A string of sexual assault allegations have been made against Sean "Diddy" Combs, one of the most successful music moguls in the history of rap.

Four women, including his long-time partner Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, have filed lawsuits against the musician, accusing him of sexual and physical abuse.

Producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones filed a similar suit in February, alleging Combs abused him over a year-long period when he was living on the star’s properties and working on his music.

In a statement issued last December, Combs defended himself against what he described as "sickening allegations" made by "individuals looking for a quick payday".

"Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged," he said, adding he would fight to clear his name.

However, in March 2024, federal agents raided two houses owned by the star "as part of an ongoing investigation" into sex trafficking.

His lawyer called the action an "unprecedented ambush" and a "gross overuse of military-level force", and maintained his client’s innocence.

Combs - who has also gone by the names Puffy, Puff Daddy, P Diddy, Love, and Brother Love - essentially rewrote the rules of hip-hop in the 1990s, but his career has been punctuated by controversies.

Here is a timeline of his career and the accusations made against him.

1969-89: Early life in New York

Sean John Combs was born in Harlem and raised in Mount Vernon, New York.

His mother, Janice, was a teacher’s assistant, while his father Melvin was a former member of the US Air Force who became an associate of the drug-trafficker Frank Lucas, who later inspired the Ridley Scott film American Gangster.

In 1972, Melvin was fatally shot in his car during a drug transaction after being misidentified as an informant. Combs was just two, although he didn’t learn the circumstances of his father’s death until much later.

Raised by his mother, he was a flashy kid who loved rap music and played football for the school team.

As a teenager, he danced in music videos for artists such as Diana Ross and the Fine Young Cannibals.

Taking a cue from his mother, who worked multiple jobs to support Sean and his sister Keisha, he also worked six separate newspaper delivery routes, before enrolling to study business administration at Howard University.

Early 1990s: Party plans turn into tragedy

At university, Combs gained a reputation for throwing lavish parties, some of which attracted more than a thousand guests.

After booking musicians such as Heavy D and Terry Riley to play at these gigs, he came to the attention of Uptown Records’ founder Andre Harrell, who gave him an internship in New York.

Combs eventually dropped out of university to work there full-time, guiding the early careers of artists including Mary J Blige and Jodeci.

However, tragedy struck in 1991, when Combs co-promoted a celebrity basketball game and concert at City College of New York. Nearly 5,000 people showed up to the gymnasium, which could only fit 2,730 people. In the ensuing crush, nine people died and 29 people were injured.

An inquiry by the New York Mayor’s Office cited Combs for hiring inexperienced security guards. However, the star and his lawyers maintained he was not responsible for security at the event.