P Diddy Responds To The Lox

[Adam Donnelly]

Sean "Diddy" Combs, the founder and CEO of Bad Boy Entertainment, got the opportunity to explain his side of the publishing squabble with The Lox Thursday after the two parties were embroiled in a heated argument on Wednesday, during an interview on New York City's Hot 97.

After much prodding by radio host Angie Martinez of Hot 97, Diddy revealed that he owns 20-percent of The Lox's publishing, not the 50-percent that members Styles P and Jadakiss claimed. Still, a representative of the group sent a document countering the Bad Boy mogul's assertion.

"It's tragic and it's embarrassing that they don't even know the 101's of the industry." Diddy told Martinez. " They don't even know what's going on in their own lives."

Styles P and Jadakiss supposedly went to Hot 97 to promote an upcoming project, but the two Lox members began to express the displeasure of the former contract they had with Sean "Diddy" Combs during their tenure at Bad Boy Entertainment.

"This thing that they portrayed is not right", Diddy stated, " I'm willing to turn it around but not on their tactics."

Although The Lox claim that Diddy has taken millions, Diddy proclaimed that through his 20-percent ownership, he has actually made $400,000.

"They claiming slavery over $1.5 million (which is what he says that they earned at Bad Boy)," Diddy told All Hip-Hop.com, "That ain’t slavery."

Before the conversation turned heated, Diddy said he extended several offers for The Lox to come up to the Bad Boy offices. "I want them to talk to me face-to-face, stop looking like imbeciles in front of everybody." Diddy continued, " Stop (making it) look as if young Black men that can't handle things, we can meet. This thing that they portrayed is not right. I'm willing to turn it around, but not [based on] their tactics."

Diddy, who started Bad Boy Records in 1994, signed The Lox in 1996 and released their debut album Money, Power, Respect in 1997.

"I want to see them or any other artist (try this with another label)." Diddy said, "If it wasn't Puff who you know personally, looks like you, hangs out with you, drinks with you - would you ask them to just let me out the contract, No. You ain’t gonna call Sony with that, because they are not gonna take your call. You not going to call Universal with that, because it's a contract."

The Lox who signed to Ruff Ryders after a "Free The Lox" campaign to get out of what they stated was a slave-like situation and even mocked on their debut album on Ruff Ryder Records.

"I would have signed that deal", Diddy stated referring to the initial contract with Bad Boy, "But also to keep it real, I would have been so on my business that I would have been at that office trying to make the deal better. Don't feel sorry for people that are lazy and then blame it on the other person. They are not on top of their business, but they need to get on top of it. Forget the beef, the talking reckless Sit down, and handle it. Before you even meet with me, sit down with your accountant for three hours and go over your life. Manage your life, sit at home by yourself and read your contract word for word. There are books that I have for them [like] Publishing 101."

Although Diddy states that he is more than willing to discuss business with his former artists, he doesn’t agree with how they voiced their displeasure.

"This isn't gangsta. This isn't even manly. This is borderline funny-style. When you got a situation, you handle it man to man. Angie can't help the situation, New York can't help it. You gotta help yourself. You come and see me so I can teach you. I think you gonna thank me. I invested in and I believed in you. You believed in me and I believed in y'all. (If you have problems with me), call me. Don't make a mixtape, you call me because I don't play those games."

After the heated and very public argument that ensued on Hot 97 airwaves, Diddy states there is no beef.

"I have no problem with The Lox. I am definitely grateful with the time I had with them. I can only get worked up over real beef and this ain’t beef."

Incidentally, The Notorious B.I.G.’s mother called the radio to offer some words to Lil’ Cease who called Hot 97 and complained that Diddy retained the late rapper’s publishing. Wallace said he should mind his “business” and that she was working closely with Diddy on the upcoming Biggie Duets album.

[GangstaBoogy]

he's right kinda. i still think he's fucked up for keeping their publishing, but at the end of the day - they did sign that contract

[jeromechickenbone]

I agree with Puff 100%.  It ain't his fault that these fools didn't read their contract.  Lox played themselves.

[.:Hercy Buggz:.]

a contract is a contract!

[Trauma-san]

I agree with puffy 100% on every single thing he said in that interview.  Instead of beefing with him, they should be learning from him.  He's the best businessman in the rap industry, and every single thing he just said in that interview was intelligent and the voice of maturity. 

