Combs, who gave a thumbs up to supporters ahead of opening arguments, pleaded not guilty to a five-count indictment that could land him in prison for at least 15 years if he is convicted on all charges.

Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs went on trial on sex trafficking charges on Monday, with prosecutors saying the Bad Boy Records founder lured women into romantic relationships, forced them to take part in days of drug-fueled sex parties and then blackmailed them with videos he recorded of the encounters.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Sean “Diddy” Combs reigned over American hip-hop. He produced chart-topping albums, launched an influential record label, recorded hit songs, inked lucrative branding deals and catapulted hip-hop into a worldwide cultural force.