Editing Sean Combs (section)

===2001–2004: "P. Diddy" and ''The Saga Continues''===
Combs changed his stage name from "Puff Daddy" to "P. Diddy" in 2001.<ref name="BBC News March 2001" /> The [[gospel music|gospel]] album ''Thank You'', which had been completed just before the beginning of the weapons trial, was due to be released in March that year, but remains unreleased {{as of|2023||lc=y}}.<ref name="AutoRQ-6" /> He appeared as a drug dealer in the film ''[[Made (2001 film)|Made]]'', and starred with [[Halle Berry]], [[Heath Ledger]], and [[Billy Bob Thornton]] in ''[[Monster's Ball]]'' (both in 2001).<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2019 |title=Sean "Diddy" Combs |url=https://www.biography.com/musician/sean-puffy-combs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406162044/https://www.biography.com/musician/sean-puffy-combs |archive-date=April 6, 2020 |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=Biography}}</ref>

Combs began working with a series of atypical (for him) artists. For a short period of time, he was the manager of [[Kelis]]; they have a collaboration titled "Let's Get Ill".<ref name="Amazon Let's Get Ill" /> He was an opening act for [['N Sync]] on their Spring 2002 Celebrity Tour,<ref name="XXL 2011" /> and he signed California-based pop girl group [[Dream (American group)|Dream]] to his record label.<ref name="Hiatt 2001" /> Combs was a producer of the soundtrack album for the film ''[[Training Day]]'' (2001).<ref name="Billboard Training Day" />

In June 2001, Combs ended Bad Boy's distribution deal with Arista Records, gaining full control of the label, its catalogue, and its roster of artists.<ref name="Black Profile" /> ''[[The Saga Continues...]]'', released on July 10 in North America, was the last studio album released by the joint venture. The album reached number two on the ''Billboard'' 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts<ref name="Billboard The Saga Continues" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=July 19, 2001 |title=Alicia Keys Fends Off P. Diddy, D12 At No. 1 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/alicia-keys-fends-off-p-diddy-d12-at-no-1-79071/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214173425/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/alicia-keys-fends-off-p-diddy-d12-at-no-1-79071/ |archive-date=December 14, 2023 |access-date=December 14, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> and was eventually certified Platinum.{{sfn|Traugh|2010|p=49}} It is the only studio album under the P. Diddy name, and the first album by Sean Combs not to feature any guest appearances by Jay-Z or Lil' Kim. Combs was executive producer of the reality TV show, ''[[Making the Band]]'', which appeared on MTV from 2002 to 2009.{{sfn|Traugh|2010|p=84}}

The show involves interviewing candidates and creating musical acts that would then enter the music business. Acts who got their start this way include [[Da Band]],<ref name="Reid 2003" /> [[Danity Kane]],{{sfn|Traugh|2010|p=84}} [[Day26]],<ref name="MTV Day 26"/> and [[Donnie Klang]].<ref name="MTV Donny Klang" /> In 2003, Combs ran in the [[New York City Marathon]], raising $2{{nbsp}}million for the educational system of the city of New York.<ref name="CBS News November 2003" /> On March 10, 2004, he appeared on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' to discuss the marathon, which he finished in four hours and eighteen minutes.{{sfn|Traugh|2010|p=89}} In 2004, Combs headed the campaign "[[Vote or Die]]" for the 2004 presidential election.{{sfn|Traugh|2010|p=85}} On February 1, 2004, Combs performed at the [[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show]].<ref name="The Washington Post February 2004" />