50 Cent continues to make allegations against P. Diddy, suggesting the rapper was involved in the murder of Tupac Shakur. The drive-by shooting of the 25-year-old artist remains unsolved nearly 30 years later, having occurred during a period of intense gang rivalry and a culture that discouraged cooperation with law enforcement.
The murder of Tupac is believed to have possibly led to the retaliatory killing of New York rapper Notorious B.I.G. in California six months later. With Duane Keith ‘Keffe D’ Davis, a former Compton gang leader, facing charges in Shakur’s 1996 assassination and a trial set for August next year, 50 Cent has released a docuseries that implicates Diddy in the incident.
Currently serving a four-year prison sentence for charges related to prostitution, 50 Cent’s docuseries, titled “Sean Combs: The Reckoning,” debuted on Netflix on December 2.
The series has provoked strong reactions, offering a detailed look into the fierce East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry of the 1990s between Diddy’s Bad Boy Records and Suge Knight’s Death Row Records. It features previously unseen footage that implies Diddy was involved in Tupac’s murder.
Included are clips of an alleged phone call between Combs and Davis, reportedly planning the murder. Despite Combs’ legal team criticizing the series as a “shameful hit piece” and sending a cease-and-desist letter to Netflix, 50 Cent remains undeterred.
In an interview with US Weekly, 50 Cent expressed his belief that Combs will never take responsibility for his alleged involvement in the crime.
“He’s already been implicated,” 50 Cent said. “I don’t think that he could actually go through a murder-for-hire case when the person is saying they weren’t paid.”
Davis claimed Diddy had offered him $1 million for the hit on Shakur and Knight, which was later reduced after only Shakur was killed. However, Davis, who was arrested in 2023, has since retracted these claims. Diddy strongly denies any involvement, while Shakur’s family has reportedly hired private investigators to explore this lead.
50 Cent, who produced the series, has been a long-time critic of Combs and recently alleged that he received flowers from Diddy as a “warning” about the documentary’s release.
The documentary also includes footage of Combs prior to his arrest in September 2024, appearing to show him devising a strategy to influence public opinion about his charges.
“I’ve been committed to real storytelling for years through G-Unit Film & Television,” 50 Cent explained regarding his decision to delve into Diddy’s past for the series.
“We don’t run from the truth; we document it. When this story evolved, it was clear there was a bigger conversation happening.”
50 Cent also expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the series, stating: “I’m grateful to everyone who came forward and trusted us with their stories, and proud to have Alexandria Stapleton as the director on the project to bring this important story to the screen.”
Meanwhile, Diddy’s representatives stated that Netflix’s documentary is a “shameful hit piece” and accused the streaming platform of using unauthorized footage.
“As Netflix and CEO Ted Sarandos know, Mr. Combs has been amassing footage since he was 19 to tell his own story, in his own way.”
“It is fundamentally unfair, and illegal, for Netflix to misappropriate that work. It is equally staggering that Netflix handed creative control to Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson — a longtime adversary with a personal vendetta who has spent too much time slandering Mr. Combs.
“Beyond the legal issues, this is a personal breach of trust. Mr. Combs has long respected Ted Sarandos and admired the legacy of Clarence Avant.”