Why Diddy has had so many names as chilling meaning of 'Puff Daddy' was shared before sentencing
This is the reason why disgraced hip-hop mogul Diddy has changed his stage name several times throughout his career.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs is scheduled to be sentenced for his crimes later today (3 October) after being found guilty of two out of five counts against him at a highly publicised trial in New York earlier this year.
However, the 55-year-old was found not guilty on the more serious charges of sex-trafficking and racketeering, which means he avoids a life sentence.
Combs could face a maximum of 20 years behind bars, with prosecutors arguing for a sentence of at least 11 years, while his defence is hoping to see him released later this month.
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In the run-up to the sentencing, Combs submitted a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian in which he apologised for his behaviour.
The trial saw high-profile witnesses such as Combs' former partner Cassie Ventura and singer Kid Cudi testify about their relationship with the hip-hop mogul, while numerous details from the 'I'll Be Missing You' hitmaker's life have resurfaced online.
This includes the various name changes which Combs has undergone throughout his career – from 'Puff Daddy' to 'Brother Love'.
All the stage names that Diddy has used throughout his career
Puff Daddy
When Combs broke onto the music scene during the 1990s, he was typically credited as 'Puff Daddy'. Typically featuring alongside fellow rapper Notorious B.I.G., Combs was credited as 'Puff Daddy' on songs such as 'Mo Money Mo Problems', and his 1997 album No Way Out.
He was also credited under this stage name on the Grammy-winning track 'I'll Be Missing You', a collaboration with Faith Evans and 112 to commemorate the death of Notorious B.I.G.
Puffy
Before he was 'Puff Daddy', Combs was known as 'Puffy'. The nickname had a pretty chilling backstory, with the singer revealing to Jet Magazine in 1997 how the name came from his childhood temperament, as he would 'huff and puff' when angry.
P. Diddy
Combs decided a rebrand was needed at the turn of the millennium, changing his stage name to P. Diddy.
He later revealed the nickname was given to him by Notorious B.I.G. before his passing in 1997. "No more Puff Daddy - the first week in June, we're going to have a name-change ceremony. I'm not doing it as serious as Prince. I just want something fresh. I'm rocking with P. Diddy just now," he told MTV at the time (via ABC).
The name change also followed a series of legal troubles for Combs, leading to suggestions it was a way of breaking with the past.
Diddy
Perhaps his most well-known stage name, the rapper dropped the 'P' as he believed it would make it easier for fans to shout at concerts.
However, the change didn't come without legal troubles, with a lawsuit from DJ Richard 'Diddy' Dearlove, meaning he wasn't able to release his album Press Play under the alias.
Brother Love
In 2017, Diddy became 'Love, a.k.a. Brother Love'.
"I’m just not who I am before," he said at the time (via The Guardian). "I’m someone different. So my new name is Love AKA Brother Love."
He later made the change official in 2021, adding it to his middle name on legal documents.
This name didn't last long, as he was back to being Diddy in 2022.
Frank Black
A nickname previously unknown by the general public, Combs would use the alter-ego 'Frank Black' in order to make reservations for his 'freak-offs', according to testimony from his former assistant George Kaplan.
The name was said to be a nod to Notorious B.I.G., who used the nickname 'Frank White'.
Brenna Cooper