Bad Boy Records

Bad Boy Entertainment
Founded1993 (1993)
FounderSean Combs
StatusActive
Distributor(s)Epic (2015–2022)
Interscope (2009–2015)
Atlantic (2005–2009)
Rhino (2005 – present; back catalog only)
Universal (2003–2005)
Arista (1993–2002)
Genre
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City, U.S.

Bad Boy Entertainment, doing business as Bad Boy Records,[1][2] is an American record label founded by Sean Combs in 1993.[3][4] The label's first signee, the Notorious B.I.G., gained significant commercial success following the release of his 1994 single "Juicy". Following this, the label signed other hip-hop and R&B acts, including Faith Evans, Mase, 112, Total, the Lox, Shyne, and Carl Thomas. At its peak in 1997, Bad Boy was worth an estimated US$100 million. During the 2000s, Bad Boy Records signed several notable artists, including French Montana, Machine Gun Kelly, Janelle Monáe, and Cassie Ventura.

In 2023, Combs founded a successor label titled Love Records. This venture was created to independently release his fifth studio album, The Love Album: Off the Grid, in September of that year.[5][6][7]

  1. ^ "Trademark Status and Document Retrieval: Bad Boy Entertainment, inactive". tsdr.uspto.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  2. ^ "Trademark Status and Document Retrieval: Bad Boy Entertainment, active". tsdr.uspto.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  3. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (July 29, 2016). "Who's Who of Bad Boy Records". Complex Networks. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Gilmore, Mike (August 7, 1997). "Puff Daddy Cometh". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  5. ^ Aswad, Jem (May 10, 2022). "Sean 'Diddy' Combs Launches New R&B Label, Love Records". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  6. ^ Guerrasio, Jason (November 5, 2022). "Sean 'Diddy' Combs recently overtook Kanye West as hip-hop's second-highest earner — here's how he makes and spends his money". Insider. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  7. ^ Kaufman, Gil (April 15, 2005). "P. Diddy No Longer Has Total Bad Boy Control". MTV. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.