Kanye West and P Diddy‘s explosive feud made headlines across the globe after they fell out over Ye’s controversial ‘white lives matter’ T-shirts in 2022.
But the American rappers were previously thick as thieves and Diddy was one of the only big names in the showbiz elite who defended Kanye in previous times of controversy.
At the height of their friendship, he said that the star had ‘changed my life’ with his music, while Kanye returned the compliment in 2022 when he declared that Diddy has ‘inspired so many of my life choices’ – even suggesting that he’d influenced him to marry ex-wife Kim Kardashian.
So what is the truth behind their ‘frenemy’ relationship?
Their past is under scrutiny once again with Kanye at the centre of a new scandal, after being accused of drugging and raping his former assistant Lauren Pisciotta at a party with Diddy, who is currently behind bars awaiting trial.
Influencer Lauren sued Kanye in June for allegedly sexually harassing and stalking her while she worked for him between 2021 and 2022. He dismissed the accusations as ‘baseless’ and accused her of ‘blackmail and extortion.’
But on Friday night, she filed a new 88-page updated lawsuit which detailed the rapper’s alleged sick sexual obsessions, and his fetish for wanting to sleep with the mothers of his sexual targets.
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Kanye West and P Diddy ‘s explosive feud made headlines across the globe after they fell out over Ye’s controversial ‘white lives matter’ T-shirts in 2022, leading to him publicly and privately calling him out over his misgivings (pictured 2005)
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A picture of Kanye, Diddy, Prince Harry and Prince William went viral earlier this year after the star was arrested on charges including sex trafficking and racketeering and photos of him with various celebrities and politicians resurfaced (pictured July 2007)
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Diddy and Kanye have also been pictured with Justin Bieber (second left) over the years, which has brought it’s own controversy after a video of Diddy boasting of his plans to go ‘buck full crazy’ and ‘find girls’ with a teenage Justin resurfaced from 2009
Kanye and Diddy – whose real name is Sean John Combs – supported each other during studio sessions, red-carpet appearances and were often spotted hanging out at parties together, including the infamous ‘Diddy parties’ hosted by Combs.
A picture of Kanye and Diddy with Prince William and Prince Harry went viral earlier this year after the star was arrested on charges including sex trafficking and racketeering and photos of him with various celebrities and politicians resurfaced.
The authentic photos, which are available on Getty Images, show the group gathered together at an event held in 2007 honouring Prince Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana.
In the 2010s, they collborated creatively, with Diddy given a production credit on Kanye’s single All Day in 2015.
That same year it was announced that West was joining Diddy’s group of super producers, The Hitmen, to work on the album Making Money Mitch.
Diddy and Kanye have also been pictured with Justin Bieber over the years, which has brought its own controversy after a video of Diddy boasting of his plans to go ‘buck full crazy’ and ‘find girls’ with a teenage Justin resurfaced from 2009.
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Kanye is now at the centre of his new scandal as he stands accused of drugging and raping his former assistant Lauren Pisciotta (pictured) at a party with Diddy, who is currently awaiting trial behind bars
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But the American rappers were previously thick as thieves and Diddy was one of just a few big names in the Hollywood elite who defended Kanye in times of controversy – so what is the truth behind the frenemies relationship? (pictured together 2007)
In March 2016, Justin shared a picture of his manager Scooter Braun, himself, Kanye and Diddy praying backstage at a concert. In another photo Kim Kardashian joins in.
Alongside, he wrote: ‘Uncle puff and Yeezy giving thanks to Jesus’.
In the image, Justin is wearing a Tupac T-shirt, which may have proved awkward due to the fact Diddy and Tupac were members of rivals gangs before the latter was shot dead in 1995.
Diddy and Kanye were close as recently as 2022, when the former was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards by Kanye.
Kanye, who opted for a typically kooky look for the occasion in a zip-up hoodie and a baseball cap with a black mask and glasses, revealed Diddy was his idol.
Recalling how he would play his music growing up, Kanye remembered thinking: ‘I just need to meet this man. This is my favourite artist.’
