Diddy and Sting: $5000 per Day or Not?

Dani Sanders
Diddy at the meta gala
Flickr | katalaynet

Diddy has debunked rumors that he paid Sting $5,000 per day for sampling one of his songs without permission. The song in question is Sting's "Every Breath You Take" from 1983, which was sampled by Diddy and Faith Evans in their 1997 tribute to the late rapper The Notorious B.I.G. If Diddy had to pay the tune, he would have spent about $50 million by now.

Who Is Diddy?

Diddy at an event of iHeart radio
Flickr | johnblazereport

Diddy, real name Sean Combs, is an American rapper, actor, record producer, and clothing designer, who began an entertainment business in the 1990s.

Who is Sting?

Sting preforming at the Oscars
Giphy | The Academy Awards

Sting, a famous English singer, and composer, led "The Police" and had a successful solo career. Sting's music blends pop, jazz, and world music, setting it apart from others.

Who is Faith Evans?

Faith Evans singing at a show
Giphy | Soul Train

Faith Evans is an R&B star due to her soothing but powerful soprano voice. She writes and produces albums well. Due to her Bad Boy Records connections and marriage to rap legend Notorious B.I.G., she has a significant hip-hop connection.

Why Did People Start ‘Running To Their Calculators’?

Faith Evans and Diddy dancing and singing together
Giphy | BET Awards

People began running to their calculators because Diddy claimed that he was paying Sting $5,000 per day for sampling one of his songs without his permission.

Was There Any Truth To The Rumour?

 A Giphy of a woman talking to someone about the rumour
Giphy | Kim's Convenience

No, there was no truth to the rumor about Diddy paying $5,000 per day to Sting, for sampling his song.

When Did Diddy Reveal That He Was Joking?

A man talking to someone about the joke
Giphy | BabylonBee

On Friday, 7th April 2023, Diddy revealed that he was joking about paying $5,000 per day to Sting.

What Did Diddy Post In His Tweet?

Diddy said “Nope. 5k a day. Love to my brother @OfficialSting.”

What Did Sting Say In His Interview With The Breakfast Club?

Sting singing at AMAs
Giphy | AMAs

Sting said that the rumor that Diddy was paying him $2,000 per day “for the rest of his life” for sampling his song without his permission were true.

Who Sampled The Song With Diddy?

Faith Evans dancing and enjoying herself
Giphy | VH1

Faith Evans, the R&B star, sampled the song, “Every Breath You Take,” with Diddy.

What Was The Name Of The Song That Diddy And Faith Evans Sampled?

A giphy of Faith Evans singing
Giphy | Rhino

The name of the song that Diddy and Faith Evans sampled is “Every Breath You Take” by The Police.

When Was The Song “I’ll Be Missing You” Released?

 Notorious B.I.G. featuring in a song
Giphy | Ticketmaster

The song “I’ll Be Missing You” was released in 1997, about two months after The Notorious B.I.G. was gunned down.

When and Where was the Notorious B.I.G. Gunned Down?

Notorious B.I.G featuring in a song
Giphy

The Notorious B.I.G was gunned down in Los Angeles in 1997.

How Much Would Diddy Have Paid Sting by Now?

Sting performing at iHeartRadio
Giphy | iHeartRadio

Diddy would have shelled out something around $50 million by now if he was actually paying $5,000 per day for sampling the song.

What Did Diddy Say About His Relationship With Sting?

In his post on Twitter, Diddy said, “Me and @OfficialSting have been friends for a long time!”

Did Sting Ever Charge Diddy for Using His Song?

Sting performing at a show
Giphy | The Voice

No, Sting never charged Diddy for using his song.

One of the Biggest Songs in History

Diddy getting excited with a fellow singer
Giphy | Billboard Music Awards

Yes, “Every Breath You Take” is one of the biggest songs in history.

Significance of “I’ll Be Missing You” in Music History

Diddy Dancing
Giphy

“I’ll Be Missing You” is significant in music history because it was a tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. and became a huge hit, winning a Grammy Award in 1998.

Why Did Diddy Say He Was Joking About Paying Sting $5,000 per Day?

A Giphy from the show Last Man Standing
Giphy | Last Man Standing

Diddy said he was joking about paying $5,000 per day for using Sting’s song because he and Sting are friends and Sting never actually charged him for using the song.

Was Sting Really Charging Diddy $2,000 per Day for Using His Song?

Diddy performing at BET awards
Giphy | BET Awards

Sting confirmed in an interview in 2018 that Diddy was paying him $2,000 per day for using his song, but Diddy later clarified that he was joking about paying $5,000 per day.