Jay Z And Sean “Diddy” Combs faced ups and downs while building their successful hip-hop empires.

Since the ’90s, when Diddy and Jay-Z founded Bad Boy Records and Roc-A-Fella Records, respectively, in New York, they ran in similar industry circles and formed a friendly rivalry as their individual music careers took off.

Over the years, the music moguls joined forces, working on multiple projects together and supporting each other off the mic by publicly praising each other. However, their relationship came under scrutiny in late 2024 when Jay-Z was accused of rape in a civil lawsuit alongside Diddy. According to NBC News, the accuser – who remained anonymous and was referred to as “Jane Doe” – was 13 years old when the alleged incident occurred in 2000. (Jay-Z addressed the “vile” allegations in a December 2024 statement.)

Read on to take a look back at Diddy and Jay-Z’s history over the years:

1996

While Diddy was already a well-known music mogul, Jay-Z was enjoying success with his first album. Reasonable doubtin which the deceased could be seen Biggie Smalls. The Notorious BIG was signed to Diddy’s label.

1997

After the murder of their mutual friend Smalls, Diddy agreed to collaborate with Jay-Z on his second album. In my life, volume 1. They also worked together on the Diddy’s track “Do You Like It, Do You Want It”. No way out Album.

Years later, Diddy said he saw Jay-Z filling the void between Smalls and the deceased Tupac Shakur had left behind.

1999

Jay-Z faced prison time for his involvement in the stabbing Lance “Un” Rivera at the Kit Kat Club in New York. He received a three-year probation sentence and Rivera confirmed two decades later, “Jay-Z was not the guy who actually stabbed me that night.”

Diddy, meanwhile, received a three-year suspended sentence for fleeing the scene of a shooting at a nightclub near Times Square Jennifer Lopez.

Both were relieved to escape prison time and the two rappers bonded over their experiences.

Early 2000s

Beyonce KnowlesJay-Z, then 19, and Jay-Z, then 33, began a relationship after becoming friends. The couple and Diddy were often seen attending each other’s professional events and raving about their shared success.

2003

Beyoncé, now a major solo artist after Destiny’s Child disbanded, collaborated with Diddy on the song “Summertime.”

September 2005

Diddy and Jay-Z jointly donate $1 million to the Hurricane Katrina relief fund and present a huge check during a live telethon.

August 2007

Diddy and Jay-Z performed together at Screamfest, a touring hip-hop festival, and Diddy was filmed slapping Jay-Z on the butt twice.

June 2009

Photos of Diddy partying with Jay-Z and other music industry friends were featured at The Rock N Roll Of Hip Hop exhibition in Hollywood. Diddy spoke on camera about a picture that shows the two men talking at one of his birthday parties. “I told him how much I appreciated him coming…” he said. “And how much I value our friendship. People see us as competitors and different icons in the hip-hop game, but this was just a moment of two black brothers telling each other how much they appreciate each other.”

Diddy’s ex Kim PorterThe man, who died in 2018, added with a smile: “We call this picture a secret society, we only ask for trust!”

2010

Jay-Z and Diddy were both at the top Forbes‘ List of the Richest Hip Hop Artists Asserting Their Dominance in Music and Business. They publicly celebrated each other’s successes and were at the top of each other’s lists for several years.

August 2016

The couple celebrated with stars like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West And Cassie at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in New York.

January 2020

Diddy and Jay-Z toasted their careers at a Black Billionaire brunch hosted by Roc Nation. “It’s 2020, and it’s different than 2016,” Diddy said at the event, with Jay-Z nodding along. “The game has been improved. As you know, no expense was spared. We’ve had a black billionaire’s lunch year, you understand, right? And we are here together to stay together. We are becoming closer and we stand united.”

April 2022

The duo hung out together and posed for photos as they celebrated DJ Khaled honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

June 2022

Diddy received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 BET Awards and Jay-Z appeared in the video montage to honor his musical work. “Here’s this guy from a neighborhood similar to the one I grew up in who made it to these unattainable heights,” he said. “Puff was the first one to come through and make us feel like it was us.”

March 2024

As allegations against Diddy, another hip-hop star, mount 50 cents shared a controversial Instagram picture and joked that Jay-Z must be “missing” or “hidden” because he hasn’t spoken out about Diddy. (Several men and women alleged that they were sexually assaulted by Diddy, who was ultimately arrested in September 2024 following a grand jury indictment. He has denied all allegations.)

December 2024

Jay-Z, along with Diddy, was accused of raping a 13-year-old after the 2000 MTV Music Video Awards. Jay-Z strongly denied the claims and issued a statement claiming he was being blackmailed. However, the accuser’s lawyer claimed she never “asked for a dime” from the rapper.