It’s been a few days since music icon Andre Harrell passed away and it’s still very surreal. Our chairman Sean “Diddy” Combs has broken his silence about the untimely death in an emotional tribute on Instagram.

“I honestly still can’t believe it,” he wrote. “I’ve got to give myself the reality of this in doses. Because I can’t even handle this. I hope to God that you are all blessed to have someone in your life that loves you and believes in you like this man believed in me.… I’m going to miss him so much. I can’t even imagine life without Dre. God bless @gianni, @onealmcknight and the rest of the family. 🖤✊🏿⁣⁣LOVE YOU FOREVER @andreharrell!!!!!!!!!!”

Diddy got his start as an intern for Harrell’s Uptown Records. He quickly elevated to an A&R position within the company and had the opportunity to executive produce Mary J. Blige’s What’s The 411. In 1993, Diddy was fired from Uptown Records because Harrell said MCA didn’t want to release The Notorious B.I.G.’s debut album due to its raw and uncut content.

“I didn’t want to sit there and be the one confining Puff because the corporation was telling me to do that. I’m not built that way,” Harrell said in a 2014 interview with Wall Street Journal. “I told Puff he needs to go and create his own opportunity. ‘You’re red-hot right now. I’m really letting you go so you can get rich.’”

Diddy took what he learned from his former boss and created a star-studded roster on Bad Boy Records. The two remained close friends and business partners through the years. After Diddy launched REVOLT in 2013, Harrell became the Vice Chairman of the company.

Harrell is also credited with launching the careers of Heavy D & The Boyz, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Monifa, Guy and many more.

We are continuing to send our thoughts and prayers to Harrell’s family and friends. Watch the beautiful tribute below.