Catch our extended interview with Mark Curry on Sunday’s episode of Awareness at 11 a.m. on WIS.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Former Bad Boy Records artist Mark Curry is speaking out about his decade inside Sean “Diddy” Combs’ music empire, calling the experience “a blessing that became a curse” in an exclusive interview with WIS.
Curry signed with Bad Boy Records in 1997, during the height of the label’s success alongside artists like The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, 112 and Mase. But he said what he witnessed behind the scenes was far from the glossy image seen on magazine covers and music videos.
“When I met Puff I was like, wow, this is gonna make my dream happen… And it wasn’t easy,” Curry said. “I thought that meeting him was gonna be a blessing. It was actually a curse.”
Curry referred to Combs as “Puff” – a shortened version of the latter’s former stage name, “Puff Daddy.”
He also alleges Combs maintained a culture of intimidation, manipulation and control. It’s behavior Curry details in his new book, “Dancing With the Devil.”
Curry was also featured in the recent hit Netflix documentary, “Sean Combs: The Reckoning.”
“Once you control the streets… if you have a problem in the streets, I send somebody to go handle that,” he said. “He thought he could do that, like power.”
Curry also described moments that left him questioning Combs’ treatment of fans and the people around him.
In a clip from the Netflix documentary, which includes never-before-seen footage, Combs is seen interacting with supporters in New York days before his arrest. After getting back in the car minutes later, Combs is seen and heard lamenting about the experience.
“I need some hand sanitizer,” he said. “I gotta take a bath… like the amount of people that I’m coming in contact with.”
Curry said fans are now seeing “the man behind the scenes” following Combs’ July conviction on two federal counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs is currently serving a 50-month sentence in federal prison.
Part of Curry’s pain comes from ignoring the warnings of his father, who he said saw red flags early.
“When I lost my parents… they were both alive when I knew Puff,” Curry shared. “My father used to tell me, don’t trust him… And I lost my father and I believed in him [Combs] still.”
Curry believes Combs’ conviction is only the beginning.
“They need to have him sitting down,” he said. “There are other things they’re investigating that he’s gonna answer to and he’s not gonna be able to run because he’s sitting down already.”
Despite the trauma, Curry said viewers from across the country have written to thank him for speaking up.
“You helped me realize how to be strong… how to not give up and stay believing in your dream, no matter what you endure,” he said.
Curry hopes his story encourages others, especially young artists, to recognize warning signs and protect themselves in an industry where power can be easily abused.
Click or tap here for more information on Curry’s book. shortened
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