French Montana may now call Bad Boy home, but he almost ended up on another famous hip-hop label. The New York rapper explains why his deal with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music didn’t work out.

During his visit to Angie Martinez’s Hot 97 radio show, the much-buzzed-about MC shared his meeting with Kanye. “I met up with him one time and then I met up with him again,” he said. “There were things that I was used to ’cause I was already moving. I’m like a money train.”

His inability to get in direct contact with the G.O.O.D. Music CEO raised a red flag. “Kanye doesn’t have a phone. If you need to get in contact with Kanye, you have to email him,” said the 27-year-old. “You can’t tell me how to do that. I don’t know how to use an email, so I guess me and you is never gonna talk, and I’ma put my career in your hands?”

But he doesn’t hold any hard feelings towards Yeezy. “He’s definitely talented and I felt like if I went there, we would have definitely made history.”

However, he’s happy with his decision to join Diddy at Bad Boy. “When I met up with Puff, everything he promised me came through. And Rozay was definitely there for me too.”

French Montana is prepping his Bad Boy debut, which will be co-executive produced by Diddy and Rick Ross. In addition to his single “Shot Caller,” he can be heard on Rick Ross’ Rich Forever mixtape cut “Stay Schemin’” featuring Drake.

Can’t stop, won’t stop. Sean “Diddy” Combs is expanding his entertainment empire. The Bad Boy mogul is planning to launch a music-themed cable network at the end of the year, according to several sources.

Broadcasting & Cable reports that Diddy’s new channel will be called Revolt and is aiming to go live on 12/12/12.

Former MTV programming chief Andy Schuon is reportedly involved with the well-funded venture. He previously headed a music channel called International Music Feed (IMF).

Diddy has been in talks with Comcast and Time Warner Cable to distribute Revolt, which is being described as a music and music news channel with an urban skew. One source likened it to the old days of MTV, but catered to an African-American audience.

Diddy’s Bad Boy office did not confirm reports, but a Time Warner Cable spokesperson said they have had “some discussions” regarding the network.

Swizz Beatz is under fire after being publicized as the CEO of Megaupload, the popular file-sharing site that was suddenly shut down on Thursday. Now some of his peers in the hip-hop community are expressing their support for the super-producer.

Megaupload was taken offline by the FBI following charges against its operators for violating piracy laws, including their refusal to remove copyrighted material from the site in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Seven of Megaupload’s operators were indicted and four were arrested in New Zealand on Thursday in what the Department of Justice calls a “Mega conspiracy.” Swizz was not included on the list and has not addressed his involvement with the site (His name and title appeared on the “About Us” page).

The Grammy-winning hitmaker recruited his celebrity friends including Kanye West, will.i.am, Kim Kardashian, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, and wife Alicia Keys to appear in an online video endorsing the file-sharing service. Will.i.am subsequently requested that the video be removed and Universal Music Group flagged it for copyright abuse.

While most remained silent following the allegations, some of Swizz’ pals were vocal with their support including Diddy and Busta Rhymes.

“@THEREALSWIZZZ call me anytime and I will do anything for you !!!! I love You! Your a fuckin genius!!!!” tweeted Diddy. “@THEREALSWIZZZ your a bad motherfucker!!!! I’m so proud of you!!!!! Never stop!!! EVER!!!!! Let’s Gooo!!!!”

Busta Rhymes also stood by his friend’s side. “1st of all I am soooo proud of my brother @THEREALSWIZZZ 4 being apart of creating something (MEGAUPLOAD) that could create the most powerful way 4 artist 2 get 90% off of every dollar despite the music being downloaded 4 free,” he wrote.

“I am proud 2 stand next 2 my brother @THEREALSWIZZZ and fight the good fight…Our freedom is truly being fucked with in a very significant way and I strongly suggest 2 all artist especially the 1′s Swizz repped 4 comes out & reps 4 him!!!”

He continued, “With labels and companies doin’ deals with Spotify and many other companies like it who doesn’t give us shit continue 2 do what they do and blatantly show us how much they value the artist with doing deals of such disrespect and lack of value 4 our content.”

Megaupload was the 13th largest site in the world at one point, accounting for four percent of total online traffic. The indictment is among the largest criminal copyright cases ever brought by the United States.

Sean “Diddy” Combs toasts to the good life in the Frank Sinatra-inspired commercial for CÎROC Ultra Premium Vodka. In the Anthony Mandler-directed clip, the well-dressed mogul rounds up his very own Rat Pack made up of Hollywood stars Jesse Williams, Chad Michael Murray, and Aaron Paul, as they hit the town for a night out. The fellas celebrate with some sexy ladies including actress Dania Ramirez and models Eva Pigford and Christine Teigen.

“Frank Sinatra made some of the most iconic records of our time; it is truly an honor to use his music again for this campaign,” said Diddy. “The Rat Pack defined the art of celebrating in style. I cannot imagine a Spirit more suitable for commemorating life with family and friends than CÎROC; a brand that has become synonymous with celebratory occasions.”

Raise your glass and join the celebration.

It’s official. French Montana is the newest Bad Boy. The New York MC appeared on “106 & Park” alongside Diddy to announce his signing to the legendary label.

“Hands down, the hottest cat in the streets,” said the Bad Boy Records CEO while introducing the much-buzzed-about newcomer, who reportedly had 10 offers on the table before choosing Bad Boy as his home.

