P Diddy Accused Of Links To Tupac Shooting; Issues Denial

The Los Angeles Times published a report yesterday linking two former associates of Sean "P Diddy" Combs to the 1994 assault of legendary rapper, Tupac Shakur. The almost fatal attack happened outside New York's Quad Recording Studio, and 2Pac accused Diddy and The Notorius B.I.G. of being behind it. Now, Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Chuck Phillips has alleged that Tupac was right.

Phillips has used FBI testimony, witnesses and unnamed sources to come to his conclusions about the incident, in which Tupac was pistol-whipped, shot five times and left for dead. The article claims that Diddy and at least two dozen other Bad Boy Records associates were in the studio at the time the assault took place, and Diddy had advance knowledge that it was going to happen.

Talent manager James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond and promoter James Sabatino are accused of organising the attack, "to punish Shakur for disrespecting them and rejecting their business overtures and, not incidentally, to curry favor with Combs," who wanted to sign 2Pac to a recording contract. According to Phillips, the shooting was the cause of the infamous feud between East and West Coast rappers that eventually led to the killings of 2Pac and Biggie.

Diddy has responded to the allegations by publishing a statement:

"This story is beyond ridiculous and is completely false. Neither Biggie nor I had any knowledge of any attack before, during, or after it happened. It is a complete lie to suggest that there was any involvement by Biggie or myself. I am shocked that the Los Angeles Times would be so irresponsible as to publish such a baseless and completely untrue story."

Rosemond has called the story a "libellous piece of garbage" and said, "I am baffled as to why the LA Times would print this on its Web site when a simple and fair investigation would reveal that the allegations are false." He also said, "In the past 14 years, I have not even been questioned by law enforcement with regard to the assault of Tupac Shakur, let alone brought up on charges. I simply ask for all rap fans and fans of Tupac to analyse this fiction for what it is."

More on this as we hear it...