Bad Boy Entertainment CEO Sean “Diddy” Combs will be honored with a star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame it was announced today (June 24) by organizers. Combs was one of 200 nominations entered for the prestigious award and was among the 23 finalists selected to be honored with a terrazzo and brass star on Hollywood Boulevard in 2007.
The mogul said he was aware that his name had been among nominees two years ago, but revealed he was taken by surprise when his agent informed him of the announcement today.
“That’s just something you dream of, especially being from the East Coast,” Combs told AllHipHop.com. “Being from New York, there’s three things you know about Hollywood. You know about the Hollywood sign, you know about Sunset Strip and Hollywood Boulevard with the stars.”
“It’s a privilege to honor these performers,” noted Walk of Fame committee chairman Johnny Grant. “I’m sure their fans and supporters will enjoy attending the induction ceremonies on Hollywood Boulevard.”
Combs is already making plans to celebrate per Grant’s request.
“The day they give me a star in Hollywood, I’m going to invite everybody from New York out there to see it go down,” Combs said laughing. “I definitely think it’s a big thing for Hip-Hop and hopefully they will recognize more Hip-Hop stars.”
The Hollywood Walk of Fame chronicles the history of the Hollywood entertainment industry and the contributions of various celebrities and icons from the television, motion picture, radio, recording and live performance industries.
“It’s beyond my wildest dreams to think that one day I’m going to be walking down the street and walk past all the different great names, Sidney Poitier to Oprah Winfrey, to Frank Sinatra, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart,” Combs told AllHipHop.com.
“Just to see my name down there. It’s really an honor, it’s really humbling.”
Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, John Goodman, Time Rice, Lily Talmud, The Doors, Robert Altman, Matt Damon and others from various industries will also be immortalized on the walk of fame include in 2007.
Combs’ star comes during a particularly good time for his label, Bad Boy Entertainment, which is currently experiencing success with rapper Yung Joc and Cassie on the charts and in stores.
“We [Bad Boy] had to take our bumps and bruises and look at the Billboard charts,” Combs noted. “I have two records in the Top Ten [Yung Joc’s “It’s Goin’ Down” and Cassie’s “Me & U”] and on the Rhythmic Chart this week [we have] the number 1 and number 2 records with Cassie and Yung Joc. You know, we are talking about 12 years later [since Bad Boy was founded in 1993]. There were times over the last few years, cats was counting us out it’s a big week. God works in mysterious ways. It’s a huge week to have the #1 and 2 and get a star on Hollywood [Boulevard]. I’m just grateful.”
Diddy is in the studio putting the finishing touches on his new album PD5, which drops October 3 on Bad Boy Entertainment.
