Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones Jr., a music producer who has worked with big names like Mary Mary, Jack Harlow, and T-Pain, is speaking out for the first time since filing a $30 million lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs. The lawsuit, which includes allegations of racketeering, sexual assault, and trafficking, has made headlines, but Jones says the reality behind the scenes is even more harrowing.
In a candid interview with Rolling Stone, Jones described his experience working with Combs, particularly on the 2023 album The Love Album: Off the Grid, and how it led to the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims that Combs subjected Jones to a series of abuses, both professional and personal, that have left the producer in hiding and struggling with severe anxiety.
Jones met Combs at a recording studio writing camp in September 2022. He offered his expertise on instrumentals for one of Combs’ songs, eventually becoming a producer on six tracks for The Love Album. However, Jones alleges that he produced nine songs in total and even lived with Combs for a year while working on the album—yet he claims he was never properly compensated for his contributions.
“I’m blackballed, for sure,” Jones said. “I’m broke. I have no source of income right now. Every month I’m trying to figure out how the bills are going to get paid.”
He explained that his situation has become so dire that he’s had to rely on a GoFundMe to get by, accusing Combs’ team of underpaying him and attempting to steal his publishing rights.
Jones also described the emotional toll this ordeal has taken on him. Despite attending events like the Juneteenth celebration featuring T-Pain at the Hollywood Bowl, where he served as the band director, he admitted that his anxiety has been overwhelming. “But doing that show, I had a couple mental breakdowns. I almost felt like it was too soon for me to try to come back outside to work,” he revealed. “My anxiety was out the roof.”
The stress and fear have not just affected his mental health but also his career. According to Jones, his involvement in the lawsuit has led to him being blacklisted in the music industry, leaving him without work or the means to release his completed album. “Here I am standing up for justice, for what I believe is right for my life, and I’m being punished for that,” he said.
When reached for comment about Jones’ claims, a spokesperson for Combs strongly denied the allegations. In a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court, Combs’ legal team described Jones’ suit as “pure fiction—a shameless attempt to create media hype and extract a quick settlement.” The motion went on to state, “There was no RICO conspiracy and Mr. Jones was not threatened, groomed, assaulted, or trafficked.”
Despite the legal pushback, Jones remains adamant that he is telling the truth. “Everybody saw the video of Cassie. This is who I’m dealing with,” he said, referencing the well-publicized lawsuit and subsequent settlement involving Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie, who accused the music mogul of sexual assault and abuse.
As the legal battle continues, Jones finds himself caught between seeking justice and trying to salvage his career and mental health. “I’ve had many nights and weeks and months of suicidal thoughts. It’s the music that has kept me living all my life,” he confessed. However, without the resources to promote and release his new album, his future in the industry remains uncertain.
