
In the ’90s, Sean “Diddy” Combs, who initially made a name for himself as a producer before transitioning into rapping, became an unavoidable figure in hip-hop. His production of catchy, upbeat party tracks significantly contributed to the popularization of hip-hop in mainstream culture. In 1997, he held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for a record-breaking 26 weeks, more than any other artist that year. Songs under his alias Puff Daddy consistently charted well, and he also produced successful tracks for artists like The Notorious B.I.G. and Mariah Carey. Interestingly, Diddy became the first hip-hop artist to replace himself at No. 1 on the chart, as “Mo Money Mo Problems” by The Notorious B.I.G. surpassed his own “I’ll Be Missing You.