Music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, who denies all charges against him, propelled several artists to stardom including Mary J Blige, Usher, the late Notorious BIG, along with child star Justin Bieber

Usher has not commented on P Diddy’s charges (Image: WireImage)

P Diddy made his mark on those in the entertainment industry as he helped launch the careers of several stars.

However some artists have far from fond memories of the American rapper ‘s mentorship. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is now incarcerated without bail at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Centre after being c harged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs denies all allegations, with his lawyer describing him as “an innocent man with nothing to hide.”

While the wealthy music mogel is known for tracks including I’ll Be Missing You, he is also credited for the discovery and cultivation of hitmakers Notorious B.I.G, Mary J Blige and Usher. He also took megastar Justin Bieber under his wing, as he was signed to Usher’s record label when starting out as a 14-year-old.

Video clips of Diddy and a young Bieber hanging out have resurfaced amid the claims, with one viral clip showing the pair detailing their ‘ 48 hours together’ in 2009, with Combs showcasing his selection of high-end sports cars. In the clip, Combs says to the camera: “He’s having forty-eight 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.”

 Discussing his role as a mentor to Justin, akin to his previous relationship with Usher, Combs explained: “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. I don’t have legal guardianship of him [Bieber] but for the next forty-eight hours he’s with me and we’re gonna go full crazy.”

Combs shows off his Lamborghini before promising Justin a drive in it once he turns 16 the following year. Justin cheekily suggests that Combs could ride in the passenger seat with him having a permit at 15, to which he responds: “No. Let’s slow down.”

He adds: “The keys is yours, when you get to 16 you’re good to go. When you’re 18, you get the mansion.” Bieber then asks “where they are off to now” to which Combs responds by asking where he would like to go. “Let’s go get some girls,” Bieber then tells Combs. “Man after my heart,” the rapper responds. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

P Diddy said he had been ‘given custody’ of Justin Bieber (Image: Justin Bieber/Youtube)
Their relationship continued as the now 30-year-old featured on Diddy’s latest album, The Love Album: Off The Grid, where he contributed to a track titled Moments. Upon the album’s release last September, prior to allegations against Combs coming to light, Bieber, now a dad-of-one, took to Instagram to share a touching note about the collaboration.

“I remember going to my brother Diddy’s office to pitch him a song I wrote for him when I was like 14, sadly the song was trash haha,” he shared on his Instagram Story. “And it would be a hard no from him, fast forward to a few years ago Puff asked if I would freestyle something for his upcoming love album. Wild full circle moment, love you @diddy,” he added in the post.

Jermain Dupri, Chantel Jeffries, Justin Bieber and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs attend Ciroc party at Vanquish Lounge on February 5, 2014 (Image: FilmMagic)
However, in the wake of Combs’ arrest, it’s alleged Bieber regrets working on the album. “Bieber is so disturbed by the Diddy news and is unwilling to process it or discuss it so he has shut off,” a source said last week. “So many people who helped to make him who he is were very close to Diddy and it has completely thrown him,” they told the Daily Mail. The Baby singer is reportedly so distraught that he won’t be commenting on any of the allegations.

Bieber also reportedly had a “long break” from spending time with Combs “when he believes most of this took place.” Another star he mentored, Shyne, had no qualms about speaking out, however.

The rapper said Combs ‘destroyed his life’ following a 1999 New York nightclub shooting where they were both implicated. Combs testified he didn’t have a gun on the night in question and was found not guilty of taking an illegal gun into the club. Meanwhile, Shyne was convicted of assault and was deported back to his native country of Belize, putting a sudden end to his music success.

However he admitted he feels no satisfaction of seeing the Bad Boy Records founder’s recent arrest. Shyne, born Moses Barrow, spent eight years behind bars while Combs was acquitted of charges in connection with the same shooting. While he wouldn’t wish incarceration on his worst enemy, he said, he added: “This is someone who in essence testified against me when I was on trial, when I was an 18-year-old kid just wanting to do nothing other than make my mother proud and make Belize proud and do what all of us want to do: be recognized for our talent and take over the world … This is someone who destroyed my life.”

P Diddy mentored Justin Bieber, who repaid the favour with his latest album (Image: FilmMagic)

Now opposition leader of Belize’s House of Representatives, Barrow made the remarks at a news conference last Thursday. He was asked by a reporter if he was aware of Combs’ alleged crimes, to which he responded: “Oh my goodness – sir, I have nothing to do with Sean Combs’ personal life. Everything was strictly on a professional level.”

Another of Combs’ proteges was The Notorious BIG, AKA Biggie Smalls, who was shot dead aged 24 in 1997. He had been friends and associates with Diddy for several years.

His mother, Voletta Wallace, said she wanted to “slap the daylights” out of the rapper amid the claims. She told Rolling Stone back in May: “I’m sick to my stomach. I’m praying for Cassie. I’m praying for [Diddy’s] mother. I don’t want to believe the things I’ve heard, but I’ve seen [the footage]. I pray that he apologises to her.

“I hope that I see Sean one day, and the only thing I want to do is slap the daylights out of him. And you can quote me on that. Because I liked him. I didn’t want to believe all the awful things, but I’m so ashamed and embarrassed.”

Singer Usher ‘s past relationship with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has also been examined by fans in the wake of the rapper’s arrest earlier this month. Usher, who rose to prominence in the mid-90s and 00s with hits like Yeah, first met Combs as a teenager as he faced being dropped from his label.

Usher lived with P Diddy when starting out in his career as a teen (Image: WireImage)
After being signed by L.A. Reid, the co-founder of LaFace, as a 14-year-old, Usher lost his voice while preparing his debut album and struggled to adjust his vocals. Reid considered dropping Usher but eventually sent him to New York in the spring of 1994 to live with Combs, something Reid dubbed ‘Flavour Camp’.

In the wake of Combs’ imprisonment, historic footage of Usher discussing his time with Combs has resurfaced online. In one clip, Usher can be seen talking to broadcaster Howard Stern and quizzed about whether Combs’ home was a hotbed for “place was filled with chicks and orgying nonstop”. Answering The Howard Stern Show host, Usher said: “Not really… I got a chance to see some things … I don’t know if I could indulge and even understand what I was looking at.”

He elaborated: “It was pretty wild. It was crazy. There were very curious things taking place and I didn’t necessarily understand it.” Asked if he would allow his own kids to attend Flavour Camp at Combs’ residence, Usher bluntly declared: “Hell no!” Elsewhere during the chat, Usher recalled how he was “like the little brother – they called me Baby Boo.” Asked if Combs enforced any rules, Usher admitted: “He wasn’t disciplinary. He was letting me be a young man.”

Mary J Blige appears to be trying to distance herself from Diddy (Image: WireImage)
Usher is yet to comment on Combs’ legal woes but eyebrows were raised when the OMG singer’s Twitter (X) account wiped thousands of tweets. On Sunday, Usher returned to Twitter to clear the air about his social media drama, claiming his account was “hacked”. He quipped: “Account got hacked and damn y’all ran with it! See you tonight at Intuit Dome.”

Meanwhile queen of R&B Mary J Blige appeared to take a swipe at Combs in a cryptic social media post. The 53-year-old took to Instagram shortly after two of Diddy’s homes had been raided by federal agents in March.

Despite their 30-year friendship, the Grammy-winning artist appeared to speak up against Diddy, telling her 6.8 million followers: “Unfortunately, a lot of you all met me when I lacked boundaries and was a people pleaser.”

Presenting an older and wiser version of herself, the Family Affair singer claimed she was not scared to end relationships. She continued: “Let me reintroduce myself, I burn bridges as needed.”