Blaze News exclusive: 'I've attended these parties': Former Diddy protégé recalls 'dark hours' with 'extra activities'



A hip-hop artist who was previously signed to Sean "Diddy" Combs' record label revealed his experience at the infamous parties that have become the center of federal investigations.

Diddy was raided by federal authorities in March 2024, with subsequent accusations against the record producer ranging from sexual assault to poisoning. Diddy has denied all charges against him, and these claims have not been proven in court.

'I come from Philly, and the culture is different here. Muslim culture. So we really don't get into, you know, the Baphomet [worship] and the shady practices of the industry business.'

Rapper E. Ness, who usually goes by just Ness (born Lloyd Mathis), spoke exclusively to Blaze News about his time on Diddy's Bad Boy Records.

'Another time zone'

Ness was signed to the label under Universal Records after competing in the MTV hit show "Making the Band 2," winning a spot in the hip-hop group called Da Band in 2002. Around 2006, Ness signed under Warner Atlantic Music Group as a solo artist but still with Diddy's label.

While Ness initially described his relationship with Diddy as "strictly professional" and akin to an apprenticeship, he revealed that it was obvious there were some events happening at his boss' parties that went against his beliefs.

"I've attended these parties," Ness confirmed. "There's a certain time where the standardized party ends, and then you enter to another time zone where the extra activities occur."

When asked if he was permitted to stay in the later hours of the party, or if it was for an inner circle only, Ness explained that it wasn't a matter of permission.

"Most of the times, I'm partying out to the point that I don't even make it into those dark hours where it becomes, you know, spooky."

"Me, I'm just a street guy from a smaller home, and I just was brought up a little bit different," he continued. "When I'm tired, I'm tired. When I'm curious, I'm curious. And when I'm not, I'm not."

The Philadelphia native added that at a certain time of night, he was typically ready to leave if he felt he had "stayed long enough" or "outstayed" his welcome.

The price of fame

Ness mentioned multiple times that his beliefs and upbringing meant he wasn't willing to participate in certain activities. While he didn't describe what the "extra activities" were in relation to Diddy's parties, he touched on the disturbing aspects regarding why his time in the spotlight seemingly ended.

"There was never a fallout [with the label]," Ness affirmed, answering rumors that he was on poor terms with Bad Boy Records.

"It's just some things that some certain artists do that ... other artists aren't willing to do," he went on.

After briefly contemplating, Ness again stated it wasn't worth it to him to sacrifice his beliefs for success.

"Basically, what I wanna say is, once you get to a certain level of success, you have people from the hierarchy approach you about which direction you wanna go to. If you wanna stay a subpar, mid-tier-level artist, or you wanna become a full-fledged superstar."

He continued, "I come from Philly and the culture is different here. Muslim culture. So we really don't get into, you know, the Baphomet [worship] and the shady practices of the industry business."

After so casually mentioning Baphomet, a deity from the Knights Templar that is colloquially used to portray Satanic beliefs, Ness eventually recited what he was told regarding the underbelly of celebrity.

"I was around certain people, and they would pull my coattail, pull me to the side, kind of explain to me the, I would say, the steps you would have to take to allow yourself to be approached to enter into that new level."

Lighting a cigar, Ness cited freemasonry while remembering he was told that if the "next step" is taken, "There's no questions asked."

"Looking back on it, there's other ways that you could prove yourself to these people: sacrifice, public humiliation, and same-sex [intercourse]."

"It's just too much for the price of fame. And I wasn't willing to pay that price at that time," he pondered.

Ness called these requirements "evil," while adding an artist's success should be based on talent, without the musician having to "compromise" themselves in any way.

Lloyd 'E. Ness' Mathis (left), with Sean 'Diddy' Combs, and Jayceon 'The Game' Taylor (right) at BB King for Justo's Mixtape Awards in New York City, New York, on March 9, 2005. Photo by Julia Beverly/Getty Images

'Diddy Do It?'

Despite his industry experience and "activities" he could only speculate on, Ness said his relationship with Diddy never had any "weird energy."

"I never seen a lot of the things that he's being accused of. Yeah, he was a shrewd businessman and sometimes, you know, he could be emotional and bark at people, but that just comes with the headaches and the everyday obstacles of putting out fires in the music business."

Outside of music, Ness said he never saw "any sexual deviance," and his relationship with Diddy was kept professional.

He called the music mogul a "jack of all trades but a master of none," doing whatever it took to get the job done. Whether that was getting on the phone, mixing music, or making sure hair is styled properly, Diddy "always moved the chains."

Diddy's work ethic sounded admirable, but he was always in a cutthroat pursuit to deliver numbers "at all costs."