Diddy went on to explain why he signed the 27-year-old. “It’s obvious, his work ethic, his songmaking effect that he has on the young’ns,” he said. “I represent New York to the fullest and can nothing move in this city right now without us being a part of it. We the Yankees of this whole thing and it’s time for us to get where we supposed to get.”

The Bronx-raised rapper plans to continue repping for his city. “I feel real, real, real good, how New York feel. That’s why I kept it here in New York. I didn’t want to go nowhere else. Why would I take my talent to South Beach?”

He continued, “[Diddy] never really lied to me about nothing, he really just kept his word with everything he tried to do. I want to bring it back to [New York]. [He's] the first billionaire, so if I brush shoulders with him…”

Puff reassured those who question Montana’s move. “We gon’ take our time with French. We gon’ really build him as an authentic artist. We ain’t gon’ make it all shiny and flossy and all that, we gon’ take our time and plug into the essence of who he is.”

During the show, Montana also premiered the video for “Shot Caller” and was joined onstage by his new labelmates Cassie, Red Café, and Machine Gun Kelly.

“Shot Caller” featuring Charlie Rock

Rico Love turned the lights all the way on at his star-studded 29th birthday bash hosted by Usher, Mary J. Blige, and Diddy during Art Basel week in Miami on Friday night (Dec. 2). The Grammy-winning songwriter/producer, who’s written hits for Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Diddy-Dirty Money, partied with his friends including Timbaland, Cee Lo Green, Yelawolf, Maino, Irv Gotti, and his Division1 signees Cherlise and Teairra Mari, who celebrated her 24th birthday. Guests dined on Italian fare at the invite-only dinner at Vic & Angelo’s before heading to the after-party at Club Play.

Rico was presented with the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “There Goes My Baby” by his close friend and mentor Usher, while “4 AM” singer Melanie Fiona serenaded him with “Happy Birthday” before he blew out the candles on his five-tier music-themed cake.

“I had such an amazing time! I had Diddy, Usher, and Mary hosting, my closest friends celebrating with me—this was so epic,” said Rico, who was named SESAC’s Songwriter of the Year. “2011 was such an incredible year for me and I look forward to another year of #1 hits.”

Pusha T heralds the “Changing of the Guards” on the bombastic opening track from his solo debut Fear of God II: Let Us Pray. The G.O.O.D. Music member cooks up some heavy bars (“Wish I could jailbreak my team like an iPhone”) over the anthemic Rico Beats production, while Diddy peppers the track with his signature ad-libs.

Preview snippets from Pusha’s entire album before it drops on Tuesday.

Cassie was glowing in an orange blazer at the Culo by Mazzucco book and art exhibition launch at Tony Shafrazi Gallery in New York City last night.

Fashion photographer and visual artist Raphael Mazzucco teamed with executive editor Sean “Diddy” Combs and Interscope Geffen A&M Records chairman Jimmy Iovine to publish the photography book dedicated to the female backside. Dr. Dre was among the VIP guests who feasted their eyes on the racy photos.

Timbaland’s single “Pass at Me” is used in a video promo for the coffee table book, which hits stores on November 22.

Diddy is cleaning up his mess stemming from an incident over the weekend. The Bad Boy mogul was captured on camera scolding a clubgoer at a BET Hip-Hop Awards event at Compound in Atlanta. Now he has come forward to apologize for his behavior.

Diddy, who is the ambassador for Ciroc, reprimanded a patron after he spotted him sipping a competing vodka Grey Goose, hurling all sorts of profanities his way. “Put that shit down. What the f**k you gon’ do, ni**a? You’re in my house, ni**a. F**k outta here!” he fired, while appearing to throw something in the man’s direction.

T.I. jumped in to diffuse the situation. “Puff, you got too much motherf**kin’ money for that shit, ni**a. Let them ni**as drink what the f**k they want to drink. F**k that shit!” he said. “I love you ni**a, you know I’d go to war with you, but come on, man.”

Diddy took to Twitter to apologize for his actions during a late-night rant.

“I’m a child [of] God and I should be better no matter what somone says to me. I’m sorry for the ignorant way I repesented myself and us,” he wrote. “To all my childen of God … I have backslid and regressed. Forgive me for my ignorance. Pray for me pls. I know better and I am better.”

He continued, “I have a responibility that I promise I will live up to. And I’m more dissapointed in myself than you know. I will humble myself and learn. Bottom line is I’m sorry to all! Pls find it in your heart to accept my apology. I will do better and be Greater And a source of positivity!”

Kelly Rowland spent a day off from touring with Chris Brown to help launch Sean John’s new female fragrance Empress at Macy’s at the Lakewood Center in Lakewood, Calif., on Thursday (Sept. 15). The “Motivation” songstress, who showed off her legs in a black cocktail dress, linked up with Sean “Diddy” Combs at the in-store event, posing with the bottle and taking photos with fans.

“It just really celebrates a woman being unique and powerful and beautiful in her own right, and celebrating all our idiosyncrasies,” said Kelly, who serves as the scent’s spokeswoman.

The Destiny’s Child diva recently shot two videos for the Big Sean-assisted “Lay It on Me” and RedOne-produced “Down for Whatever,” and will perform on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on September 26.