Diddy refused to let late Notorious B.I.G. on Rolling Stone cover in order to promote solo album, ex-Bad Boy president Kirk Burrowes claims

Kirk Burrowes, the former co-founder and president of Bad Boy Records, recounts a pivotal moment when Diddy refused a Rolling Stone cover for The Notorious B.I.G. to promote his own solo album, No Way Out.

On May 28, 2024, Rolling Stone released an exclusive covering Diddy's alleged incidents. They contacted more than 300 people to share experiences with Combs, but only 50 agreed to speak, including Burrowes and Monique Bunn, renowned photographer and friend of The Notorious B.I.G.

In a lengthy article, Kirk Burrowes recalled advising Sean to let Biggie take the opportunity for the Rolling Stone cover as he was at the peak of his career and deserved the recognition when he untimely passed away in 1997. He revealed:

"I was telling Sean, 'Let's make it Biggie. You still have a chance for a cover in the future."

Christopher George Latore Wallace was an American rapper, better known by his stage name, The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls. He rose to prominence when Sean Combs signed him to the label Bad Boy Records.

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Bad Boy Records former president on Diddy allegedly taking over Rolling Stone cover

Sean Combs, the rapper and record producer (Image via Getty)

The ex-Bad Boy president, Kirk Burrowes, in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, disclosed that after the demise of The Notorious B.I.G.'s career, Rolling Stone magazine extended an offer for a cover story for the late rapper and Diddy allegedly denied to put Biggie on it, although Burrowes advocated for it. Burrowes shared:

"He's like, 'No, he's dead. I'm putting out [Combs' debut album, No Way Out] in July. I need to be on the cover of Rolling Stone."

Ultimately, Sean secured his cover of Rolling Stone. In an interview with the magazine two years later, in 1999, Sean revealed that Biggie's untimely demise significantly contributed to the success of his album. Sean Combs said:

"I think his passing added to the fame. At least 2 million of the nearly 5 million copies of No Way Out sold were due to [his death], straight up. And that doesn't necessarily feel good, but that's the reality."

Kirk Burrowes also suggests in the interview that Sean never forgets the grudge, if he is on bad terms with somebody, he will "pull" it. Burrowes claimed:

"If he sees a snag in the sweater, he'll pull."

Burrowes further disclosed that Diddy admired 2Pac's work and desired friendship. However, 2Pac formed a bond with Wallace instead, which sparked a "sideline jealousy" in Combs. This friendship was short-lived, ending after 2Pac was shot five times in the lobby of Quad Studios in Times Square in 1994, an incident for which he blamed Sean Combs and Bad Boy Records.

The Rolling Stone article also unveiled Burrowes' remarks indicating that, notwithstanding the internal tensions within the label, Diddy proceeded to release The Notorious B.I.G.'s single Who Shot Ya? in 1995, which sparked controversy for allegedly targeting 2Pac.

However, during a 2022 interview with The Art Of Dialogue, Burrowes refuted these claims, asserting instead that the song's controversial association with 2Pac was a result of marketing strategies orchestrated by Combs. He stated

"The way it was marketed by the company and released, in the succession of things that were going on that we were dealing with, on all the levels that we were dealing, that record did what it was supposed to do."

He further added, referring to Sean Combs:

"You're sleeping, he's thinking on those different levels."

In addition to the dynamics between Diddy, Biggie, and Bad Boy Records, Monique Bunn, a photographer and close friend of Biggie, revealed in the interview with Rolling Stone that The Notorious B.I.G. was planning to leave Bad Boy Records just before his untimely demise. Bunn said:

"Biggie was absolutely about to leave Puff. I know for a fact because he told me that."

The photographer also revealed that 2Pac had no respect for Combs. She claimed he was a "corny executive" for Shukar and Biggie.

American rapper and record producer Diddy has not commented on any of the allegations. According to Rolling Stone, the producer's lawyer, Jonathan Davis, said that they will respond in a proper form.