In that vein, Ness recalled how Diddy treated the MTV show that originated his fame. He described it as a stepping stone for Diddy to prove that he was capable of putting out a hit show, and his attentiveness to the music that he was to promote gradually faded.

Ness claimed the success of "Making the Band 2" allowed Diddy to make a plethora of new shows, like "I Want to Work for Diddy" and "P. Diddy's Starmaker."

While Ness' new song "Diddy Do It?" is purposefully capitalizing off headlines and his past, he said the lyrics are meant to poke fun at celebrity in general and how quickly a star can be taken down by the industry.

"You can be reverent and celebrated and praised for 20, 30 years. And then, as soon as you ruffle feathers, you could be attacked, and your empire can come crumbl[ing] down."

Ness concluded, "It's almost like putting up a mirror at the same success that young black Americans strive to get in the status quo. It's the same thing that ultimately could break you and send you right back to a dark place that you don't wanna be."

Ness has amassed nearly 250,000 Instagram followers and can be seen in battle raps all across the country.

NFL Get-Out-The-Vote Initiative Partners With Democrat Activist Groups

The NFL’s teammates include some of the most left-wing activist organizations on the election field today.

'He was very nice to me': 'Jersey Shore' star Mike Sorrentino says he sat next to Michael Cohen every day in prison



"Jersey Shore" star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino revealed that he became friendly with infamous lawyer Michael Cohen while in a federal correctional facility, despite having "different values."

Sorrentino served time in prison for tax evasion, and while behind bars he said he ate lunch beside Cohen every day. Sorrentino said he was incarcerated in Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville, which he described as a "regular prison" for "high-profile inmates," adding that it was a "very nice prison."

Speaking to "Jackass" star Steve-O on his podcast "Steve-O's Wild RIde!" the host brought up some of Sorrentino's notable inmates.

"Okay, so you're in Otisville prison ... with Donald Trump's former fixer, attorney Michael Cohen."

"Yes, I was!" Sorrentino replied. "He sat next to me every day for lunch."

"Is he just a really likeable guy?" Steve-O asked.

"He was very nice to me, he was very nice to me. I don't necessarily ... I mean everyone has different values and things like that, but he was very nice to me. I think he's a pretty fascinating character," the MTV star replied.

Sorrentino noted that since coming out of prison he has seen the headlines that have featured Cohen but has chosen to largely ignore those news stories.

"I see what's happening in the news right now, and I'm like, okay, I'm gonna keep scrolling, right," he said.

'The other prisoners made cheese sandwiches and put them on his bed.'

Sorrentino added that he was lucky enough to serve his time in the "high-profile prison," which he said was mostly filled with "white-collar" criminals. However, not unlike most prisons, the reality TV star said that racial divisions were still present.

"The Russians and Jews ran the prison, so I was learning Russian, a little Spanish ... it was an interesting experience, and I used it as a tool to make me a better man. You know, have the accountability. I paid my restitution, paid my fines, stayed sober, I lost weight," he continued.

"To be honest with you, that is how they work. As soon as you walk into prison, if you're Italian or white, that group will come up to and, I'm not going to say claim you, but it's like a package. You go with your own people."

Sorrentino explained that before he entered the facility, his wife began receiving messages from the wives of prisoners who promised to help him during his time served.

"My wife's [direct messages] were full" with support from wives of prisoners who said 'we're going to welcome you,'" he recalled.

"They really looked out for me. I was well fed [and] any extra perks ... they definitely took care of me."

Steve-O also pointed out that Sorrentino shared prison time with Billy McFarland, who went away for several years for fraud after the fiasco that was the Fyre Festival.

The 2017 music festival was meant to be a luxurious retreat with high-profile acts and five-star accommodations, but it turned out to be little more than mattresses in tents with cafeteria lunches.

"You were also in prison with the Fyre Festival guy," Steve-O remarked.

"Yes, he was definitely a loner, Billy McFarland. I think I played basketball with him a couple times," the Staten Island, New York, native remembered.

"He definitely kept to himself. I think when he first came to prison, as a joke the other prisoners made cheese sandwiches and put them on his bed because that's what he did for all the Fyre Festival participants," he laughed.

The 42-year-old spoke about his past drug problems and failure to pay taxes on the podcast and detailed stories from his book, "Reality Check."

"The Situation" still stars in MTV's "Jersey Shore: Family Vacation," one of cable TV's last remaining hit shows.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Former MTV star arrested for grooming in Florida after nationwide manhunt initiated over a year ago in Illinois



Following a nationwide manhunt that was initiated in Illinois and lasted more than a year, a former MTV star has been arrested in Florida for child sex crime accusations.

On Thursday afternoon, law enforcement tracked down Connor Smith at a residence in Clearwater, Florida.

