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Bad Boy concert rocks hard with Puff Daddy, Jay Z, Lil Kim

NEW YORK – Hours before Puff Daddy hit the stage for an all-star concert featuring his Bad Boy family, Jay Z and Mary J. Blige, he could not contain his excitement.

He kissed Lil Kim on the cheek and embraced her warmly. He jumped up and down as he described their upcoming tour, and he compared his team to “the hip-hop version of Kiss and the Rolling Stones wrapped up in one.”

“He’s in the spirit,” said rapper French Montana, sitting behind Sean Combs and Lil Kim, and next to Mase. All of them matched in denim and various shades of blue.

Combs’ energy reached a new height when he hit the stage Friday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The show, ending roughly at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, was a rock star-like adventure that looked to past hits like “It’s All About the Benjamins” and “I’ll Be Missing You” that dominated pop and urban radio in the 1990s and 2000s, and helped make Combs a powerhouse in the music – and entertainment – industry.

Former members of the Bad Boy Records family – groups like 112, The Lox and Total; singers Faith Evans, Carl Thomas, Mario Winans and Cassie; and rappers Mase, Lil Cease and Black Rob – joined forces to perform hits for feverish fans who stood most of the night, and sang along to all of the songs. The night hit new levels with guest appearances from Jay Z, Blige, Nas, Usher, Rick Ross and Busta Rhymes.

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