Da Band (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Members

Sara Stokes - a Detroit R&B singer
- Was not considered by Diddy to stay on Bad Boy
Dylan "The Dilinjah" John - a Brooklyn reggae vocalist
- Was kicked out and released a mixtape dissing Diddy afterwards
Rodney "Young City" Hill (formerly known as Chopper (rapper)), a New Orleans rapper
- Became the first artist on Bad Boy South only to leave to go to Cash Money Records
Lynese "Babs" Wiley - an MC from Brooklyn
- Was kept by Diddy
Lloyd "Ness" Mathis, an MC from Philadelphia
- Was kept by Diddy
Fredrick "Freddy P" Watson, a Miami MC
- Left Da Band due to business disagreements with Bad Boy

History

After weeks of selections and training, Diddy chose the members of Da Band on Making The Band 2. For several weeks the group was subjected to vigorous and sometime demeaning tasks, including walking from midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn to purchase Junior's cheesecake for Diddy, and Elliot Ness' battle with Harlem MC Jae Millz. Their debut album, Too Hot for TV, was released in September of 2003.

Da Band was widely criticized as fraudulent by most hip hop fans, due partially to the fact that Diddy often embarrassed them throughout the filming of the show. Da Band effectively ended their career on the Season Three finale, when Diddy dissolved the group. However, he still wanted to work with Babs and Ness, calling them hip hop's next "Bonnie and Clyde," (however to date, nothing has been released from either of them). Diddy had also kept Chopper with the label, signing with Bad Boy South. A solo album for him was planned for August.

Chopper is currently signed to Cash Money.

In 2005, Sara Stokes appeared on the Royce Da 5'9" song "Wet My Whistle", off the album M.I.C. (Make It Count)

Dylan Dilinjah is releasing his solo album "No Regrets" through Sony in 2007.

Fred is getting ready to release his solo Gospel album titled "TRU MIAMI HEAT" in 2007. Fred has released a few songs on his MySpace page.

Babs and Ness are still signed to Bad Boy Records and have not put out an album to date.

Sara is currently working on her debut album, to be released soon, she also has a few songs on her MySpace page.

Discography

Too Hot for TV (2003)
- First single - "Bad Boy This, Bad Boy That"
- Second and last single-"Tonight"

Portrayal in the media

Comedian Dave Chappelle parodied the group in a sketch. Dave played Diddy and ordered the group to walk to the Bronx to fetch a Cambodian immigrant's breast milk, to walk to Queens to fetch a sugar cookie, to walk to northern New Jersey for a set of left-handed golf clubs, and to take a picture of a midget holding balloons. This was in reference to Diddy making the group walk miles to fetch his cheese cake. Most of the group played themselves in this sketch, with the exception of Dylan and Fred, however Dylan was also played by Chappelle and still made a small appearance. The sketch is featured in Season Two DVD set of the Chappelle's Show. This sketch has caused huge controversy and criticism from MTV who alleges that Chappelle's Show illegally used footage from the show without obtaining proper permission.

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