‘You see I’m saying favourite artist — everything, not specifically production, the trip. Back then there was so many rules to hip-hop, and he broke all of them.’
He also hinted that he inspired his marriage to his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, saying: ‘I go to him for advice to this day. He inspired so many of my choices. So many of my life choices. My wife choices.’
Kanye was married to Kim from 2014 to 2022. They share four children together – North, 11, Saint, nine, Chicago, seven, and Psalm, five.
In 2009, Combs had credited Kanye for making him fall in love with hip hop again after attending one of his concerts.
He said: ‘Back in 1986 I saw Run DMC at The Garden on their Hell tour and that day I began my dream and said one day I want to be up on that stage right there where Run is at, holding those Adidas in the air.
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Kanye (left) and Diddy (right) had a long-standing bond and had been associated with each other for many years, with Diddy even crediting Kanye for ‘changing his life by making him fall in love with hip hop again’, before their friendship turned sour (pictured with Jay Z, second left, and T.I, second right)
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Kanye and Diddy – whose real name is Sean John Combs – supported each other during studio sessions, red-carpet appearances and were often spotted hanging out at parties together, including the infamous ‘Diddy parties’ hosted by Combs
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In 2009, Combs had credited Kanye for making him fall in love with hip hop again after attending one of his concerts (pictured with Mariah Carey)
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Jay-Z, Kanye West and Sean P. Diddy Combs during Vibe Magazine Presents Roc-A-Wear 2005
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The formerly close friends have now been feuding since October 2022 after Diddy took umbrage at Kanye bringing out his infamous White Lives Matter T-shirts (pictured with Kelly Clarkson in 2005)
‘I thought one day I want that to be me and 12 years later it was me, I sold out The Garden three times. Boom. That day I fell in love with hip hop.
‘Time has gone on since then, caught a lot of fame, fortune and a lot of blessings and hit records. Sometimes in the game you get tired and you get uninspired by the b******t records that aint really saying s***, no disrespect to y’all that make those. Those records don’t be saying s***
‘So you may get uninspired and fall out of love a little bit, so you still love hip hop but maybe you’re not as in love as you was the first time you met her.
‘Boom. Take you back to now. The other night I go to the Kanye West concert and I’m going there to see Kanye do this thing. I don’t have anything but high expectations, the concert changed my life. I won’t lie I was so impressed and inspired.
‘It was beautiful and I fell in love with hip hop again and I want to say thank you Kanye for giving me that. It’s important that people know you did your mother f*****g thing. That’s just from one brother to another.
‘But we’ve got to say that to each other, you’ve given me a gift and you’ve given us all a lot. A gift. Thanks a lot man. We appreciate it, I appreciate it. I’m just keeping it real. That’s all y’all.’
The formerly close friends have now been feuding since October 2022 after Diddy took umbrage at Kanye bringing out his infamous White Lives Matter T-shirts.
Before their beef started, Combs was one of Ye’s only famous friends to defend his increasingly bizarre behavior and social media posts, calling him a ‘free thinker’ and insisting that the Golddigger rapper’s message had been ‘misconstrued.’
However, Diddy drew the line at the controversial tops as he got in touch with Kanye directly and proceeded to share his misgivings about the shirts, prompting an argument over text.
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The formerly close friends have now been feuding since October 2022 after Diddy took umbrage at Kanye bringing out his infamous White Lives Matter T-shirts [pictured in 2016]
Listen to The Trial of Diddy wherever you get your podcasts now
Diddy sat down for an interview on The Breakfast Club in 2022 and called Kanye’s very controversial White Lives Matter T-shirts ‘tone deaf.’
Kanye wasn’t a fan of Diddy’s opinion in that matter and the two got into a much-publicized fight over text message – with their fight coming just months after he paid tribute to the I Need A Girl hitmaker Diddy as he presented him with a lifetime achievement award at the BETs.
‘I’m selling these tees. Nobody gets in between me and my money. This is my grandfather texting you now. Never call me with no bulls*** like that again unless you ready to green light me. Cause anybody who got on that tee is me,’ he reportedly texted.
