Al B. Sure!’s Memoir on Pause by Publisher for Not Including More Diddy Details
Al B. Sure! and Sean “Diddy” Combs are two influential figures who shaped the sound and culture of ’80s and ’90s R&B and hip-hop. Al B. Sure! emerged as a smooth-voiced crooner in the late 1980s, with hits like “Nite and Day” defining the new jack swing era. Combs, on the other hand, rose to prominence in the ’90s as a producer, rapper, and entrepreneur, founding Bad Boy Records and building a multimedia empire that included music, fashion, and spirits. In 2025, Al talked about his upcoming memoir, and fans were excited to read more about his past with Combs, given Combs’ federal trial. However, his book has reportedly been put on ice. Here’s why.
Publishers Simon & Schuster reportedly paused Al B. Sure!’s memoir in 2025
Al B. Sure!’s forthcoming memoir, Do You Believe Me Now?, has become one of the most talked-about (and now delayed) books in the entertainment world. Originally slated for release on Sept. 9, 2025, through Simon & Schuster, the memoir promised to delve into Al’s remarkable life, from his rise as a new jack swing icon in the late ’80s to his near-fatal coma in 2022, which led to a liver transplant. The book also aimed to explore his complex relationships with figures like Kim Porter, with whom he shares a son, and Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Unfortunately, the project has been indefinitely postponed. Al’s lawyer, Robert J. Hantman, told Page Six in August 2025 that Al and publishers Simon & Schuster had “creative differences” over content about Combs. Simon & Schuster reportedly wanted more focus on Combs. But Al felt reluctant to delve deeper into that territory.
“Simon & Schuster wanted him to include more stuff about P. Diddy, but he didn’t really want to go there,” Hantman told the publication.
As a result, the memoir has been removed from pre-order platforms. Its release date has been set to Dec. 31, 2050.
Al B. Sure! previously discussed Kim Porter’s death while promoting his memoir
In May 2025, Al B. Sure! discussed his memoir on Fox 5 New York. And he also discussed Kim Porter’s death. Porter, the model and actress widely known for her relationship with Sean “Diddy” Combs, died in November 2018 at the age of 47. Her death, caused by pneumonia complicated by influenza, shocked fans and the entertainment community alike.
While speaking to the news, Al said he “absolutely” does “not” believe Porter died from pneumonia.
“She was in the best health,” he said. “We just saw each other prior to her passing. We were actually celebrating our son’s new Netflix Christmas special. She was doing just fine. In fact, we were all at the event together at Netflix in the lobby, Sean [Combs], myself, the children, you know, having a great time. And I’m [playfully] grabbing Sean. And she’s in the back going, stop! So, it was a really festive opportunity for all of us to be together. Because it’s nothing like the circus that’s out here.”
The R&B star said he was ‘absolutely’ willing to testify in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial
Al B. Sure! and Sean “Diddy” Combs share a complicated and highly publicized history that intertwines both personal and professional dynamics. Throughout their careers, tensions reportedly flared over creative and business conflicts, particularly around production decisions and music rights. Their personal lives also intersected dramatically. Both men had relationships with Kim Porter, which added a layer of rivalry and public scrutiny.
While speaking to Fox 5 New York, Al said he would “absolutely” testify in Combs’ federal trial if called. Ultimately, he wasn’t called to the stand.
“This isn’t marketing for me,” he said at the time. “I’m living this life. And the only reason I wanted to tell this story, very specifically, was because I was ignored. There was the most expensive PR campaign against me to shut me down.”
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