For decades, Sean Combs was hip-hop's reigning mogul, the mastermind who redefined what it meant to have

fame, fortune, and dominion over the music industry. But as Combs reached new heights in music,

fashion, and business, allegations of misconduct and abuse began to surface, casting a dark shadow over his legacy. I'm host Jesse Weber,

and in the rise and fall of Diddy, we'll uncover how Combs built an empire that shaped a generation

while navigating a trail of scandals, lawsuits, and criminal allegations. We'll explore the intersection of power, fame, and accountability

in the life of a man who once called himself a bad boy for life. Will his empire survive? Or is this

truly the end of an era? I'm about to play you a clip from the first episode of the Rise and fall of Diddy, which is available exclusively on Wondery Plus.

Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Sean Diddy Combs and Cassie Ventura had first crossed paths in 2005.

Cassie was 19 years old when she met him. Diddy instantly saw in her star power and

raw talent. So Cassie was signed to his label, Bad Boy Records, and released her debut album

under the label. Me and You was a huge song for Cassie. Long Way to Go. Another huge song for Cassie.

So she's in this world, you know, as a teenager, essentially, trying to navigate, putting out music.

The young artist was undeniably talented and beautiful.

And as the public would later learn, she caught Diddy's attention in more than just

the business sense. As her notoriety grew, so did her relationship with the then 36-year-old

Diddy. Initially, it just looked like a business relationship. Later on, there were rumblings

that there was a romantic relationship going on.

By the late 2000s, rumors of a romantic relationship between Diddy and Cassie were widespread.

Though they kept things low-key at first, their chemistry was hard to ignore.

Cassie, nearly 20 years Diddy's Jr., seemed inseparable from him, joining him on glamorous vacations

and at high-profile events.

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