After enduring the tough process to get to where we are, a natural bond forms because of what we’ve been through together. We shared those experiences, and I acknowledge that Day 26 faced many challenges as a group. But when they talk about what they went through, are they also hinting at the allegations that Diddy exploited them? If I could go back, I might not have auditioned for Making the Band. Was the band’s breakup partly due to Diddy not only trying to hook up with them but also allegedly exploiting them?
Oh my God, when you get into the entertainment industry, you realize everyone makes their money differently. For those who remember, Day 26 was formed in August 2007 by Diddy during the finale of MTV’s Making the Band 4. The group included Robert Curry, Brian Angel, Willie Taylor, Que Mosley, and Michael McCluney. Their debut album, Day 26, released in 2008, hit number one on the Billboard charts. Later seasons of Making the Band 4 showed the group on tour and creating their second album, Forever in a Day, which also topped the Billboard charts. They were doing well during their peak, but like many artists who worked with Diddy, Day 26 seemed to suffer from the “Bad Boy curse.” Or maybe they just got tired of Diddy’s control.
In December 2009, after what was initially blamed on conflicts with their new management team, especially their manager Screwface, Que left the group. Que has shared several videos talking about the split. On his Ustream, he read part of the letter he received, saying he was dropped from the group. It read:
“Dear Qwanell,
I have been instructed by the members of Day 26, copied here, to formally inform you that the group members no longer wish to work with you. They request that neither you nor your representatives contact them regarding Day 26. You may have your attorneys, also copied here, direct any inquiries to my attention. Brian, Willie, Robert, and Michael wish you the best in your future endeavors.”
Many people still think Que was about to spill some major secrets about what was really going on behind the scenes, which is why he got the boot from the group. There’s this one interview where he basically said if he could do it over, he wouldn’t have auditioned for Making the Band. “If I could change it, I probably wouldn’t have auditioned for Making the Band.” If you watch that interview closely, Que was definitely dropping hints. The other guys tried to play it off, but if you read between the lines, he was basically saying that to make it in Bad Boy, you either had to cozy up to Diddy or get used by someone else in the industry.
Some folks sign up for certain things to get ahead. You know, trading favors to pay the bills. But that wasn’t my scene. I believed in my talent.
Now, if you pay attention to the video where Que was talking, you’ll see Willie’s reaction. He went from laughing to looking really uneasy, even muttered “Oh God” under his breath. Maybe that’s why he was so quick to talk after Que finished – his conscience was bothering him. But Que, he was definitely dropping truth bombs. I’m not trying to gossip about anyone’s personal life, but when I show up for a gig, I expect to get paid for it.
Years later, Willie hinted at some issues within Bad Boy too. He didn’t outright say anything about being exploited, but he did criticize Making the Band for setting artists up for failure. That says a lot.
“Being part of Making the Band was quite the ride, but the whole setup, from the platform to the contracts, felt like it was stacked against us hungry artists. It was definitely a learning experience. One big takeaway was realizing that people will push you as far as you let them. So, it’s crucial not to let your passion blind you to the wrong path. #MTB4 #Day26 #DanityKane – they were all incredibly talented groups, but the circumstances surrounding our meet-ups seemed almost designed to trip us up.
Now, Willie didn’t beat around the bush about how he felt. After all the legal drama and raids on Diddy’s properties, he straight-up said what many of us were thinking: Diddy screwed us over, and we want our fair share back.
And then there’s Brian. When Diddy threw that Bad Boy Reunion bash in 2016 and left Day 26 off the guest list, Brian wasn’t having it. He took to Twitter to air his frustration:
“Hey, @IAmDiddy, how come you’re throwing a Bad Boy Reunion and leaving out me and the bros from @OfficialDay26? Seriously, my love for music and our fans might get me into some crazy situations, but I can’t stay quiet about this. @IAmDiddy, @OfficialDay26, @Day26 – we need answers. I’m not one to just sit back and say nothing. @IAmDiddy, why aren’t we part of the Bad Boy tour? Our fans are asking.”
Brian even doubled down on his tweet in an interview, still wondering why Day 26 got snubbed from the reunion.”
I was pretty upset, so I decided to unfollow him for a bit. But then, I had a change of heart and followed him back, only to realize I couldn’t send him a direct message. Frustrated, I decided to just leave a public comment instead. I was like, “Dude, how can you have a Bad Boy Reunion without including Day 26?”
Apart from Que, the other guys might not talk much about their experiences, but it’s clear that Making the Band and Bad Boy Records had a big impact on them. And it’s not just Day 26; Freddy P from Da Band has also opened up about his issues with Diddy and the show.
“I’ve been saying it for ages; my resentment towards him runs deep. We couldn’t even access a lot of the money we were supposed to get from MTV and other sources. He blocked many of our payments for years, just for his own selfish reasons. He deprived us of our livelihoods, and it’s all because he knew that if the public saw how he treated us, especially in today’s climate, they would’ve turned against him. It was a form of cancel culture.”
Freddy went on to share a raw Instagram video, blaming Diddy for his discontent with life. In the post’s caption, Freddy expressed his frustration:
“If I were @Diddy, I would’ve done so much more for these kids. Any genuine person would have. We started off chasing a dream, only to have it snatched away abruptly. It made me lose my passion for rapping. But God will have the final say. My talent was meant to touch lives and homes, yet it was silenced. You thwarted God’s plan. Those involved will face their reckoning.”
Freddy elaborated on his feelings, expressing his disappointment and disillusionment.
“I can’t even figure out how I got these thoughts. I had it all, and then I hit rock bottom. How do you bounce back from that when you’re up against such massive challenges? It’s not just about your talent anymore, even though your talent is leagues ahead of most others, and everyone knows it. But it’s not about skill. Success is all about who you know.”
Freddy also admitted that he seriously considered ending his own life on three separate occasions, picturing his brother finding him dead and leaving his kids behind.
After Freddy pointed fingers at Diddy for making his life miserable, Diddy took to Instagram and basically told him to stop complaining and start hustling harder. With all the recent controversies surrounding Diddy, it’s clear that Freddy P is back, and he’s not holding back, revealing more about how Diddy treated his artists.
Putting that aside, what I really want is to hear from the other members of Day 26 about whether they were exploited or not, and the true reason behind Que’s departure from the group. Despite their previous interviews where they claimed they had no issues with Diddy and were grateful for the opportunities he provided, I can’t shake the feeling that they might still be under some pressure to speak positively. And you know what? I’m also dying to know your thoughts on whether you think Day 26 was coerced into getting involved with Diddy and others in the industry. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
