Josh Mankiewicz

And something was. First came a barrage of lawsuits. Then, criminal charges.

And something was. First came a barrage of lawsuits. Then, criminal charges.

The man at the center of it all has gone by a lot of names. Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy, or just Diddy. Tonight, we're going to call him by only one name, his real name. It's also the one on his indictment, Sean Combs. In a federal courtroom in downtown Manhattan, he's facing charges so ugly, they could snuff out his stardom for good. Then again, this is Sean Combs.

The man at the center of it all has gone by a lot of names. Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy, or just Diddy. Tonight, we're going to call him by only one name, his real name. It's also the one on his indictment, Sean Combs. In a federal courtroom in downtown Manhattan, he's facing charges so ugly, they could snuff out his stardom for good. Then again, this is Sean Combs.

Sean Combs began his life in Harlem. He was still a toddler when he lost his father in a shooting.

Sean Combs began his life in Harlem. He was still a toddler when he lost his father in a shooting.

Cheyenne Roundtree is an investigative reporter for Rolling Stone magazine. She says after Combs' father was killed, his mother moved him to a New York City suburb.

Cheyenne Roundtree is an investigative reporter for Rolling Stone magazine. She says after Combs' father was killed, his mother moved him to a New York City suburb.

The story behind one of his nicknames goes back to his teenage years.

The story behind one of his nicknames goes back to his teenage years.

The musical rise of Sean Combs began with a college internship and then a job at Uptown Records. At just 22, he was producing for artists like Mary J. Blige when she had her monster hit, Real Love. After three years, Combs left Uptown and founded his own label called Bad Boy Records. It was a magnet for new artists, including the notorious B.I.G., a.k.a. Biggie Smalls.

The musical rise of Sean Combs began with a college internship and then a job at Uptown Records. At just 22, he was producing for artists like Mary J. Blige when she had her monster hit, Real Love. After three years, Combs left Uptown and founded his own label called Bad Boy Records. It was a magnet for new artists, including the notorious B.I.G., a.k.a. Biggie Smalls.

Jasmine Kanick is a social critic who follows the world of hip-hop. He really had a lot of talent as an impresario, and not just as a music producer. He sort of knew how to... how to make himself the face and voice of a musical movement.

Jasmine Kanick is a social critic who follows the world of hip-hop. He really had a lot of talent as an impresario, and not just as a music producer. He sort of knew how to... how to make himself the face and voice of a musical movement.

He became a central figure in New York hip-hop and in an East Coast-West Coast rap rivalry. In 1997, the notorious B.I.G., Combs' top artist, was murdered.

He became a central figure in New York hip-hop and in an East Coast-West Coast rap rivalry. In 1997, the notorious B.I.G., Combs' top artist, was murdered.

Sean Combs was everywhere, showing off the spoils of his success. And he exported his over-the-top image to places hip-hop hadn't landed before with what he called white parties held in the country club Hamptons of Long Island. Philip Block. is a celebrity stylist who attended.

Sean Combs was everywhere, showing off the spoils of his success. And he exported his over-the-top image to places hip-hop hadn't landed before with what he called white parties held in the country club Hamptons of Long Island. Philip Block. is a celebrity stylist who attended.

By the late 90s, Bad Boy Records was bringing in $130 million a year. And Combs had a celebrity girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez.

By the late 90s, Bad Boy Records was bringing in $130 million a year. And Combs had a celebrity girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez.