Abuse, threats, sex parties: Rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing serious allegations.

The highly anticipated trial of rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs on sexual assault charges begins Monday in New York. What you need to know before the trial begins:

Born in 1969 in New York's Harlem neighborhood, Combs grew up in poverty with a single mother after his father was murdered shortly after his birth. He dropped out of college to work in the music industry, founded the label Bad Boy Records in 1993, and then achieved worldwide breakthrough as a rapper with his debut album "No Way Out" in 1997.

Over the past decades, the 55-year-old, who has used the pseudonyms "Puff Daddy" and "(P.) Diddy" among others throughout his career, has been one of the world's most successful rappers with hits like "I'll Be Missing You" and "Bad Boy For Life." The entrepreneur has also enjoyed success with the Sean John fashion brand, among others.

In her private life, Combs has been married three times and has seven children. Around the turn of the millennium, a relationship with singer Jennifer Lopez made headlines.

Just two years ago, Combs was a celebrated superstar. In September 2023, he was honored as a "Global Icon" at the MTV Video Music Awards.

But a few weeks later, his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a civil lawsuit alleging rape, abuse, and assault. The two agreed to a settlement, but a few months later, a video surfaced showing shocking scenes of violence between Combs and Ventura in a hotel hallway. Combs apologized. But then, suddenly, similar allegations began pouring in from numerous sources—so many that he was finally arrested in a luxury New York hotel and charged by prosecutors last September.

The New York District Attorney's Office has charged the rapper with, among other things, sex trafficking and organized crime. For years, Combs allegedly abused, threatened, and coerced women into fulfilling his sexual desires. He ran a "criminal enterprise" with associates.

There are also numerous civil lawsuits against the musician. A law firm in Houston, Texas, among others, says it represents around 120 people with allegations against Combs. The rapper has consistently denied all of these accusations.

The rapper had to trade his magnificent villas in California and Florida, among other places, for a cell in the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. There, he is listed under inmate number 37452-054.

The prison section, "4 North," to which Combs is assigned, resembles a kind of heavily guarded dormitory. According to the New York Times, there are yoga mats, ping-pong tables, televisions, and basketball hoops. There's no internet access, but the rapper can talk to his children via phone, for example, and has even spoken to fellow musician Kanye West.

A longtime fellow inmate was crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried, who was convicted of fraud. Luigi M., who was convicted of the murder of a health insurance executive and who shares a lawyer with Combs, is also currently incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center.

Combs is expected to appear in person before Judge Arun Subramanian at the start of the trial. The process begins with jury selection, which could take several days. In this case, the prosecution and defense considered the search so difficult given the high-profile defendant that they distributed questionnaires to potential jury candidates in advance. The trial could then last several weeks or even months.

The proceedings bring back memories of similar sexual offense trials against former superstars in recent years, including R. Kelly, Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein.

Combs has so far denied all charges and pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.

His lawyers have hinted at various defense strategies in advance. Among other things, they unsuccessfully attempted to exclude the video containing the shocking scenes of violence against his ex-girlfriend Ventura, who also plans to testify, from the evidence. They also attempted to argue that Combs lived a "swinger lifestyle" and may have been under the influence of drugs, among other things.

During his successful years, Combs enjoyed being surrounded by other celebrities such as Usher, Justin Bieber, Leonardo DiCaprio, Paris Hilton, and Kim Kardashian. Many have since distanced themselves from him. Rapper 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, even sharply criticized Combs, calling the allegations "disturbing."

Many of the former companions will also be in New York on Monday - for the "Met Gala", a benefit event of the Metropolitan Museum often referred to as the party of the year, at which Combs was also a frequent and welcome guest until a few years ago.

However, Combs receives explicit support from his mother and his children, who repeatedly speak out in public on his behalf and are also expected to be among the spectators at the trial.