"You've Been My Father For The Last 30 Years": Diddy Shares Touching Andre Harrell Tribute Video 

Photo by John Parra/Getty Images for REVOLT Music Conference

Andre Harrell's label, Uptown Records, launched the careers of Mary J. Blige, Teddy Riley, Heavy D & The Boyz, Al B. Sure!, and Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Following the news of Andre Harrell's recent death at the age of 59, Diddy has shared a touching tribute video dedicated to his late mentor.

READ: The Legacy of Andre Harrell — the Ultimate Ambassador of Black Culture

"I wanna take the time to thank Andre for being a big brother, for believing in me," the video, which seems to come from a speech Diddy gave before, begins. "I'm only standing up here because you gave me the chance. You gave me the opportunity."

"As a Black man, you took me underneath your wing. You were patient with me and you taught me and you talked to me," Diddy continues. "You believed in me, annd you kept teaching me, even until today you still teach me."

"...I told you my father died when I was two-and-a-half," he says toward the end of the video. "Andre, you've been my father for the last 30 years."

Harrell, who died of heart failure, was one of hip-hop's earliest moguls. His label, Uptown Records, launched the careers of Mary J. Blige, Teddy Riley, Heavy D & The Boyz, Al B. Sure!, and Diddy.