Smith, 33, was arrested by officers with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office on an open warrant originating from Lake County, Illinois. The warrant was issued in February 2023.

Smith, from Orland Park, Illinois, was booked into the Pinellas County Jail – where he is being held without bond. Smith is awaiting extradition to Illinois.

As Blaze News previously reported, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced that detectives obtained a nationwide arrest warrant for Smith.

The former MTV star was accused of committing three felonies: traveling to meet a minor, grooming, and disseminating harmful material.

Authorities said Smith attempted to groom a girl under the age of 15 and meet her for sex in Illinois.

Smith communicated with someone who he believed was a girl under the age of 15 for several weeks, according to police. However, the girl was actually an undercover detective.

The catfish was part of an undercover sting to catch child predators that was executed by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division in collaboration with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Smith reportedly sent the "girl" sexually explicit photos and videos of himself.

Smith allegedly attempted to meet the "child" for sex on Feb. 9, 2023. When Smith went to visit the "girl," detectives attempted to arrest him, but he was able to escape the authorities.

In December 2021, Smith was arrested for an alleged rape and assault of a 16-year-old girl in Indiana. Smith was charged with felony rape, sexual battery, and two counts of criminal confinement.

However, the charges were dropped after the alleged victim stopped cooperating with investigators and prosecutors said they didn't have enough evidence to convict him.

Smith's claim to fame is appearing on the third season of the MTV reality series "Are You The One?" in 2015. The dating show features single contestants competing to find their perfect match.

Smith found his "perfect match," but the couple split up after filming the reality TV show.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up!

MTV comes out against DeSantis: Promotes Florida progressive who calls parental rights bill harmful and discriminatory



MTV News recently promoted progressive Florida House member Michele Rayner-Goolsby (D), who attacked Florida's Parental Rights in Education law for being "deliberately vague," saying that it is discriminatory and harmful.

The controversial Florida law, HB 1557, prohibits teachers from teaching topics like gender ideology and sexual orientation to students in kindergarten through third grade.

Rayner-Goolsby, who says her pronouns are "she/they," says that the law is meant to "discriminate and harm a whole community of people."

"The bill does not use the term 'gay,'" Rayner-Goolsby admits, but she says the law "specifically prohibits classroom education on sexual orientation and gender identity from ages K through three. But then the part of the bill says 'or age appropriate.' So, what does that mean?" she continued.

The state representative blames the bill's vagueness for what she deems to be regressive acts happening in schools across the state. "Teachers have to remove 'safe space' stickers. You have books that are being banned. You have classroom instructions being stopped," the progressive explains.

Citing several different media clippings, Rayner-Goolsby says the bill "was never about giving parents rights. This bill was always about targeting LGBTQ people."

One example used referenced Pasco County Schools eliminating "safe spaces" and removing safe space stickers. The stickers read: "This is a safe space for all, including all genders, orientations, identities, abilities, cultures, and backgrounds."

Another reference is made to a Miami-Dade school board rejecting a proposal to recognize October as "LQBTQ history month," which a board member said was "in direct violation" of the parental rights bill.

A final headline cites a Florida education commissioner's decision to pull LGBTQ "support guides" from Hillsborough County schools. The guide reportedly contained directives that a board of education member said would violate the law.

Specifically, the board member referred to one of the guide's directives that read: “With the limited exception involving the imminent fear of physical harm, it is never appropriate to divulge the sexual orientation of a student to a parent."

Rayner-Goolsby is a former local counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Legal Defense and Educational Fund and was endorsed by the group Equality Florida for being the state's first queer black woman elected to state legislature.

Equality Florida promotes several different LGBTQ initiatives including transgender surgery for "youth."

\u201cFlorida's #DontSayGay law prohibits classroom education on sexual orientation or gender identity for grades K-3 and in any grade when not deemed "age-appropriate" @MicheleForFL spoke to MTV News and @Logotv about the dangers presented by the bill's "deliberately vague" language\u201d
— MTV NEWS (@MTV NEWS) 1672942920


Record-Breaking ‘Yellowstone’ Is No. 1 Show On Television Right Now

More than 14 million viewers tuned in to 'Yellowstone's' season four premiere on Sunday, the most-watched premiere on cable since a 2017 premiere of 'The Walking Dead.'

What The ‘Woodstock 99’ Documentary Gets Right And Wrong About The ’90s Rock Scene

More than 20 years later, HBO’s ‘Woodstock 99’ makes the festival seem even worse than it was with its outright disdain for attendees.

Hollywood Hypocrites Push Gun-Control Activism Bankrolled By Michael Bloomberg

Some of the biggest TV networks in Hollywood have partnered to promote a gun-control initiative being financed by billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.