Notorious B.I.G to benefit as Diddy returns music rights to Bad Boy Records artistes

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, the US rapper, is reassigning the publishing rights of Bad Boy Records’ catalog to the artistes and songwriters who helped build the music label.

Founded in 1993 as a joint venture between Combs and Arista Records, Bad Boy Records signed music heavyweights like the late Notorious B.I.G, the late Craig Mack, Mase, Faith Evans and The Lox.

The music label quickly rose to one of the most influential hip-hop labels of all time — although Combs faced years of criticism that he did not treat artistes fairly.

30 years later, Diddy has decided to return publishing rights to those who helped build the label rather than sell off the valuable catalog.

It is believed that Evans, the estate of the late Notorious B.I.G., and Mase – who has called out the music executive for allegedly not paying him for his work — have been contacted.

Sources told Billboard the process began in May 2021 and that some have already signed the deal while others are still being contacted.

It was gathered that Combs had been offered millions of dollars to sell the rights.

The music mogul was said to have declined the offers in favour of giving back to the people who helped build his company.

He made the move on the 30th anniversary of his record label.

Combs sees the move as part of a larger conversation about furthering the economic empowerment of black artistes and culture in the hope that other labels will follow suit.

The rapper is set to receive the Global Icon Award at the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards.

Diddy also has a new album ‘The L.O.V.E. Album: Off the Grid’ due on September 15.