Mainstream Mogul

Sean Love Combs

With a decorated career spanning over three decades, Sean Combs has cemented himself as one of the most successful entrepreneurs and cultural icons of all-time. Standing as a respected symbol of relentless ambition, his unrivaled influence is only matched by an unparalleled ability to innovate, evolve and consistently defy convention. After departing Uptown Records to launch his own label in 1993, the emergence of Bad Boy Records marked an era of dominance, defining the sound of a generation and introducing the world to memorable artists and super-groups like Lil Kim, Faith Evans, 112, Mase, Total, The Lox, and The Notorious B.I.G. To date, Bad Boy has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, amassing countless Grammy Awards, Billboard No. 1 entries, and forming an extensive catalog of transcendent cult classics.

Beyond pioneering the genre of Hip Hop Soul and setting the contemporary trend of in-house production teams, Bad Boy laid the blueprint for turning a label celebrated for timeless anthems into a thriving cultural movement that seamlessly blended music, fashion and lifestyle. Following the tragic and untimely death of The Notorious B.I.G. in 1996, Combs continued the legacy of his late friend by stepping into the forefront as a solo artist, releasing his first full-length album No Way Out in 1997.

His seminal debut made a definitive statement, winning the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, in addition to winning Best Rap Performance for the Faith Evans-assisted I’ll Be Missing You. The album also featured defiant hits like Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down, Mo Money Mo Problems, and It’s All About The Benjamins. The record-breaking introduction sold more than 5 million copies and later became certified 7x platinum, setting the stage for a triumphant run that solidified Combs as a global superstar poised to expand his platform.

Combs transitioned into apparel with the launch of Sean John in 1998. The premium fashion label quickly became an ascendant brand commonly worn by high-profile artists, athletes and celebrities alike. After the brand grew to amass over $600 million globally, the staggering success of Sean John sparked an insurgence of Hip Hop-inspired clothing companies and changed the landscape of contemporary fashion forever. His profound impact on the industry earned Combs CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year honors in 2004. After solidifying himself as a dominant force in fashion, Combs broke ground again by striking a landmark partnership with DIAGEO in 2007, teaming up with the global spirits giant to become the face of Ciroc and help scale the premium vodka globally. Combs instantly transformed a once obscure brand into a lucrative cultural staple, climbing from selling just 40,000 cases annually to moving more than 2 million cases each year. The venture has since expanded to now include a portfolio of specialty flavors and an expansive list of marquee global ambassadors.

Continuing their 13-year partnership, Combs Spirits added Deleon Tequila to its roster, a premium tequila Combs acquired in 2014 that quickly evolved into one of the highest- selling, award-winning tequila brands in the marketplace. In 2013, Combs made more history by launching REVOLT Media & TV, the first Black-owned multi-platform cable music network. REVOLT has since become an authoritative voice for Hip Hop culture, providing a home for the next generation of artists, creators and leaders moving culture forward. The network now reaches over 80 million homes and 20 million viewers digitally, with carriers like Time Warner, Xfinity, and Verizon FiOs. The same year, Combs added an unexpected brand to his portfolio with the launch of fitness water brand Aquahydrate, a headline partnership with renowned fitness expert Jillian Michaels and actor Mark Whalberg. In 2019, the brand was acquired by The Alkaline Water Company to rollout a new collection of CBD-infused products.

In 2016, the Harlem native fulfilled a lifelong dream of providing youth from New York inner-cities access to high quality education by partnering with Dr. Steve Perry to open the Harlem Capital Prep Academy. The accredited charter school offers students a competitive curriculum focused on equipping them with the tools needed to properly prepare for college and careers after school. Building on the success of Harlem Capital Prep, Combs opened his third charter school, Capital Prep Bronx, in 2020.

In 2020, Combs won his third Grammy for executive producing Burna Boy’s “Twice As Tall”, taking home Best Global Album. He also served as Executive Producer of late rapper Nipsey Hussle’s Grammy Nominated album Victory Lap. Combs also executive produced two Academy Award-Winning documentaries, earning honors for Undefeated and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. He notably won an NAACP Award for Best Actor following his heralded role in A Raisin in the Sun, later creating, executive producing and starring in three seasons of MTV’s Making the Band franchise.

The versatile entrepreneur and super-producer added an Oscar nod to his list of accomplishments, receiving a nomination for Best Short Film after executive producing the powerful 2021 live action standout 2 Distant Strangers. Starring Brooklyn- bred emcee Joey Bada$$, the film candidly addresses the realities of racism and police brutality. Gaining critical acclaim, Netflix acquired the streaming rights to the film with a premiere set for April 9th. Combs has been awarded several honors throughout his astonishing career, including multiple Billboard Awards, BET Awards, Kids Choice Awards, a slate of MTV Video Music Awards and the coveted 2020 Industry Icon Award given at the prestigious Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Awards Gala.