P Diddy settles over book advance

Random House alleged Combs never submitted a manuscript

Sean "P Diddy" Combs has settled a legal action brought by a US publisher following allegations the singer failed to complete his memoirs as contracted.

Random House sued the US hip-hop star in February of this year in a bid to recover an advance payment of $300,000 (£170,000) made to him in 1998.

The matter was "amicably resolved", said a statement from Random House.

The publisher added it would no longer be releasing a book by Mr Combs, His spokesman declined to comment.

Missed deadline

In the claim filed at Manhattan's Supreme Court, Random House said the rap artist agreed to complete his autobiography by December 1999.

According to court papers, Mr Combs arranged independently to collaborate on the book with writer Mikal Gilmore, but the deadline passed and no manuscript was forthcoming.

Mick Jagger is another star who failed to deliver his memoirs

In early 2000, Random House informed the singer he was in breach of contract and demanded the advance payment be returned.

Several follow-up letters were sent when Mr Combs failed to reply, it alleged.

Mr Combs sued Mr Gilmore in 2001, claiming he left the project having already accepted $325,000 (£184,000) to work with him.

The case was suspended later that year after Mr Gilmore filed for bankruptcy, and was dropped in 2004.

Other famous faces who have agreed to write memoirs and failed to deliver include Mick Jagger, who received a seven-figure sum for the project.

But the Rolling Stone singer eventually returned the sum, saying that he was unable to remember anything of significance.