B5 Celebrates 15 Years of Non-Payment from Diddy and Bad Boy, Group Says They Never Received One Penny From Album Sales

The years have been kind to legendary label Bad Boy Music and its founder, Sean “Diddy” Combs. Behind all the success however have been a bevy of artists that have been, or felt, left behind when it came to careers and money they think they should have received. The latest in a long line over the years to speak up over the years is a member of boy band B5, Bryan Breeding – and he has something to say.

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A post shared by BRYAN BREEDING (@bryanbreeding) on Feb 6, 2019 at 2:44pm PST

Bryan Breeding was the youngest member of the Bad Boy signed boy band of brothers B5. The group also consisted of his older brothers Dustin, Kelly, Patrick and cousin Carnell. While the group released two albums on Bad Boy, it was their first album that generated the most heat for the group.

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A post shared by BRYAN BREEDING (@bryanbreeding) on Sep 13, 2019 at 7:46pm PDT

However, after the debut of their first album, the group experienced a bevy of label issues, aging group members and the loss of their record deal. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2005 and featured a cover of the R&B classic “All I Do Is Think of You” by the Jackson 5 titled “All I Do.” After the run of success had ended, the group largely disappeared from mainstream music.

B5 wouldn’t be the first group to have spoken out against Bad Boy Records and Diddy for their perceived lack of payment for their work. Over the years, many former artists with hits of their own have complained in the press and online about how Diddy seems to have a record of not paying his artists their proper due.

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A post shared by BRYAN BREEDING (@bryanbreeding) on Feb 9, 2017 at 5:11pm PST

There’s a name for people who have been associated with Diddy and come out worse for wear on the other end – the “Bad Boy Curse.” Puffy has notoriously held onto artist’s projects so long that they end up broke before he agrees to release them – and even then, he seems to have released them to save his label when times got tough.

Cheri Dennis had a similar experience with Bad Boy Records. After her hit single “I Love U” came out on the label in 2005-6 and lead to her first hit. Also in Cheri’s favor was at the time, she was the only female artist on Bad Boy. She told Finding on BET that she was struggling to pay bills while her music was on hold and that Puffy used to slide her bill money instead.

Another former Bad Boy artist even included his disdain for Puffy/Puff Daddy/Diddy in one of their raps on their song. “When you see me, don’t ask me nothin’ about us and don’t definitely ask me about Puffy,” the L.O.X.’s Jadakiss spit in a 2000 rap called “Blood Pressure.” Their split from the storied label has also been chalked up to the “Bad Boy Curse. – for which Puffy allegedly blacklist them, according to a 2001 article in The Village Voice.

The latest to be claimed by the Bad Boy Curse in 2020 is B5, apparently.

Bryan Breeding took to Instagram and shared that the 15th anniversary of B5’s album had arrived, with it being released on July 19^th, 2005. “Looking back at it now is full of bitter sweet memories. Sharing my life with my 4 older brothers and cousin (Carnell) music was my pride, joy and passion.🕺🏽 Only short lived though, after being exposed to the deep levels of politics and agendas quickly helped me realized that the music business is less about music and more about the ‘business.’”

Breeding also claims later in the post their contract with Bad Boy has prevented them from receiving any royalties on their album over the years. “We made about 99.9% of all our income 💸 from live performances & merchandise and till this day I’ve never seen a PENNY from any of our B5 commercial albums. 🤷🏽‍♂️” It was a stunning revelation, with Breeding warning other artists at the end of the post that they “don’t need to compromise for the bag or the glamorized label deal.”

The group has disbanded and since reformed, however. See the post below.

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15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY 🥳 15 years from today my life was changed forever. Releasing our first commercial self titled album “B5” on July 19th 2005. Looking back at it now is full of bitter sweet memories. Sharing my life with my 4 older brothers and cousin (Carnell) music was my pride, joy and passion.🕺🏽 Only short lived though, after being exposed to the deep levels of politics and agendas quickly helped me realized that the music business is less about music and more about the “business”. Which was fine to overlook (at the age of 12) and stay focused on my craft, trying to protect my innocence for the love of music. 💚 BUT This is usually the beginning of exploits for snakes 🐍 to come into the picture cleverly hiding behind contracts only in favor of the one(s) creating it. We made about 99.9% of all our income 💸 from live performances & merchandise and till this day I’ve never seen a PENNY from any of our B5 commercial albums. 🤷🏽‍♂️ For years! We reach out to lawyers, advisors and even TV networks for a chance to help us or tell our story and no one ever touched it with a 10 foot pole. 💔 So here I AM! telling my story, my truth and not from a “woe is me” perspective but as an example for the next generation of young artists to WRITE and OWN your content! READ your contracts and create new sounds for the LOVE of music, as a expression of who YOU ARE! You dont need to compromise for the bag💰or the glamorized “Record Label Deal” we have enough artist like that and doing a great job at it 👍🏽. What I dream to see in the NOW-future is a world full of new beautiful music from authentic souls! 🖤❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍

A post shared by BRYAN BREEDING (@bryanbreeding) on Jul 19, 2020 at 9:13am PDT