Pop Mystery Pod

Prosecutors alleged in their case against Duane Davis aka Keefe D that Tupac’s 1996 murder was essentially an act of gang violence. The witness testimony in Davis’ case, however. points to a much bigger conspiracy at play. Was the killing of Tupac Shakur actually the work of a powerful syndicate? In this first of three chapters, Tess takes a close look at dark foundations that seem to have led to Tupac’s untimely death.  Tess interviews one of Tupac’s producers, Darryl Harper, about his own time making music with Tupac, and his own theories about what really led to that fateful night in Las Vegas.  Read “This Thug’s Life” by Mopreme Shakur Read “LAbyrinth” by Randall Cunningham Watch “Only God Can Judge Me: The Tupac Shakur Story” by Jeff PearlmanRead “Compton Street Legend” by Keefe DWatch “Tupac: Resurrection” Watch “Murder Wrap” by Mike DorseyWatch “Sean Diddy Combs: The Reckoning” Listen to the Slow Burn Podcast: Biggie and Tupac  Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod  Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill. Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d. Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic wherever you get your pods.  Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A fixer. A security guard. A real estate investor. Fahim Muhammed played key roles in both Sean Diddy Comb’s and Michael Jackson’s lives. Is it just a coincidence that similar players appear in the grisly behind the scenes of both of these music tales? Tess dives into the strange connection between the end of life and death of Michael Jackson, and the alleged litany of crimes committed by Sean Diddy Combs.  Watch the documentary Murder Rap here.  Watch footage from the Dr. Conrad Murray Manslaughter trial here.  For an extreme deep dive into Britney Spears conservatorship, listen to Tess’ podcast “Toxic: The Britney Spears Story.”  Watch the New York Times documentary “Controlling Britney Spears” here.  For an extreme deep dive into Britney’s conservatorship, listen to Tess’ podcast “Toxic: The Britney Spears Story.”  Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod  Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill. Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d. Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic wherever you get your pods.  Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To unravel the business of Sean Combs is to see the ways in which his vast empire is connected to the music industry at large.  In the past few years, two big entertainment stories stand out as exceptionally shocking and horrifying: the wrongful conservatorship of Britney Spears, and the alleged large-scale sex trafficking syndicate of Sean Diddy Combs. It’s chilling then, to consider that both the business affairs of Sean Combs and Britney Spears were handled by the same business management company: TriStar Sports and Entertainment. Who is at the helm of this mega-powerful company, and what is behind their unconventional business practices?  To learn more about the backstory behind Lou Taylor and early early employers, find Melanie Carlson’s substack here.  Watch the New York Times documentary “Controlling Britney Spears” here.  For an extreme deep dive into Britney’s conservatorship, listen to Tess’ podcast “Toxic: The Britney Spears Story.”  Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod  Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill. Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d. Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic wherever you get your pods.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s hard to think about Sean DIddy Combs without thinking about the mysterious death of Kim Porter.  Sean Diddy Combs’ long-time partner and co-parent died at the young age of 47. At the time, her death was ruled the result of pneumonia, but insiders have expressed suspicions around why Porter really died. Given what’s been alleged about Combs in recent years, Tess unpacks the facts and rumors around Porter’s life and death.  Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod  Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill. Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d. Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic wherever you get your pods.  Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Though Sean Diddy Combs ultimately was found guilty of some of the lesser charges brought against him by the federal government, it can’t be argued that Diddy’s reputation has been irrevocably changed. The landslide of allegations against Sean Diddy Combs was started by a singular person - R&B singer Cassie Ventura. Cassie’s allegations formed the framework for the federal case against Sean Combs, which is set to kick off  May 5, 2025. Tess takes a deep look into Cassie’s harrowing escape and the surprising stories Cassie’s intersects with. Follow Pop Mystery Pod on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @popmysterypod  Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill. Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d. Support independent pop journalism and join us on Patreon at Pop Mystery Pod. Get access to ad free episodes, bonus content, and polls about upcoming topics. patreon.com/PopMysteryPod Follow Tess’s other podcasts Lady to Lady and Toxic wherever you get your pods.  Make sure to leave us a review! And tell a friend about the show!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.