The song , a rap ballad , had already been completed before permission was granted to use the sample from The Police 's " Every Breath You Take " . Sting ( vocalist from The Police ) ultimately participated in a performance of " I 'll Be Missing You " at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards . Sting owns 100 % of the publishing royalties . As well as using the melody and arrangement of " Every Breath You Take " , the single also borrows the melody from the well-known American spiritual " I 'll Fly Away " . Diddy 's heartfelt verses were actually composed by Sauce Money , a rapper best known for his features on Jay-Z 's earlier albums
1997 MTV Video Music Awards
1997 MTV Video Music Awards
I'll Be Missing You