[Soulful]

i dont belive that puffy really tried to sit down with them, thats why jada got irritated on hot 97, jada said puffys been sayin that forever..everytime they meet etc. , but when their lawyers try to contact him nothing happens

anywayz buisness is buisness, and a contract is a contract.

i just hope styles finds a way to continue releasing quality solo's

[Sweet & Tender Hooligan]

Yeh but what the intrview fails 2 say (i think i stopped readin when i got annoyed at that snake puffy) is that Jada then went on 2 fax the Contract in 2 hot 97 which clearly said puff owns 50%, hes a fuckin lyer. He wouldnt let The Lox on the fone, he was barring phonecalls.....FREE THE LOX

[Mr. Humonculous]

the lox look like idiots they just performed on stage with Puffy at the Jay z concert and then a week later they were dissin him on the radio

[Mac 10 †]

it is fucked up, but..

a contract is a contract!

[NFX]

Yeh but what the intrview fails 2 say (i think i stopped readin when i got annoyed at that snake puffy) is that Jada then went on 2 fax the Contract in 2 hot 97 which clearly said puff owns 50%, hes a fuckin lyer. He wouldnt let The Lox on the fone, he was barring phonecalls.....FREE THE LOX

I don't care if it says puff/diddy/whatever owns 99.9%.. what they signed is the deal they get. Now some people will sign a bad contract just for the opportunity, but look it also from bad boy's side... they are making an investment, they are putting up the dough to try and make these guys careers happen. If it fails, do you think bad boy is going to cry out and demand that the Lox pays em back for marketing and promotion and studio time and give back their advances etc..? The Lox are enslaved to their own stupidity,. Only they can free themselves. How many big labels do you think will want to work guys who act the fool like that? The Lox never said the contract wasn't valid, they just want to renegotiate the terms and once you leave a label, it's too late for that. Suckas

[MIC]

Yeh but what the intrview fails 2 say (i think i stopped readin when i got annoyed at that snake puffy) is that Jada then went on 2 fax the Contract in 2 hot 97 which clearly said puff owns 50%, hes a fuckin lyer. He wouldnt let The Lox on the fone, he was barring phonecalls.....FREE THE LOX

I don't care if it says puff/diddy/whatever owns 99.9%.. what they signed is the deal they get. Now some people will sign a bad contract just for the opportunity, but look it also from bad boy's side... they are making an investment, they are putting up the dough to try and make these guys careers happen. If it fails, do you think bad boy is going to cry out and demand that the Lox pays em back for marketing and promotion and studio time and give back their advances etc..? The Lox are enslaved to their own stupidity,. Only they can free themselves. How many big labels do you think will want to work guys who act the fool like that? The Lox never said the contract wasn't valid, they just want to renegotiate the terms and once you leave a label, it's too late for that. Suckas

Yeah, it's not like they signed a blank piece of paper when they were leaving and then puff wrote the contract the way he wanted. Suge gets money from every Snoop's release and you don't see Snoop crying about it. That's the price you pay when leaving a label.

[Sweet & Tender Hooligan]

Yeh but what the intrview fails 2 say (i think i stopped readin when i got annoyed at that snake puffy) is that Jada then went on 2 fax the Contract in 2 hot 97 which clearly said puff owns 50%, hes a fuckin lyer. He wouldnt let The Lox on the fone, he was barring phonecalls.....FREE THE LOX

I don't care if it says puff/diddy/whatever owns 99.9%.. what they signed is the deal they get. Now some people will sign a bad contract just for the opportunity, but look it also from bad boy's side... they are making an investment, they are putting up the dough to try and make these guys careers happen. If it fails, do you think bad boy is going to cry out and demand that the Lox pays em back for marketing and promotion and studio time and give back their advances etc..? The Lox are enslaved to their own stupidity,. Only they can free themselves. How many big labels do you think will want to work guys who act the fool like that? The Lox never said the contract wasn't valid, they just want to renegotiate the terms and once you leave a label, it's too late for that. Suckas

Good point. But im a LOX fan so no way in hell u gon convince me that Puff aint doin that Snake shit. Ig the same thing was happnin 2 a DJ Quik nobody would b callin him a sucka it would "a damn shame" n Quik's gettin fuckd by the industry. try n deny it.....

[T-Dogg]

^^
Yeah Quik's got played by the industry too, but you don't see him crying to the record lables he used to be on and make claims about how they owe him money. All you ever heard him say is basically that he's been on some bum ass deals.

[Meho]

^^
Yeah Quik's got played by the industry too, but you don't see him crying to the record lables he used to be on and make claims about how they owe him money. All you ever heard him say is basically that he's been on some bum ass deals.

But the situation with LOX is different because P.Diddy is a huge star.So theyre logic is to make this a commercial thingy.

[hempside]

piddy runs the city.