Rapper Diddy Pays Sting $5,000 a Day for Sampled Song

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Rap mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has publicly confirmed that he pays British singer Sting a daily sum of money for using a portion of his song in one of his own tracks. In a recent Twitter post, the hip hop icon revealed that he has been paying $5,000 per day in royalties to sample Sting's 1983 hit "Every Breath You Take" in his 1997 hit "I'll Be Missing You."

A Confirmation of Royalty Payments

In a 2018 interview with The Breakfast Club, Sting was asked about the rumored $2,000-a-day payment he received from Diddy for the song sample.

The legendary singer confirmed the payment, stating, "Yeah, for the rest of his life." Diddy later took to Twitter to clarify that the sum was actually $5,000 a day.

"We're very good friends now"

Despite the fact that Diddy waited to request permission to use the song until after his track had already hit the airwaves, Sting spoke fondly of the rapper, stating, "We're very good friends now." The "Every Breath You Take" singer also confirmed that the agreement would last for the rest of his life and praised Diddy's version of the song, calling it "a beautiful version."

Nope.

5K a day. Love to my brother @OfficialSting! ? ???? https://t.co/sHdjd0UZEy — LOVE (@Diddy) April 5, 2023

A Lucrative Deal

If the $5,000-a-day agreement was made in 1997, Diddy would have paid Sting approximately $47.4 million to date for the use of his song.

It is unclear when exactly the deal was made, but it has been a lucrative arrangement for Sting nonetheless.

Honoring the Late Notorious B.I.G.

On the 26th anniversary of the death of the late rapper Notorious B.I.G, Diddy took to Twitter to pay tribute to the fallen rap icon.

He wrote, "There will NEVER be another. The GREATEST RAPPER OF ALL TIME," and added, "Today we celebrate and honor you king. Love and miss you!!" Diddy's confirmation of the daily royalty payments to Sting for the use of his song serves as a testament to the impact and longevity of both artists' music.