New Documentary Alleges Sean Combs Planned to Bill Notorious B.I.G.’s Funeral to His Estate

Key Points

• A new Netflix documentary claims Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs intended to charge Notorious B.I.G.’s funeral expenses to the late rapper’s estate.
• Former Bad Boy Records co-founder Kirk Burrowes alleges Combs misrepresented paying for the funeral out of pocket.
• Burrowes also claims Combs attempted to alter Biggie’s recording contract after his death.
• The documentary revisits tensions surrounding Biggie’s unsolved 1997 murder and the industry fallout that followed.
• Additional allegations include Combs pushing for a Rolling Stone cover for himself instead of a posthumous tribute to Biggie.

Documentary Reveals New Allegations

A new Netflix documentary, Sean Combs: The Reckoning, is reigniting scrutiny around the aftermath of the Notorious B.I.G.’s death, presenting allegations that Sean Combs attempted to recoup funeral costs from the late rapper’s estate. The claims come from Kirk Burrowes, a former co-founder of Bad Boy Records, who worked closely with both Combs and Christopher Wallace.

According to Burrowes, Combs publicly positioned himself as funding Biggie’s high-profile funeral in March 1997, but privately planned to charge the expenses back to Wallace’s estate. “He was gonna make the funeral a recoupable charge to Biggie in death,” Burrowes says in the documentary.

A Funeral That Drew Thousands

Wallace’s murder—occurring just six months after Tupac Shakur’s killing—remains unsolved. His death sent shockwaves through the music world, with thousands gathering in Brooklyn to honor him. The March 18, 1997 service at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel drew major figures from the hip-hop community, including his widow Faith Evans and members of Junior M.A.F.I.A.

The documentary suggests that behind the scenes, business maneuvering continued even as the industry mourned.

Claims of Contract Alterations After Biggie’s Death

Burrowes alleges that Combs attempted to modify Wallace’s recording contract posthumously, seeking changes that would benefit Bad Boy Records while keeping the adjustments hidden from Biggie’s family. Burrowes says he refused to participate, calling the requests unethical—an act he believes contributed to his eventual dismissal from the label.

Rolling Stone Cover Dispute

The documentary also revisits a dispute over a potential Rolling Stone cover in 1997. Burrowes claims he pushed for a posthumous Biggie tribute, while Combs insisted he should appear on the cover instead to promote his debut album No Way Out. According to Burrowes, Combs dismissed the idea that Wallace deserved the spotlight.

A Complicated Legacy

The allegations add new layers to the long-standing conversation about the business dealings surrounding Biggie’s death and the broader power dynamics within the music industry at the time. With both Wallace and Shakur gone within months of each other, the era remains one of hip-hop’s most scrutinized chapters.

What Happens Next

As Sean Combs: The Reckoning continues to circulate, the documentary is expected to spark renewed debate about Combs’ role in shaping—and profiting from—the legacy of one of hip-hop’s most influential artists. Neither Combs nor representatives for Bad Boy Records have publicly responded to the new claims.