Sean “Diddy” Combs will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award during this year’s BET Awards, set to air live June 26.
The honor reflects the inescapable presence one has had in their respective field.
Combs is a worldwide mogul known as an innovator in many facets, not limited to music and fashion. He has been linked to virtually every R&B and hip-hop act in the modern era, with his first being the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige at Uptown Records in the early ’90s.
Building on the momentum of Blige’s first two multi-platinum albums, Combs started his own record company, Bad Boy Entertainment. Born out of this entrepreneurship were classic albums and timeless songs by The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, 112, Total, Mase, Carl Thomas, Danity Kane, Day26, and many more.
Before releasing albums under many name changes and collectives (Puff Daddy, P-Diddy, Diddy-Dirty Money, etc.), Combs interchanged between background roles that counted towards his ambitious pursuit as a musical visionary. Artists included in this journey were Mariah Carey, Usher, Lil’ Kim, B2K, Cassie, and many more.
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BET’s CEO Scott Mills said, “Diddy has always been a pioneering force in our community, breaking barriers, achieving unprecedented heights, blazing new trails, and, in so doing, raising the bar for all of us.”
He added, “His virtuosity is matched only by his range – from music to media, culture, business, and philanthropy – Diddy has exemplified Black Excellence. We are delighted to have this opportunity to use our biggest stage to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of our friend Diddy.”
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is an incomparable cultural force and creative visionary whose impact has created historic paradigm shifts across music, media, fashion, and lifestyle. It’s personally gratifying to celebrate and honor a longtime partner and friend of the network who, through the decades, has laid the blueprint for Black excellence through entertainment,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming and Music Strategy.
Combs’ Lifetime Achievement Award announcement comes on the heels of him hosting the recent Billboard Music Awards, where Blige received the Icon Award. At the same ceremony, he introduced Jozzy, the first signee to his newly-established Love Records.
Announced as a joint venture with Motown Records, the R&B-centric label will produce one new album from Combs, which will arrive sometime this summer. He’ll wear the hats of executive producer, curator, and A&R.
“Music has always been my first love, Love Records is the next chapter is about getting back to the love and making the best music of my life,” shared Combs in a statement. “For the label I’m focused on creating timeless R&B music with the next generation of artists and producers. Motown is the perfect partner for my album and I’m excited to add to its legacy.”
