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Mark Curry Criticizes Diddy’s Return of Publishing Rights to Artists as Self-Serving
Mark Curry, renowned for his association with Bad Boy Records, has offered a critical perspective on Diddy’s decision to return publishing rights to his artists, asserting that it’s not the noble gesture it’s portrayed to be.
In a lengthy Instagram video posted on Wednesday, the New Jersey native addressed his former label boss’s move to grant musicians full control over their catalogs, suggesting that it still ultimately serves Diddy’s interests.
“What’s it worth now?” he asked. “He gave me mine back a long time ago … That’s disrespectful — I said why don’t you just keep it and pay me? I don’t want the publishing; I want the money.”
The caption of the Instagram clip read: “Diddy gave the publishing back… So what… it has no value… I want him to give me a million cash and then I can plan the rest of my life out well.”
In the comments section, Curry provided further context, stating,
“Ever had somebody owe you 50 dollars.. when you needed it back.. they didn’t pay you.. then by the time they do pay you.. the 50 dollars doesn’t mean the same as it did when you needed it?
“That’s how I feel… I wanted that when it was making money.. not after it’s all gone.. what ima do with that? I’m fact.. it’s an insult.”
Mark Curry, notable for his appearances on Biggie’s posthumous track “Dangerous MC’s” and Diddy’s 2001 hit “Bad Boy For Life,” ironically parted ways with Bad Boy in 2005 and subsequently pursued various endeavors outside the entertainment industry.
In 2009, he released a book titled “Dancing with the Devil: How Puff Burned the Bad Boys of Hip Hop,” which shed light on the shrewd and exploitative business practices of the Harlem mogul, Diddy, as well as his questionable financial tactics. Therefore, his recent criticism aligns with his historical perspective.
While some view Diddy’s decision to return Bad Boy’s publishing rights to the artists as a generous act, others, like Ma$e, who, along with The LOX and The Notorious B.I.G.’s estate, regained publishing rights, have expressed their grievances in the past.
Sources with direct knowledge of the deal disclosed to TMZ that Diddy had been offered “nine figures” for the catalogs but chose instead to return the publishing rights to the artists, aiming to revolutionize the industry and empower artists by altering the prevailing dynamics. This aligns with Diddy’s aspiration to enrich his community as part of his legacy.
Though Diddy’s recent approach appears more artist-centric, this hasn’t always been the case. In January 2020, Ma$e publicly criticized Diddy for taking advantage of him by offering only $20,000 for his publishing rights when he initially joined Bad Boy and for turning down his subsequent $2 million offer to buy back his catalog.
Ma$e’s outburst followed Diddy’s speech at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammys gala, where he reprimanded the Recording Academy for its alleged disrespect toward Black Hip Hop and R&B artists. In response, Ma$e called on Diddy to lead by example and rectify his past business practices, which he claimed had been unfair to artists who had contributed to his iconic success on the Bad Boy label.
