Despite the public portrayal of a close friendship between Biggie and Diddy, Gene Deal revealed that their relationship was far more business-oriented and less personal than Diddy has often claimed. “Big used to always clown him,” Gene said, adding that Biggie was well aware that Diddy was robbing him financially. However, Biggie understood that he needed Diddy’s business connections just as much as Diddy needed him to succeed in the industry.
The tensions over money seemed to have weighed heavily on Biggie, particularly regarding his publishing rights. Gene claimed that Biggie was actively working to regain control over his publishing and marketing rights, which had been largely controlled by Diddy. Puff, according to Gene, had “robbed” Biggie of those rights, prompting Biggie to learn ways to shift his publishing to other names to prevent Diddy from benefiting from his work. Despite these conflicts, Biggie had to play along, seeking to eventually reclaim what he had sold to Diddy earlier in his career.
In another revelation, Gene Deal spoke about a massive $60 million deal Biggie was negotiating, which would have seen him leave Bad Boy Records for a new venture. Gene claimed to have seen Biggie’s contract with Bad Boy while watching over Diddy’s briefcase on a flight. The contract outlined Biggie’s earnings but left his publishing income in Diddy’s hands. When Gene confronted Biggie about it, the rapper allegedly told him about a more lucrative deal he was working on, which would see him part ways with Diddy.
Fans have long speculated about the nature of the relationship between Biggie and Diddy. Comments from fans have highlighted discrepancies in Diddy’s actions toward Biggie’s family, including his daughter not being invited to the Bad Boy Reunion tour. Fans have pointed out that Biggie’s label outside of Bad Boy and his general tone toward Diddy always seemed more about business than personal affection, in stark contrast to how Biggie spoke about other friends, like Jay-Z.
Gene also shed light on Diddy’s alleged dishonesty with Biggie’s mother, claiming that Diddy lied to Valletta Wallace about not knowing Gene, perhaps fearing that Gene would reveal the true details of Biggie’s last night. Some fans have even accused Diddy of exploiting Biggie’s name and image for personal gain. Valletta herself, in her book titled Biggie, wrote that she was relieved her son did not live to see how his name and image had been exploited by the very people he trusted.
Valletta Wallace criticized the financial arrangements surrounding Biggie’s career, recalling how Diddy initially lured her son with a mere $25,000 contract. For a 19-year-old who had never seen that much money at once, it was enough to secure Biggie’s blind loyalty and belief in Diddy’s friendship. Valletta expressed frustration not only with Diddy’s financial dealings but also with the handling of the investigation into Biggie’s murder. She believes a conspiracy has prevented justice from being served, despite the LAPD’s knowledge of the killer’s identity.
Gene Deal also introduced another controversial theory, suggesting that Biggie’s murder may have been a case of mistaken identity. According to Gene, Diddy was the intended target of a hit planned after a party at the Peterson Automotive Museum, where Biggie was killed. Diddy, however, was tipped off and moved to a hotel, leaving Biggie vulnerable. The Hitman allegedly mistook Biggie for Diddy and opened fire on his vehicle as he was leaving the museum. Gene’s claims are not new, as Jaguar Wright, a neo-soul singer and former member of The Roots, has made similar allegations, suggesting that Diddy saw Biggie as a threat to his own success and had a motive for wanting him out of the picture.
Jaguar Wright and other sources have pointed to how Diddy has continued to profit off Biggie’s legacy, with some even noting that Diddy has made more money off Biggie’s name after his death than Biggie ever earned during his lifetime. Biggie died at just 24 years old, leaving behind a vast catalog of valuable unreleased music, including a project called The Commission, which was intended to be his final album under Bad Boy before launching his own label. This album, which was reportedly in the final stages of production, never saw the light of day after Biggie’s death.
The murder of Biggie Smalls on March 9, 1997, remains one of the most significant unsolved cases in modern music history. Though he had cemented his place as one of the most iconic figures in hip-hop, his life was cut tragically short just as he was on the verge of establishing his own music empire. Despite countless investigations and various theories, including alleged gang involvement and police corruption, Biggie’s murder has yet to be solved.
In the wake of her son’s death, Valletta Wallace has dedicated her life to seeking justice for Biggie and preserving his legacy. She has criticized the music industry for its treatment of her son and has taken on the role of managing his estate. Through the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation, she provides educational opportunities for children in Brooklyn, ensuring that her son’s legacy lives on, even as she continues to seek answers about his untimely death.
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