Rapper Sean "P Diddy" Combs and his record company Bad Boy Entertainment have been sued for �700,00 by three songwriters in a dispute over royalties.

Todd Gaither, Kelly Price and Jeremy Graham co-wrote six tracks on Combs's 1997 album No Way Out, including the hit I'll Be Missing You.

In their case, filed at the Manhattan State Supreme Court, they allege that "fraudulent activities" by Combs and his label mean they receive much less in royalties than they are entitled to.

Combs is an award-winning performing artist

A spokeswoman for Combs said: "This lawsuit has no merit whatsoever."

No Way Out has sold more than five million copies since its release.

The songwriters' claim their recording deal with Combs put a cap on the amount of royalties paid on songs written or co-written by Combs.

Enterprise

The singer bought back control of Bad Boy Entertainment in June this year, ending his decade-long relationship with Arista Records.

In that time, he enjoyed a 50-50 joint venture with Arista, producing such artists as the Notorious BIG and Faith Evans.

His buy-back meant he regained control of the artist roster and back catalogue.

Combs founded Bad Boy Entertainment in 1991 with just two artists, Christopher Wallace, also known as Notorious BIG, and Craig Mack.

He has since branched out into other fields including fashion, with his Sean John label, and Bad Boy Films.

Bad Boy Entertainment hit the headlines following the death of Notorious BIG.

It is widely believed he was shot as part of a rivalry with label Death Row Records.

Death Row rapper Tupac Shakur had been shot dead the previous year. No-one has been convicted of the deaths of either man.

Combs, a former boyfriend of singer Jennifer Lopez, found himself in court over gun allegations relating to a separate nightclub shooting, but was cleared of all charges.