As hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs faces a high-profile sex trafficking and racketeering trial in the Southern District of New York, his one-time industry rival, Suge Knight, is breaking his silence from behind bars. In an exclusive interview with Crime Fix’s Anget Levy, Knight weighed in on the charges, the culture of hip-hop, and how the trial could reshape the industry.

Combs, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, stands accused of racketeering, conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Prosecutors allege a pattern of threats and manipulation, while Combs’ defense insists the accusations are fueled by jealousy, love, and money.

Knight, now 60 and serving a 28-year sentence for manslaughter, says the case is about more than just Combs’ alleged crimes. “It’s not right to blame everything on Puffy,” Knight insisted, using Combs’ nickname. “If they really wanted to get Puffy, they’d put all these people on trial. But he’s just the fall guy.”

Reflecting on the rivalry that once defined East Coast versus West Coast rap, Knight recounted how both he and Combs built hip-hop empires—Death Row Records and Bad Boy Records—while tragedies, including the murders of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., rocked the industry.

Knight’s name has surfaced repeatedly during the trial. Testimony from former Combs’ assistants and associates has described a culture of threats, intimidation, and even violence. Capricorn Clark, who once worked for both Knight and Combs, testified about being threatened by Combs and his staff, including being told she’d be thrown in the East River if she failed a lie detector test.

Knight, however, believes the industry’s problems run deeper. “We need to restructure the culture of hip-hop and do more positive,” he said. “Too many rappers end up dead or in prison. That shouldn’t be the case.”

He also addressed the disturbing allegations of sexual misconduct and violence that have emerged during the trial. While not excusing any behavior, Knight suggested that cycles of trauma and learned behaviors are at play in the music business, and called for accountability and truth-telling from all involved. “Let Puffy get on the stand and tell his truth. Bring everyone else up too. That would help hip-hop more than sending anyone to prison.”

Knight also commented on the testimony of rapper Kid Cudi, who alleged that Combs and his security team threatened him after he was seen with Cassie, Combs’ former partner. Knight was blunt: “Love makes people do crazy things. But that doesn’t excuse violence.”

Despite the gravity of the charges, Knight doesn’t believe Combs will be convicted on all counts. “They might get him on something, but not everything. He’s not perfect, but neither am I. None of us are.”

Knight’s final message was a call for healing and growth in hip-hop: “One person should never be more important than hip-hop—not even me. We all get better when we do better. Let’s fix this for the culture.”

As the Combs trial enters its fourth week, the hip-hop world watches closely—not just for the verdict, but for what it could mean for the future of the genre.