By now you’ve seen the enviable pictures and videos of every Hollywood star who attended another Diddy bash. This time, the party was in celebration of the mogul’s 50 birthday. Guests came dressed in their best fashions to help Diddy blow out 50 candles. The hashtag #Diddy50 was shared all over Instagram while social media onlookers wondered if their invites were lost in the mail.
He’s led quite the accomplished life in his 50 years and continues to make big moves. He’s so respected in the industry that his birthday called for the first public reunion of Jay-Z and Kanye West since their fallout a few years ago.
In honor of turning half of a century, here are five of Diddy’s biggest boss moves throughout his career thus far.
Diddy creates Sean Jean Clothing in 1998
Diddy wasn’t the average hip hop star of his day that rocked baggy clothing and excessive jewelry. Unlike his peers, he displayed his love of the higher echelon of clothing by donning tailored suits with custom cufflinks. He had the vision to merge hip hop and the oftentimes overlooked the urban fashion community with the masses. He did that and more when he started Sean Jean in 1998.
His first collection was comprised of 11 pieces of affordable casual wear. Sean John made its debut in retail with a launch event at Bloomingdale’s in New York in 1999 before showcasing his full line during New York Fashion Week the following year.
Since it’s debut, Sean John has grown into a full lifestyle brand with 18 product categories that include sportswear, kids, fragrance, coats and dress wear. The line is offered in high and low-end retailers, including Macy’s, Bloomingdales and Burlington. In honor of its 20th anniversary in 2018, an exclusive line was launched and profiled in Forbes Magazine.
Diddy takes over MTV’s ‘Making The Band’
Making The Band was originally broadcasted on ABC and chronicled a celebrity talent manager’s quest for the next big pop group. The show was a moderate hit but ABC struggled to find an audience. It was brought to MTV in its second season. With the help of Diddy as the new lead, the show became MTV’s number one series.
Using the model from Berry Gordy’s Motown era, Diddy did the impossible by creating three platinum-selling groups. He carefully selected each member and spent time crafting their talent and public image through the help of some of his closest allies in choreography, songwriting, production, and styling.
For three seasons, Diddy created groups in three separate music categories. His first was a six-member hip hop and R&B group, Da Band, who released one gold album and went on a tour before Diddy decided to drop the group as a whole. Seasons 3 and 4 of the show focused on his all-female group, Danity Kane – and his all-male group, Day 26 – and their road to becoming top performing artists. Those groups were disbanded as well in their final seasons.
The show had a huge place in pop culture, so much so that Diddy announced he was bringing Making The Band back in 2020.
Diddy starts Revolt TV in 2013
In 2012, Diddy announced in a YouTube video that he was closing a historical deal with Time Warner cable to create his own network, Revolt TV.
In an official release posted by Multichannel News, it was revealed that the minority-owned network would be distributed by Comcast/NBC Universal. The channel is geared towards urban markets and airs live music, music videos, talk shows, and original series.
Revolt TV officially launched in the fall of 2013. The popular morning radio show, The Breakfast Club, is aired exclusively on Revolt TV. The panel discussion series, State of the Culture, also airs on Revolt.
Diddy becomes the poster boy for Ciroc vodka
The spirits world and hip hop have always gone hand and hand. The cognac brand Courvoisier was made popular thanks to rappers like Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes. Diddy has always loved good champagne and good liquor, which he showed by flashing bottles in his music videos. He took things a step further by becoming the official U.S. marketing representative for Ciroc vodka in 2007.
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The brand was struggling prior to Diddy lending his face and name. At the time of Diddy’s partnership with Ciroc, it was ranked number 50 in the vodka world, thanks to Diddy’s allure, Ciroc became number two in the premium vodka category.
Business Insider revealed that Diddy’s promotional methods used included traditional product placement. He also did traditional marketing with massive commercial and ad campaigns, as well as sponsoring several of the top parties in Hollywood.
Diddy helps to open a charter school
Diddy got his love for the entertainment business by working as a party promoter during his time attending Howard University. Though he never completed his degree, the knowledge he learned while in school transcended the classroom into a multimillion-dollar empire.
Understanding that wealth is power and determined to give back to the children of the city he grew up in, Diddy pledged a $1 million donation to a network of charter schools throughout New York and its surrounding boroughs. Capital Preparatory Schools was approved to open in 2018. He worked closely with Capital Prep founder Steve Perry to expand the network.
“I know from my own experience that receiving a great education makes a huge impact on a child’s future. I want these kids have access to everything they need to succeed, in school and life,” he said in a statement. “We don’t just teach kids to read, write and code, we teach them to be leaders and what it takes to make a difference in their community, and on the world.”
Diddy attended a ribbon-cutting when the schools opened in new locations and shared with his social media.
#Diddy50 was lit and well deserved. With the amount he’s contributed to the industry and the culture, his birthday was worth such a massive celebration.
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