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

BY Erika Marie 8.9K Views
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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
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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