Carl Thomas: My situation dealing with my brother was just part of the refocusing; I guess I was kind of living life with the fog over my eyes, and that just kind of cleared things up for me. I was really pacified by money or whatever, and I never really had any personal problems with Puff and I still don�t. That�s one thing I�m cool to say, he wasn�t particularly happy that I wanted to leave, he definitely fought me on it - but he never fought me to a disrespectful level or anything like that, because I think he respected the fact that I wanted to do it in a respectful manner.

If me and you don�t have any problems on a personal level then why would I get on the radio and in all these magazines and act like we had a problem? Everybody had their own relationship with that man and I�m definitely not responsible for how you and Puff relate and how your business relationship is. I think that�s corny nonsense, that�s not really where it is.

Puff did a whole lot for me and my career; he probably did the most out of anyone for my career. He allowed me to change tax brackets, he allowed me to drive what I wanna drive, travel to where I wanna travel to, eat what I wanna eat, wear what I wanna wear and do what I wanna do. That foundation was laid down at Bad Boy and I would never disrespect that, I would never disrespect Puff, because I was just taught a long time ago you don�t burn the bridge that brought you across.

Also it�s your responsibility to recognize when you�re on a bridge. A lot of people don�t even know when they�re on one, and that�s why it�s so easy for them to lash out at the things that helped them. That�s a real wack way to approach business; Puff had no interest at all in going out there and badmouthing me and saying any negative things about me. I haven�t heard one thing, we see each other it�s hugs, kisses and love. �How�s the kids? Let�s go drinking�. He thinks I�m a great artist, I think he�s a great executive. Just because you�re not seeing eye-to-eye with each other at the time, there�s no reason to trash everything that y�all have been through and the experience. I think that�s really weak-minded.

�When I started Sean John, I had big dreams,� Combs, a first-time FiFi attendee, said before the ceremony started. �From the CFDA award to this now, this is big.� Speaking of big, �I have so many ideas for fragrance I wish they could produce it quicker! I�m already on my fourth fragrance, but we�re only in production with the second one.� Speaking of production, Combs, who recently told WWD that he was considering doing a baby carriage license, seemed more on board with the idea. �I have so many kids now, it would probably be appropriate,� said Combs, who welcomed twin daughters in December.

HHDX: Speaking of lyrics and lyricists, are you offended when somebody says you aren�t a lyricist?
Yung Joc: I don�t care because I�m not. I�m not a lyricist; I never claimed to be one. I leave that up to the Nas�, the Jiggas�, the Talib Kwelis� and the KRS-Ones�. I make club music, music you could dance to. I make feel good music. There are times when I hear a Jay-Z lyric and I�m like �Damn, that�s crazy.� But, if you�re in the club sometimes you don�t wanna think about what the rapper is saying. You just wanna have fun. I mean even Diddy, Diddy ain�t no lyrical dude and he�s real well off.

HHDX: So you were doing well financially from the start. You had the Block money and the Bad Boy money?
Yung Joc: Well I had a percentage of the Block money and then whatever money I got from the deal with Bad Boy. I�m doing well overall. A lot of artists wanna talk about certain things but like me, I just got listed in Forbes as one of the Top 20 highest paid rappers for the year. I just did that interview today and it�ll be in that publication soon.