: Despite the legal battle, Sting described Diddy’s version as "beautiful" and the two eventually reconciled, even performing the song together at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards. The "Guitar Riff" Irony
One of the most famous ironies of the song is that Puff Daddy sampled the iconic played by The Police’s guitarist, Andy Summers . However, because Sting wrote the song's melody and lyrics, he receives all the royalties, while Summers reportedly receives nothing for the use of his specific performance on the track.
: Beyond the Police sample, the track incorporates elements of the 1929 hymn "I'll Fly Away" and an intro layered over Samuel Barber’s "Adagio for Strings" . Puff Daddy - Ill Be Missing You - Every Breath You Take
: Because the sample wasn't cleared, Sting , the primary songwriter for The Police, successfully sued for 100% of the song's publishing royalties .
: Puff Daddy released the song before securing legal approval for the sample of "Every Breath You Take". : Despite the legal battle, Sting described Diddy’s
Puff Daddy’s (1997) is one of the most successful tribute songs in history, created to honor the Notorious B.I.G. after his murder on March 9, 1997 . While it became a global anthem for grief, it is also famous for a massive copyright blunder involving The Police's 1983 hit "Every Breath You Take" . The Meaning: A Global Tribute
: Puff Daddy (Sean Combs) described the song as a "conversation" with Biggie that helped him cope with the loss. It featured Biggie’s widow, Faith Evans , and the R&B group 112 . : Beyond the Police sample, the track incorporates
: Sting confirmed in a 2018 interview on The Breakfast Club that he receives approximately $2,000 per day in royalties from the song. While Diddy once joked on X (formerly Twitter) that the amount was $5,000, he later clarified he was being facetious.