Follow The Leaders: Diddy

The music mogul will perform at the Hip Hop Awards '12.

Follow The Leaders: Diddy - From intern to industry veteran, Sean "Diddy" Combs has climbed the music industry's ladder to achieve record-breaking success. Estimated as the richest figure in hip hop, the powerhouse entrepreneur, rapper, and founder of Bad Boy Records will grace the stage at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards. Let's look back on his journey from the bottom up. (Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for MTV)

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Follow The Leaders: Diddy - From intern to industry veteran, Sean "Diddy" Combs has climbed the music industry's ladder to achieve record-breaking success. Estimated as the richest figure in hip hop, the powerhouse entrepreneur, rapper, and founder of Bad Boy Records will grace the stage at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards. Let's look back on his journey from the bottom up. (Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for MTV)

Uptown Beginnings - After dropping out of Howard University, Diddy got his start as an intern at Uptown Records, and eventually, was promoted to Talent Director. At Uptown, he managed the careers of Jodeci and Mary J. Blige. Both would grow to become major forces in R&B music. (Photo: Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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Uptown Beginnings - After dropping out of Howard University, Diddy got his start as an intern at Uptown Records, and eventually, was promoted to Talent Director. At Uptown, he managed the careers of Jodeci and Mary J. Blige. Both would grow to become major forces in R&B music. (Photo: Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

You're Fired! - The budding Talent Director was dismissed from Uptown Records, but used his departure as an opportunity to start his own venture. In 1993, he founded Bad Boy Records jointly with Arista Records, bringing with him his latest talent, Notorious B.I.G. (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)

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You're Fired! - The budding Talent Director was dismissed from Uptown Records, but used his departure as an opportunity to start his own venture. In 1993, he founded Bad Boy Records jointly with Arista Records, bringing with him his latest talent, Notorious B.I.G. (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)

90s Legends in the Making - Then known as Puff Daddy, the Bad Boy founder would go on to sign more legendary artists, such as Faith Evans and 112. His in-house production team also worked with a younger Usher, Lil' Kim, TLC, Boyz II Men, and Mariah Carey. (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)

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90s Legends in the Making - Then known as Puff Daddy, the Bad Boy founder would go on to sign more legendary artists, such as Faith Evans and 112. His in-house production team also worked with a younger Usher, Lil' Kim, TLC, Boyz II Men, and Mariah Carey. (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)

Photo By Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment

Group Action - The business mogul is known for making appearances in front of the camera alongside his Bad Boy artists. Very little has changed since the early 90s, as Diddy teamed up with Bad Boy singers Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper to make his own group, Diddy Dirty Money in 2009. The group disbanded this year.  (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for DCP)

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Group Action - The business mogul is known for making appearances in front of the camera alongside his Bad Boy artists. Very little has changed since the early 90s, as Diddy teamed up with Bad Boy singers Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper to make his own group, Diddy Dirty Money in 2009. The group disbanded this year.  (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for DCP)

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The Soloist - While Diddy has experienced major success making music and collaborative albums with his Bad Boy Family, he also has two solo studio albums under his belt, including chart-topping No Way Out (1997) and Press Play (2006). (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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The Soloist - While Diddy has experienced major success making music and collaborative albums with his Bad Boy Family, he also has two solo studio albums under his belt, including chart-topping No Way Out (1997) and Press Play (2006). (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Giving Back - With his immense success, the hip hop businessman has donated millions to various cities across the United States, including New Orleans natives after being hit by Hurricane Katrina. He's also given back in Chicago extensively enough that former Chi-town Mayor Richard M. Daley named October 6, 2008 "Diddy Day." (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Giving Back - With his immense success, the hip hop businessman has donated millions to various cities across the United States, including New Orleans natives after being hit by Hurricane Katrina. He's also given back in Chicago extensively enough that former Chi-town Mayor Richard M. Daley named October 6, 2008 "Diddy Day." (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Sean Jean - Merging hip hop with sophisticated fashion, Combs created his fashion line, Sean Jean, in the late 90s. In 2008, he took the brand beyond apparel into men's fragrance with "I AM KING," which was inspired by Barack Obama, Muhammad Ali, and Martin Luther King Jr. He also acquired the Enyce clothing line from Liz Claiborne for 20 million that same year. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive)

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Sean Jean - Merging hip hop with sophisticated fashion, Combs created his fashion line, Sean Jean, in the late 90s. In 2008, he took the brand beyond apparel into men's fragrance with "I AM KING," which was inspired by Barack Obama, Muhammad Ali, and Martin Luther King Jr. He also acquired the Enyce clothing line from Liz Claiborne for 20 million that same year. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive)

The Award Goes to... - The rapper-producer has won many awards, including three Grammys and two MTV Video Music Awards. The mega artist has been nominated for the "Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse" award at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards for his bars in Future's "Same D--- Time." (Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for MTV)

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The Award Goes to... - The rapper-producer has won many awards, including three Grammys and two MTV Video Music Awards. The mega artist has been nominated for the "Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse" award at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards for his bars in Future's "Same D--- Time." (Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for MTV)

The Performer - The hip hop celeb always puts on a good show. He has danced and rapped to sold out venues all over the world, and plans to throw it down on stage for the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards. You won't want to miss it. (Photo:Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)

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The Performer - The hip hop celeb always puts on a good show. He has danced and rapped to sold out venues all over the world, and plans to throw it down on stage for the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards. You won't want to miss it. (Photo:Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)