LA Times Apologizes for Diddy-Tupac Story

'FBI reports' lead back to longtime con man, says Smoking Gun

(NEWSER) - The Los Angeles Times was duped into reporting that associates of Sean “Diddy” Combs were involved in the 1994 shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur, the Smoking Gun reports. The paper based last week's story on FBI reports fabricated by a long-time con man who has long sought to insinuate himself in the rap world. More»

Paper clears site of article, reporter's chat and blog posts

(NEWSER) - The Los Angeles Times today formally retracted its story that had an FBI informant implicating Sean "Diddy" Combs in a 1994 assault on fellow rapper Tupac Shakur. The paper previously apologized and reported that documents key to the March 17 story appeared to have been a hoax; it said today it was removing that story, and related posts, from its website. More»

Combs was behind 1994 NY ambush, new info reveals

(NEWSER) - Tupac Shakur was right: Associates of Sean "Diddy" Combs and the Notorious BIG were behind the beating and shooting of Shakur in New York in 1994. New info uncovered and interviews conducted by the LA Times show Combs' buddies set up the ambush, which kicked off the countrywide feud that eventually led to Shakur's death. More»

Task force investigating new leads, say sources

(NEWSER) - Thirteen years later, the murders of rappers Notorious BIG and Tupac Shakur remain two of the music industry’s highest-profile unsolved mysteries—but that could soon change. Police “reinvigorated” the Notorious BIG murder case months ago, sources tell CNN , and they are actively looking into leads and new information related to the 1997 crime. The task force investigating the case includes the LAPD, FBI, and the LA County DA’s office. More»

Rapper rants on Twitter; feels 'alone,' 'used'

(NEWSER) - First Kanye West called George Bush a racist. Then Bush called the moment “disgusting.” Then Kanye accepted the blame. The latest in the Bush/Kanye mess, brought to you by Matt Lauer and Twitter:

• Kanye West told Lauer he understood Bush’s feelings.
• Then the rapper went on a 20-plus-post Twitter rant about his interview with Lauer, which he called “brutal," the New York Times notes.