So maybe you hate rap. And so you think you can escape the clutches of rap megamogul Sean “Puffy” Combs, aka Puff Daddy, who performs Saturday at the Rosemont Horizon with many of the artists whom he has produced or collaborated with, including Mase, Usher, Busta Rhymes, Foxy Brown and Lil’ Kim.
Think again.
There he is on alternative rock station Q101, banging and shrieking with the likes of the Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and ex-Replacement bassist Tommy Stinson for the rock remix of “It’s All About the Benjamins.” (That’s Benjamin as in Franklin, as in $100 bills.) In the video, he even takes on R.E.M., clad in a pompadour and a tuxedo as he croons a mock-serious version of “Everybody Hurts.”
What’s next? Puffy and Yo-Yo Ma?
The new King of Pop – for ’97, at least – has a hand in four current Top 40 pop singles and four current Top 20 albums; singles from his record label, Bad Boy Entertainment, held the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for 22 consecutive weeks. In previous years, he produced hits for artists such as Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, TLC, Craig Mack, Mariah Carey and his buddy, the late Notorious B.I.G. – helping sell 12 million records in three years.
This year, he has stepped out front for the first time as a performer. His “No Way Out” album has produced three massive hit singles and made him a perennial presence on MTV, BET and The Box.
It’s no wonder that the likes of David Bowie and Sting are lining up for a chance to shake, rattle and roll with the twenty-something Puffy.
Some of Combs’ recent accomplishments:
– Wrote, produced and performed with Sting on the hip-hop remix of 1979 Police hit “Roxanne,” which will appear on the Police’s greatest hits disc.
– Appears on the official commemorative double CD “Diana, Princess of Wales — Tribute.”
– Produced a single for Aretha Franklin for her upcoming CD.
– Producer on Notorious B.I.G.’s No. 1 album “Life After Death.”
– Producer/performer on Mase’s No. 1 album “Harlem World.”
– Producer on Boyz II Men’s No. 1 al-bum “Evolution.”
– Producer on LL Cool J’s top-10 album “Phenomenon.”
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– Producer/performer on Mariah Carey’s No. 1 single “Honey.”
– Producer/performer on Notorious B.I.G.’s No. 1 single “Mo Money Mo Problems.”
– Producer of Top 20 hits “You Should Be Mine” by Brian McKnight and “Someone” by SWV.
Celine Dion, you’re next.