‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’ increases Diddy's troubles and raises questions about Tupac and Biggie

Tupac Shakur | Sean Combs | Biggie Smalls

The Netflix documentary series by 50 Cent (titled Sean Combs: The Reckoning) has put Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs firmly in the firing line. It revisits his controversial role in the 1990s hip-hop scene and brings back public questions about the mysterious deaths of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. The way the series presents events has caused a big row among fans and critics, as old arguments and unresolved worries are back in the news.

Following the release of the four-part series, which was produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, the long-running feud between Combs and 50 Cent has flared up again.

With Diddy already serving a 50-month federal sentence for prostitution-related offences, the documentary explores decades of claims about his work, legal issues, and personal behaviour.

Combs, however, called the series a “shameful hit piece.” He accused Netflix of using footage without permission and claimed that 50 Cent’s “personal vendetta” is the real reason for the project.

The documentary includes interviews with accusers, former industry workers, jurors from Combs’ federal trial, and unseen video of the rapper from the six days before his arrest in 2024. Despite the criticism, it has attracted huge attention.

It also tracks Diddy's success with Bad Boy Entertainment, looks back at the Biggie-Tupac period, and highlights new claims of abuse, which Combs continues to deny. Netflix confirmed that, despite repeatedly reaching out to his legal team, they got no comment from them.

50 Cent insists the project is not about revenge. He claims many people trusted him to tell their stories when others wouldn't, saying his involvement is about giving “a voice to the voiceless.” His criticism of Combs goes back to the early 2000s, covering arguments about rapper Mase’s contract with Bad Boy, years of online digs, public rows, and disagreements before Cassie Ventura’s 2023 lawsuit.

Combs is currently in prison at the Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution in New Jersey, where he works as a chaplain’s aide and takes part in therapy which might reduce his sentence. He continues to challenge his conviction and maintains he is innocent.

Meanwhile, 50 Cent has made the series a major talking point. The Reckoning has topped streaming charts, boosted his reputation in true-crime entertainment, and put him at the heart of one of hip-hop’s biggest ongoing arguments.