Diddy Pays Sting $5K Per Day For "I'll Be Missing You" Sample

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60th Annual GRAMMY Awards - Show
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Recording artists Sting and Sean 'Diddy' Combs attend the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS)
Diddy sampled a Sting classic to create an unforgettable song of his own, but the Bad Boy hitmaker is dishing out a pretty penny.

Bad Boy Records was known for sampling classics to create fan favorites for a new generation, and Sean "Diddy" Combs is literally paying the price. Combs's empire is an unmatched force in the industry. His reach these days goes far beyond music, and it all began with a label that changed how the world viewed Hip Hop. Puff helped shape the careers of dozens of artists, and his influence remains a powerful force.

In 1997, the world mourned the tragic loss of Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace, a central figure at Bad Boy. Diddy commemorated his life with "Ill Be Missing You," with appearances by 112 and Biggie's wife, Faith Evans. The famed track expertly samples The Police's "Every Breath You Take," and Sting, the group's singer, once revealed just how much Diddy coughs up each month. Recently, Sting's 2018 interview with The Breakfast Club has also received viral attention. In it, he makes a claim that surprised fans.

Diddy Refreshes Sting's Memory

In the resurfaced clip, Sting shared that Combs must pay him $2,000 daily. Charlamagne was floored. “Yeah, for the rest of his life,” said the singer. Sting further added that Diddy didn't ask clear the sample before releasing his song but afterward. "We’re very good friends now," he stated. They've also performed "I'll Be Missing You" live together. "It was a beautiful version of that song.”

Meanwhile, nothing is missed by the mogul. Fans have been sharing the video of Sting's interview far and wide, and it reached Diddy's desk. He didn't have any complaints about Sting's comments, only a correction. It seems that the singer's assessment was much lower than what Combs truly dishes out each day. “Nope,” Puff tweeted. “5K a day. Love to my brother [Sting]!”

A Smash—But Somber—Hit

Meanwhile, "I'll Be Missing You" remains a favorite among Bad Boy enthusiasts. The somber track was made in memory of Biggie Smalls, making it a song that families use to honor relatives who have passed. "I'll Be Missing You" was also a mega success, spending 11 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Long live Christopher Wallace. Revisit "I'll Be Missing You" above.

About The Author
Erika Marie
Erika Marie is a seasoned journalist, editor, and ghostwriter who works predominantly in the fields of music, spirituality, mental health advocacy, and social activism. The Los Angeles editor, storyteller, and activist has been involved in the behind-the-scenes workings of the entertainment industry for nearly two decades. E.M. attempts to write stories that are compelling while remaining informative and respectful. She's an advocate of lyrical witticism & the power of the pen. Favorites: Motown, New Jack Swing, '90s R&B, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, & Punk; Funk, Soul, Harlem Renaissance Jazz greats, and artists who innovate, not simply replicate.
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