I Love You, Baby

[DISCLAIMER]

I admit that when his album No Way Out dropped in 1997, I purchased the CD by Sean Combs (also known as Diddy, Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy, and Brother Love). A fan of Bad Boy Records’ musical talent, I’d hoped that I wouldn’t find Diddy’s debut album disappointing.

As is often the case in life, let alone regarding hip hop music, I was disappointed as a result of a conditional belief. Specifically, I believed that if I spent hard-earned money on No Way Out, then Diddy’s ability to rap should’ve met my particularly high standards of lyricism.

Through the perspective of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I now understand that a belief-consequence connection can cause the experience of healthy distress or unhealthy self-disturbance. Regarding a conditional belief about Diddy’s rap skills, I tolerated healthy distress.

Fast-forward almost three decades later and the rapper, record producer, and record executive was mired by legal troubles. Regarding this matter, on May 21, 2024, I submitted a blogpost entitled Love Is Blind in which I said:

As an old school hip hop head, I’ve paid attention to swirling rumors throughout the years about how Diddy allegedly treated his artists – as most of the accounts haven’t reflected well of Diddy.

However, I’ve no firsthand knowledge to corroborate such claims. Likewise, there are people who’ve told audacious stories of my alleged past behavior and I disregard that which evidence doesn’t support. Ergo, I give Diddy the benefit of the doubt regarding speculative claims.

Nevertheless, recent allegations of Diddy’s alleged criminal behavior have once again surfaced. Aside from astonishing tales of supposed underage sex trafficking, blackmail, rape, and various other allegations, Diddy has been alleged to have physically assaulted his reported former intimate partner.

I know what it’s like to be falsely accused of crimes, and I wanted to give Diddy the benefit of the doubt regarding the allegations made against him – in the interest of due process, even if the process is the punishment. I realize that some people appear to have automatically assumed guilt.

However, I maintain that it isn’t rational (in accord with both logic and reason) to form an opinion of guilt in the absence of relevant evidence. In any case, on March 11, 2025, I posted a blog entry entitled My Laissez-Faire Attitude About Your Disturbance in which I stated:

On his debut studio album Excuse My French (2013), rapper French Montana (“Montana”) released the song “Ain’t Worried About Nothin’,” as Diddy appeared in the video for the track and French Montana repeatedly stated, “Nigga, I ain’t worried ‘bout nothin’ (nothing’).”

Given his current legal issues, one imagines that Montana’s declaration isn’t accurate for Diddy at this moment. Nevertheless, I maintain that Diddy is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. So far, the mounting evidence against him doesn’t bode well for the entertainer.

Considering the relevant evidence I reviewed on the YouTube channel Law&Crime Network, I suspected that Diddy would be found guilty of at least one of his charges. Thus, on June 3, 2025, I posted another blog entry, this time entitled Don’t Stop; Get It, Get It, in which I expressed:

I’ve paid some attention to Diddy’s legal case in which he faces five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

There’ve been raunchy details associated with the case. For the record, Combs has vociferously denied the allegations against him. As well, I maintain that Puff Daddy is considered innocent until or unless otherwise proven guilty. Time will reveal what outcome is warranted.

Today, time has revealed the aforementioned outcome. It was as I suspected, though which I refrained from stating in my blog without relevant evidence. According to one source:

After a marathon two months and mountains of evidence, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been convicted of the two least serious charges he faced - and cleared of the most grim.

The rapper, 55, faces up to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution for his treatment of ex-girlfriends […] He was found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy - the top charge - and sex trafficking, the most crucial.

Combs put his hands on his head when ‘not guilty’ was announced for the racketeering conspiracy charge - and he did a subtle fist pump when ‘not guilty’ was announced for the second of the two sex trafficking charges.

To be exceedingly clear, a separate source states, “On the third day of deliberations of the seven-week trial, the Bad Boy Records mogul (who plead not guilty), was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution,” as prostitution (sex work) involves sex for payment.

If my reading of the matter is correct, putting it bluntly, Diddy was apparently found guilty of procuring some ass. He ostensibly paid for the transport of sexual services which, if testimony from his trial is accurate, was allegedly consensual. Purchasing some ass!? That’s it!?

Personally, I don’t pay to play – never have, and I don’t foresee myself ever doing so. That simply isn’t how I got down before going my own way. Still I don’t care if other consenting adults engage in prostitution. Addressing this matter in a blogpost entitled Body Count, I stated:

As a matter of full disclosure, in blogposts entitled Story of Erica, Cybersex, I Can’t Take It, and M-M-M-Musterbation, I discuss my view on pornography and sex work. TL;DR: I’m not opposed to it.

If the worst that came to fruition from the Diddy criminal case were guilty verdicts for prostitution, then a lot of the hype stemming from the trial appears to have been overblown. Of course, this doesn’t foreshadow what may happen with the incoming civil trials Combs faces.

When thinking further about the details of Diddy’s criminal trial, I’m reminded of the track “I Love You, Baby” featuring Black Rob from No Way Out. On the chorus, Diddy states:

I love you, baby (No, you don’t)

You drive me crazy (That’s right)

I’ll never betray thee (Uh)

I love you, baby (Come on)

I love you, baby (No, you don’t)

You drive me crazy (That’s right)

I’ve deliberately refrained from mentioning the names of any alleged victims in Diddy’s case. Among other reasons for doing so is that I maintain, with sincerity, that consensual engagement in adult sexual activity – with or without prostitutes – doesn’t constitute rape or sexual assault.

Much of the hubbub regarding Diddy’s case regarded females (women, per my understanding, not girls) as victims by bent of their being in a different power dynamic as Diddy. That feminist nonsense isn’t something with which I concur. The jury saw through that argument, as well.

Noteworthy, I hope that both men and women take an invaluable lesson from the Diddy verdict. When the government has a monopoly on force (i.e., the ability to deprive your freedom of movement by way of deadly force from a gun), then they’ll make a felon of you for prostitution.

I have little doubt that Diddy loved his accusers, and vice versa, when engaging in “freak-offs.” Nevertheless, as my late stepmom used to say, “The same thing’ll make ya laugh’ll make ya cry!” From an REBT perspective, that “thing” is one’s belief.

If you believe that engaging in sex work services such as OnlyFans or SugarDaddy.com can’t or won’t be used as evidence against you in a Diddy-esque trial, then you’re in for a rude awakening. The government tried Diddy, though he had the funds to adequately defend himself.

Do you? You may tell someone “I love you, baby” in one moment, and then next moment that individual is a soprano on the witness stand while testifying against you. All the while, you thought that consensual adult sexual activity was harmless. Was it though? Ask Diddy.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

Photo credit, property of Reuters, fair use

References:

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