuzzbubble: Demos, Out-takes and Rarities". PopMatters. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
- ^ "ARISTA HUFFING & PUFFING OVER PUFFY'S $50M". June 3, 1999. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "Combs' Bad Boy, Arista Terminate Joint Venture". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
- ^ "DIDDY IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR ITTY-BITTY ELEKTRA DEAL". January 7, 2003. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "Bad Boy Confirms Universal Pact". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "COMBS' BAD BOY LABEL, UNIVERSAL IN CASH CLASH". January 28, 2005. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
- ^ "Sean "P. Diddy" Combs And Bad Boy Entertainment Form Joint Venture With Warner Music Group".
- ^ Tamara Conniff and Bill Werde (October 4, 2006). Diddy: The Saga Continues. Billboard. Accessed November 22, 2006.
- ^ "Danity Kane's Aundrea Fimbres Fired By Diddy". MTV News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ "Diddy Exits Warner, 'Last Train' Coming On Interscope". Billboard. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ "Ruthlessblogs.com". Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ "Is Lil B Signing to Diddy's Bad Boy Records? | Hip-Hop News, Music, Entertainment Updates, Fashion & Sneakers". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
- ^ "Machine Gun Kelly Announces Deal With Bad Boy/Interscope: 'They Understood Our Idea'". Vibe. August 3, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ "King Los Leaves Bad Boy: Was Diddy's 'Nobody' Rant The Reason?". MTV News. Archived from the original on March 20, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ Hernandez, Victoria (October 5, 2015). "Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Entertainment Signs With Epic Records". hiphopdx.com. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
- ^ "Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Entertainment Partners With Epic Records". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
- ^ "Bad Boy Plots Packed 20th Anniversary Box Set". Rolling Stone. July 12, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ "Bad Boy Celebrating 20th Anniversary With Huge Box Set". The Fader. Andy Cohn. July 12, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ "Puff Daddy Announces Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour Featuring Lil' Kim, Mase, Faith Evans, Mario Winans, More". Pitchfork Media. Condé Nast. May 16, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ Bowenbank, Starr (December 12, 2022). "Diddy Explains How Son King Combs Is Keeping Bad Boy Entertainment Alive". Billboard.
- ^ "Quincy Signs Deal With Bad Boy, Plan Set For Combs Family '106 & Park' Takeover". REVOLT TV. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
- ^ "French Montana Has Never Felt So Free". August 8, 2022.
- ^ "Kanye West Joins Diddy's Producer Supergroup The Hitmen". Billboard.
- ^ Williams, Brennan (September 28, 2016). "New Documentary Gives Inside Look Behind Diddy's Bad Boy Records". HuffPost.
- ^ "Kanye West joins Diddy's production supergroup, The Hitmen". April 21, 2015.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- Bad Boy Records
- Sean Combs
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- 1993 establishments in New York City
- Mass media companies based in New York City
- Contemporary R&B record labels
- Hip-hop record labels
- Labels distributed by Warner Music Group
- Music publishing companies of the United States
- Music production companies
- Record labels based in New York (state)
- Record labels established in 1993
- Vanity record labels
- American companies established in 1993