"Puffy may suffer some backlash from the pop world," says Tracy Cloherty, program director at New York hip-hop station Hot 97 and a friend of Combs' and Stoute's. "But ultimately, I don't think this will have any effect on him as a producer."
Until now, Combs has managed to stay above rap's violent fray, cultivating the image of a genteel rapper-producer-mogul with burgeoning business interests in fashion, film, and food. But he's no stranger to violence or to the criminal justice system. According to Simmons, "I know he used to have a lot of fistfights at Uptown Records," where Combs interned in the late '80s. In 1996 Combs was found guilty of criminal mischief for threatening a New York Post photographer with a gun; he paid a $1,000 fine.
Will the rap king beat this latest rap? Probably. He's due back in court June 24, and, given his deep pockets, jail time seems remote. Simmons believes Combs might even turn his troubles into music: "The fact that Puffy was in a fight gives him something else to write about." Can't wait for the video of that song.
Additional reporting by Rob Brunner
Musicians hit a sour note
Puff Daddy isn't the only artist allegedly in the brawl game. Here are a few of the others:
Marion ''Suge'' Knight: The president of Death Row Records is serving a nine-year sentence for violating probation on two counts of assault by getting into a fight.
Ol' Dirty Bastard: The Wu-Tang Clan member was arrested in January for allegedly shooting at a police officer. The charges were subsequently dropped.
Marilyn Manson: The rocker was sued for $20 million in a civil suit filed in January by Craig Marks, then a Spin magazine editor, for allegedly orchestrating an attack against him after a November Manson concert. Manson denied the charges and has since filed a countersuit.
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