And then things got a little more strange with Ye texting: ‘Out of respect for everything you’ve meant to me I’ll be quiet as Virgil. But now I know how I’ve hurt people I love with threats.’
In a follow-up text Kanye taunted his friend: ‘Come do something illegal to me noooow pleeeeeeeeease.’
He then posted a screen-grab of these texts to his Instagram page and wrote in the caption: ‘God is Love My brother misspoke to me but I still love him.’
Eventually Diddy responded: ‘As soon as I land we’ll meet face to face!!! Send me a address.’
Diddy attempted reasoning with Kanye who also insisted his friend was ‘sent by Jews’ and a ‘FED.’
A look back at Diddy and Kanye’s feud after white lives matter shirts
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The pair have been feuding since October 2022 after Diddy took umbrage at Kanye bringing out his infamous White Lives Matter T-shirts
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Before their beef started, Combs was one of Ye’s only famous friends to defend his increasingly bizarre behavior and social media posts, calling him a ‘free thinker’
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Kanye (left) launched a public feud with his friend Diddy (right) two years ago, fighting with him over text and posting the screen-grabs to Instagram
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Feint: Kanye taunted his friend, writing: ‘Come do something illegal to me noooow pleeeeeeeeease,’ then said he had made Diddy his ‘security’ as ‘anything happen to me yall the top suspects’
‘N***a send me a address,’ Diddy insisted over text. ‘Let’s stop playing these internet games. And don’t feel threatened. You’ll be fine. Just love.’
‘This ain’t a game,’ Kanye retorted. ‘Ima use you as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me. I told you this was war. Now gone get you some business.’
When he posted the screen-grab to Instagram he wrote in the caption: ‘Jesus is Jew.’
‘I’m just trying to talk to you as a black man,’ Diddy pleaded. ‘And I’m talking to you because this is hurting our people. Stop.’
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Kanye declared: ‘Ima use you as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me’
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I’m just trying to talk to you as a black man,’ Diddy pleaded, adding: ‘And I’m talking to you because this is hurting our people’
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One of the only famous friends coming to the defense of Kim Kardashian’s ex-husband was Diddy, who called the musician a ‘free thinker’ and says his message was ‘misconstrued’
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Their fight came just months after he paid tribute to the I Need A Girl hitmaker Diddy as he presented him with a lifetime achievement award at the BETs [pictured in June 2022]
Kanye West wears ‘White Lives Matter’ shirt during Yeezy show
Kanye, undeterred, replied: ‘Anything you text I will post. I love you. And you guys are breaking my heart. I accept your apology in advance.’
By ‘you guys,’ he appeared to be referring to both Diddy and Boosie Badazz, who has also criticized the White Lives Matter shirts.
Posting these texts to Instagram, he wrote: ‘GOD IS LOVE.’
In March this year, fans speculated as to whether the feud could be over after Diddy attended Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s controversial set at Rolling Loud in Los Angeles.
Though it was later said that the Bound 2 hitmaker ‘refused’ to meet up with Diddy, who attended with his children, to say hello after the show.
TMZ reported at the time that Diddy had attended the event to watch Kanye’s performance and informed the rapper’s entourage he had wanted to say hello to West personally.
But, when Kanye, 46, was notified of Diddy’s request, he was reportedly not interested in speaking with him. At a minimum, he reportedly wasn’t enthusiastic at the prospect of seeing the Making The Band veteran.
Ultimately, Diddy never ended up linking up with West, insiders told the outlet.
A month later, Kanye then appeared to reference Diddy’s scandal on his remix of Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Like That, which he debuted during his appearance on Justin LaBoy’s The Download in April.
