(AllHipHop News) One of the producers of the Fox hits series Empire has stated the show was partially inspired by Sean “Diddy” Combs and Kanye West. Cleveland Cavaliers player Iman Shumpert has accused the program of taking the story of characters Hakeem and Tiana from his real life relationship with Teyana Taylor.

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In a recent interview with Boyce Watkins, Dame Dash has also claimed Empire is reflective of his own experiences. The Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder explained why he believes show creator Lee Daniels took elements of his early life and his days with the Roc to craft the treatment for Empire.

The “mogulish” kind of thing, the street background, the references to boxing, to selling watches, the raising of the children – I did all of those things.

Then the fact that I made three movies with Lee Daniels. The fact that [Empire cast member] Malik Yoba went to school with me. Even down to the music. Alex Smith is one of the last artists that I managed that a lot of people don’t even know about. But she’s in it.

But it’s [a] popcorn version. Just being an African American in a corporate world that came from an extreme circumstance, that’s always trying to clean up. The only difference is the corporate thing. I was never trying to go public, and I’m not wearing a perm.