00:00At one point Sean Combs was a highly respectable figure in the hip-hop industry. He was an
00:13influential mogul that many artists wanted to be associated with. Being a part of his
00:19circle often meant big exposure, shiny suits, and a taste of the limelight. Rarely would
00:25an invitation from the super producer be turned down.
00:55Combs had a great eye for talent, but after signing an artist, he would rarely leave them
01:00satisfied in their business venture.
01:02Let's take a look back at how Diddy, savagely, ruined his own group's career.
01:09After breaking multiple artists over the years, soon Combs would expand his business and brand
01:16to cable television. He was approached to be the focal point
01:23of a new reality TV show being developed for MTV. It would be a glorified talent search for
01:30his music label, and the winners would be offered a bad boy contract.
01:37Making the band premiered in the fall of 2002. Many aspiring artists from all over the world,
01:44competed for what they thought would be an opportunity of a lifetime.
01:51The first season viewers got a chance to see the talent search from start to finish.
01:58Most episodes featured mini back stories of the contestants, giving the audience someone
02:05to root for. By the finale, Combs selected the few he felt had potential to be stars.
02:11Finalist of the making of the band 2, Diddy Stiles,
02:30was going to be signed to the bad boy family.
02:33with Lloyd Mathis.
02:39Frederick Watson.
02:43Sarah Stokes.
02:47Miss Babs.
02:54This is the moment y'all all been waiting for.
02:56Dylon, Dylon, Dylon, Dylon and Dylon.
03:01Because I spit hard fire.
03:03After the successful first season, filming for the follow-up would quickly be greenlit
03:07by the network. In season 2 of Making the Band, the direction would shift drastically
03:13and the series became full on reality trash. And this is how the music mogul knowingly ruined
03:19their careers. The winners who were basically strangers to each other.
03:25were moved into a small town house and forced to share the space with the cameras filming
03:31their every move. Prior to shows like Making the Band, fans just saw the finished product
03:37of what an artist attempted to portray. Whether it was being tough, having tons of money,
03:43or being a ladies man. Sean's reality series would pull back the curtains and expose a less
03:49stellar image for them all. The audience tuning in weekly were able to witness the group at their
03:55lowest points. Music would no longer be the primary focus of the series. Now episodes were centered
04:03in the drama between the cast. There were many arguments and even physical altercations taking
04:21place between the housemates. The spats were quite entertaining for reality television, but the immature
04:27conflicts didn't help their image at all. Combs also would subject the group to what could be
04:33considered public humiliation. Instead of producing songs and showcasing their artistry, Diddy would
04:39give the band, odd and demeaning task regularly. They were even forced to stand outside all day and do street
04:55performances. But the most humiliating thing was when Combs forced the cast to walk several miles in the
05:01cold for a slice of cheesecake. While Diddy made a mockery of them over and over, just for the sake of
05:07entertainment. Thanks to the exposure on the show, their first album did eventually go gold, selling around
05:14500,000 units. However, for the third and final season, Diddy decided to dismantle the group he put through
05:21all the nonsense. Most of the members never fully recovered from the humiliation after the show ended. They
05:28weren't taken serious by their peers in the music industry, or even by fans that witnessed all the foolery over the
05:35years. Following the show, the cast members were more known for their walk to Brooklyn for food than their
05:42actual talent and songs. None of them ever found commercial success once the show ended. Some of the
05:49cast members even gave up on pursuing a music career completely and regret their decision to appear on the
05:55show. Meanwhile, the Combs brand continued to grow after making the band. He was fast-tracked to billionaire
06:03status after the series success. Numerous of Combs former artists seem to have a negative opinion on the
06:10mogul. But what do you think about this story? Are you a Diddy fan? Did you watch the show? Leave a comment
06:19below and let me know.
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