Sean “Diddy” Combs has been said to be transforming himself physically in a big way while in the slammer. The Bad Boy Records founder has started looking smaller than ever as he awaits his trial in his shocking sex-trafficking and racketeering case. According to reports from AllHipHop, Diddy looks totally different. Whether they should have been there or not is up for debate, but they were, and they saw a skinnier frame with markedly more grey hair when he made a rare court appearance on April 18. While cameras were kept out of the courtroom, a sketch by acclaimed artist Jane Rosenberg did capture the transformation, painting a much leaner Diddy.

Although his weight loss has not been released officially, its visual impact is enough to get people talking. It’s unclear whether this makeover is deliberate or just a consequence of his current living situation, but it gives a human element to the high-profile case that’s had the entertainment industry on edge. At his April hearing, his new legal team, which has recently embraced legal powerhouse Brian Steel, who also reps rapper Young Thug, asked for a delay of the trial scheduled for next month. Their request was more time to mount a defense. But Judge Arun Subramanian wasn’t convinced, saying there was no reason to turn off-schedule with four attorneys in Diddy’s camp.

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The judge also lambasted the request as threatening to open the door to a “fishing expedition” of further evidence. With the trial ticking down, how much will Diddy’s apparent physical change serve as a template for more than a diet or a routine, but a metaphor for the weight he is carrying both legally and emotionally. Whether this change is simply the result of stress, a change of focus, or something deeper, it’s obvious that the music mogul’s world is a very different looking one these days from both the inside and the outside. The world will be watching eagerly, not only to see the trial play out but also to see how Diddy keeps evolving in the shadows.

During a recent episode of “It Is What It Is,” Cam’ron pulled no punches about the damage R. Kelly and Kanye West have done to their hometown, Chicago. “I ain’t saying nothing about the city of Chicago,” Cam’ron attempted to clarify before going into a pointed criticism. “It’s a lot of sh*t going on with two of the biggest superstars […] Not just from Chicago, ever in music history. His tone, clipped from a viral broadcast on Kollege Kidd, was one of frustration that comes only from somebody who genuinely respects the game. Both artists are hugely influential and have significantly contributed to the music world, yet their shame has tainted their images, to say the least.

The case of R. Kelly, who is now serving a 30-year sentence after being convicted of sex trafficking and racketeering, among other charges related to child pornography. Kanye, who is not embroiled in any legal battles of this magnitude, has come under fire in recent years for irresponsible behavior and provocative opinions that have tarnished his formerly brilliant image. Cam’ron’s note felt like the voice of someone trying to wake up the room. “Ya’ll putting a stain on a good city, man,” he added. “Y’all need to chop the sh*t baby.” It is rare that artists call out peers so directly, especially not when those peers are industry titans.

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But Cam’s position is that Chicago is owed more than the junk that a pair of musical icons has left in its wake. His statements had nothing to do with cancel culture or clout. They were about accountability as representatives of a city that took immense pride in its deep talent. Some of the strongest critiques are made from the inside. Cam’ron’s words won’t unwrite the damage of a legacy, but they add an honest voice to the conversation, a voice that won’t discount the price of celebrity scandal on the communities they once uplifted.