Nearly 28 years after his death, the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. remains unsolved—and now a former bodyguard is reigniting controversy by claiming Sean “Diddy” Combs may have known more than he let on. The explosive allegations emerge in a new Peacock documentary, Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, featuring firsthand accounts from Gene Deal, one of Combs’ closest security personnel.

Bodyguard’s explosive statement

Gene Deal, who worked alongside Diddy for 14 years, recounts how Combs was unusually anxious in the days leading up to March 9, 1997—the night Biggie was killed. In the documentary, Deal says:

“So did he directly have something to do with it? He could have.”

He described Combs urging Biggie not to attend a London trip, insisting instead he stay at a West Coast party—decisions that plagued Deal with unease given the ongoing East–West rivalry.

The fatal night in Los Angeles

Deal paints a chilling scene:

Alerted about a potential threat, he allegedly warned Diddy it was “a bad idea” to go.

That night, the group split into two cars: Diddy in one with Deal, Biggie in another.

As they left the Vibe post–Soul Train Awards party, Deal recalls hearing gunfire:

“I was in a car with Puff. Big was in his own car. And the next thing you know you hear, ‘Pow! Pow! Pow!’”

As Biggie was rushed to Cedars-Sinai, Deal says Diddy appeared stunned and pleaded for prayers—expressing deep regret.

Arranged hit vs. random drive-by?

Deal has repeatedly dismissed the official narrative of a random drive-by. He insists the vehicle “was standing there at the corner”—implying planning and intent.

This portrayal paints a scene far more sinister: not a chaotic crossfire, but a premeditated ambush waiting in the shadows.

“Puff knew” – was it arranged?

The headline-grabbing question—”Puff Knew”—suggests Deal believes Combs had insight that something was imminent. While he doesn’t accuse Diddy of pulling the trigger, Deal claims Combs was informed of danger and still allowed Biggie to proceed unsafely.

That ambiguity fuels suspicion, but stops short of accusing Combs of orchestrating the killing.

Conflicting narratives and evidence

Det. Greg Kading previously alleged, in the 2016 documentary Murder Rap, that Diddy orchestrated Tupac’s murder—retaliation from Suge Knight led to Biggie’s killing.5 But these claims remain unproven.

Other insiders—most prominently ex-FBI agent Phil Carson—suspect Suge Knight’s network and rogue LAPD officers, not Diddy, were responsible. Many see LAPD corruption and gang retaliation as the more plausible explanations.

Legal status & official response

Despite intense speculation, no criminal charges have ever followed these allegations. Biggie’s family pursued a civil case, but it too stalled due to lack of sufficient evidence.

Diddy has consistently denied wrongdoing. His attorneys call Deal’s claims “baseless.”

Mover behind the mic: Gene Deal’s credibility

Deal’s history:

Was at Biggie’s side on that fearful night

His account has evolved over time, characterizing the shooting as planned rather than random.

Supporters cite his detailed recollections, but skeptics caution memory bias and lack of solid evidence.

Public reaction and hip-hop discourse

Reddit threads reveal deep split allegiances:

Many believe LAPD insiders and Death Row affiliates were the real culprits.

Others suspect an inside job, implying Diddy or his circle allowed improper actions.

But until witnesses or corroborating proof surface, the street remains divided—and the case remains unsolved.

Why “Puff Knew” matters

Deal’s testimony doesn’t directly implicate Diddy in pulling the trigger—but it asserts powerful figures may have known of impending danger and chosen not to act.

Humanizing Biggie’s death through Deal’s emotional recounting—especially his regret at leaving Biggie unprotected—brings renewed moral scrutiny to those involved.

Final verdict

Gene Deal’s revelations in The Making of a Bad Boy amplify a decades-old wound. His framing—“Puff Knew”—suggests Diddy may have had warning and responsibility, but the evidence hasn’t reached the threshold of criminal or civil accusation.

For hip-hop listeners and justice seekers, the documentary restores uncomfortable questions: who truly pulled the trigger, and who let it happen?

Until new leads emerge, the case remains a haunting unresolved saga—haunted as much by what we don’t know as by Deal’s piercing implication: perhaps those closest to Biggie knew more than they ever said.