Jay-Z and Diddy's career connections: Music moguls face sexual assault lawsuit

Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs have had a long-standing relationship spanning decades.

Now, both have been named in a lawsuit alleging they sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party in 2000. Both Combs and Jay-Z have denied the lawsuit's allegations.

In a then-burgeoning hip-hop scene, the fellow New York natives rose to prominence in the East Coast rap world through the mid-1990s. Their music tapped into hard knocks and entrepreneurial ambitions – but both wanted more than album sales and positive reviews.

The stories of Shawn Carter and Sean Combs highlight the American dream: One hailing from Brooklyn and the other from Harlem, the two men, then in their 20s, took the next step in jumpstarting their empires. Combs launched Bad Boy Records in 1993 and Jay-Z co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1994; 30 years later, they were some of the most powerful men in the world.

The pair concurrently rose as moguls in the music, fashion, media and spirit industries: Diddy still owns his Sean John clothing brand and previously held a stake in his Revolt media company and had a marketing agreement with C?roc, while Jay-Z previously owned Roc-A-Wear, and currently owns the Tidal streaming company and cognac brand D'Ussé, with Bacardi.

Diddy and now Jay-Z face questions as Combs remains in custody at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, ahead of his upcoming May 5 trial, facing charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, and a slate of civil lawsuits alleging decades of rape and sexual assault.

Jay-Z accused of raping, drugging 13-year-old girl with Sean 'Diddy' Combs in 2000

Jay-Z and Diddy's music collaborations, mutual support over the years

The pair have supported each other publicly and occasionally worked together on music.

While one toiled behind the microphone in the studio to become one of hip-hop's most lauded lyricists and often featured in conversations of the best rappers of all time, the other focused more of his efforts on producing, image-making and creating stars of other musicians.

The two have collaborated on numerous tracks over the years, including Jay's "I Know What Girls Like" featuring Lil' Kim and Diddy in 1997, Diddy's "Do You Like It… Do You Want It…" from his 1999 album "Forever," Mary J. Blige's "Love & Life Intro" in 2003, a remix of 50 Cent's "I Get Money" in 2007 and the Diddy – Dirty Money 2010 hit "Coming Home" featuring Skylar Grey, which Jay-Z co-wrote and co-produced. Diddy co-produced six songs on Jay-Z's 2007 concept album "American Gangster," and he was at the podium to help announce the release of Jay-Z and R. Kelly's joint album "The Best Of Both Worlds" in 2002.

Over the next few decades, the men ran their flourishing businesses and moved in similar circles, courting top women in entertainment — Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé. Carter went on to marry the pop superstar and Diddy later went on to have a decade-long relationship with Cassie following his fraught time with JLo.

They've appeared publicly together on numerous occasions. Jay, with wife Beyoncé and other stars, attended Diddy's grand 50th birthday celebration in 2019.

Both were guests at DJ Khaled's Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony in 2022. Later that year, Jay narrated and contributed to a taped tribute to Diddy for his BET Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring his legacy as an inspiration in the Black community. Diddy was also a regular attendee of the Roc Nation Brunch, an annual pre-Grammy celebration hosted by Jay-Z's entertainment company.

Combs gave some insight into his closeness with Jay-Z during an appearance on James Corden's "Carpool Karaoke" series in April 2023, per The Independent and People. In the since-removed clip, Combs told Corden that the rapper is the only person besides his mother who can address him by his first name, Sean.

Jay-Z statement slams lawsuit, denies allegations

In an amended lawsuit filed Sunday, an Alabama woman — identified anonymously as Jane Doe — claims the billionaire music mogul and Combs, then 30 and both now 55, drugged and raped her at MTV VMAs after-party in September 2000. The woman brought a lawsuit against Combs in October for the alleged assault.

Doe also alleges that another unnamed celebrity "stood by and watched as Combs and Carter took turns assaulting" her. NBC News was the first to report the news.

Jay-Z denies rape allegation, says he and Beyoncé will have to 'sit our children down'

Jay-Z vehemently denied the allegations against him in a statement Sunday.

"What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle," Jay-Z said of Tony Buzbee, the Texas-based attorney who filed the lawsuit, in the statement. "No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a very public fashion. So no, I will not give you one red penny!!"

Contributing: Anika Reed

This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jay Z, Diddy lawsuit: Relationship, music projects over the years