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In March this year, fans speculated as to whether the feud could be over after Diddy attended Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s controversial set [pictured] at Rolling Loud in Los Angeles
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Though it was later said that the Bound 2 hitmaker ‘refused’ to meet up with Diddy, who attended with his children, to say hello after the show
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A month later, Kanye then appeared to reference Diddy’s scandal on his remix of Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Like That
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On the remix, Kanye seemingly referenced the sex trafficking investigation surrounding Diddy, who created the fashion line Sean John, as he rapped: ‘Can’t stop, won’t stop/ I just f***** your b**** in a Sean John tank top’
On the remix, Kanye seemingly referenced the sex trafficking investigation surrounding Diddy, who created the fashion line Sean John.
‘Can’t stop, won’t stop/ I just f***** your b**** in a Sean John tank top,’ Kanye rapped.
A month previously, federal agents raided his estates in Miami and Los Angeles amid the sex trafficking investigation.
It comes amid reports Diddy continues to be a force in the entertainment world, maintaining his influence even while incarcerated.
The 54-year-old music mogul is currently in federal custody amid serious federal sex trafficking charges and various civil lawsuits.
According to a source speaking to People, his reputation continues to evoke fear among many in the industry, reflecting the enduring reach of his influence.
‘He’s so powerful. Everyone was afraid to cross him,’ the insider claimed. ‘Even though he’s behind bars now, he’s still so powerful. We all knew it even back then.’
The insider went on to say that Diddy’s obsession with control was often attributed to his creative genius.
The report comes after concerning footage of Diddy boasting of his plans to go ‘buck full crazy’ and ‘find girls’ with a teenage Justin Bieber has resurfaced online following the music mogul’s arrest.
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It comes amid reports Diddy continues to be a force in the entertainment world, maintaining his influence even while incarcerated (pictured 2018)
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The 54-year-old music mogul is currently in federal custody amid serious federal sex trafficking charges and various civil lawsuits; (with his then girlfriend Jennifer Lopez in 2000)
The rap star’s formerly close bond with Bieber has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks – with troubling videos of a then-15 year-old Bieber spending ’48 hours with Diddy’ circulating amid the numerous allegations being made against the Bad Boy Records founder.
In the clip, Combs stands next to the young pop sensation, now 30, and tells the camera: ‘He’s having 48 hours with Diddy, where we hanging out and what we’re doing we can’t really disclose. But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream.
‘I have been given custody of him. He’s signed to Usher and I had legal guardianship of Usher when he did his first album.’
Diddy continued: ‘I don’t have legal guardianship of him [Bieber] but for the next 48 hours he’s with me and we’re gonna go buck full crazy.’
Bieber is seen wearing a black baseball cap and purple shirt while he smiles and looks up at Combs throughout the video, making small comments such as ‘yeah’ and ‘full crazy.’
The Tell Me artist then asked Bieber what he wanted to do, to which the teen replied: ‘Let’s go get some girls’.
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According to a source speaking to People, his reputation continues to evoke fear among many in the industry, reflecting the enduring reach of his influence; (pictured 2020)
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‘He’s so powerful. Everyone was afraid to cross him,’ the insider claimed. ‘Even though he’s behind bars now, he’s still so powerful. We all knew it even back then’
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The source added: ‘He’s incredibly smart, he knows a lot of people, and he’s helped a lot of people — so a lot of people owe him. He knows that’ (with Usher in 2013)
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Concerning footage of Sean ‘ Diddy’ Combs boasting of his plans to go ‘buck full crazy’ with a teenage Justin Bieber is recirculating online
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The rapper, 54, was arrested in connection with a federal sex trafficking case which has since sent shockwaves through the music industry
‘Man after my heart,’ Combs replied. ‘That’s what I’m talking about.’
The video was uploaded on Bieber’s official YouTube channel back in November 2009.
Last month, Combs was arrested on shocking sex trafficking and racketeering charges and is being held in a notorious New York City jail without bond.
His case was reassigned to federal Judge Arun Subramanian on Thursday without explanation, reported CNN.
Initially Judge Andrew Carter presided over the case and denied him bail twice despite the rapper using both his and his mother’s homes in Miami — worth $50 million — as collateral.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges that detail allegations dating back to 2008 that accuses him of abusing, threatening and coercing women for years ‘to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputatio