The Diddy Curse: 8 Of The Best Artists Formerly On Bad Boy Records
There is no question that Diddy (or is it P. Diddy nowadays?) is a hugely influential music mogul, ever since his job as a record executive in the ’90s era. But there have been many instances where the businessman fell short of doing his job. Bad Boy Records is notorious for being the Bermuda Triangle of record labels. Sure, there were artists like Faith Evans, and Notorious B.I.G. who scored major success. But many others in the Bad Boy camp could not achieve the same.
So in light of Danity Kane‘s third and final studio album, DK3 (released on October 28), we’re taking a look back at eight of the most overlooked artists who unfortunately succumbed to the Bad Boy curse. but at least they had talent!
See which artists made the cut after the jump!
8. Da Band
Kicking off this list is Da Band, a product of MTV’s reality show Making The Band 2 (hence their original name) that aired from 2002-2004. During the show’s second season, Diddy sought out the best rappers and singers to create a hip-hop group. The end result was a band of six members: Sara Stokes, Dylan Dylinjah, Chopper, Babs, Ness and Freddy P. They released their certified Gold debut album Too Hot For TV in September 2003.
But, to be fair, their reality show drama was the most entertaining factor of Da Band — which included fights between members and walking from one borough to another to buy Junior’s cheesecake for their boss. Da Band quickly fell victim to the Diddy curse in 2004, when the mogul dissolved the group.
7. Yung Joc
Diddy has always seemed to do well with rappers on his label, with artists like Biggie Smalls and French Montana. But one artist who had a spark of fame who is overlooked is Yung Joc. The Atlanta-based rapper emerged on the Bad Boy South label during the Dirty South takeover, along with artists like Lil Jon, D4L, Dem Franchise Boyz, Hurricane Chris and more. The first single off his 2006 debut LP New Joc City, titled “It’s Goin’ Down,” peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and is certified three times Platinum.
But things went downhill in 2009 when the rapper sued the label due to alleged unpaid royalties. Yung Joc is no longer part of Bad Boy South, and is now signed to RCA. He is also a recurring member on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, where his fiascos with no-name women have overshadowed his music. Go figure!
6. Donnie Klang
Donnie Klang‘s career was formed during the fourth installment of Making The Band in conjunction with Day26 and Danity Kane. Diddy thought it was a brilliant idea to have the singer break out into his own stardom. It was a good plan, seeing how Klang had solid talent (and incredibly good looks). But the businessman couldn’t pull through, and left his artist without a fulfilling career despite a feature on his breakout single “Take You There” — off his debut LP Like A Rolling Stone.
But it all worked out in the end, as he is still in the music industry as the CEO of The Loft Sound Studio. Let’s just hope he decided to cut a follow-up album!
