“Biggie, remember when I use to let ya sleep on my couch, And beg the b**** to let ya sleep in the house. Now it’s all about Versace, you copied my style. Five shots couldn’t drop me, I took it, and smiled, Now I’m ’bout to set the record straight, with my AK. I’m still the thug that you love to hate” —Tupac Shakur
These were some of the strongly worded lyrics written by Tupac Shakur in the song “Hit ‘Em Up” after the believed betrayal of his once close friend, Christopher Wallace, also known as Notorious B.I.G or Biggie, and his record company, Bad Boy Records.1 The battle between these two infamous rappers was well known in the 1990’s as the Battle of the Coasts, West Coast vs. East Coast. So how did these two legendary rappers become such close friends, and how did it go sour between them?
The two rappers first met on the set of the film “Poetic Justice” in 1993, in which Tupac was featured. Biggie was visiting the set while Tupac was playing Biggie’s newly released single “Party & BullS***” on repeat. Biggie was flattered that such an advanced rapper was enjoying his music. Shakur eventually introduced himself to Biggie as a fan of his music. That’s when it clicked for the two. As their friendship began to grow, the two would hang out frequently at Tupac’s home in Los Angeles, where they smoked, drank, and wrote rhymes. This helped bring the two together and bond through their love of Hip-Hop. Little did they know that their friendship would later become one of the biggest feuds in Hip-Hop history.2
The two artist began to bond, and while Biggie Smalls was just making his breakthrough in the Hip-Hop industry, Tupac decided to take him under his wing and become his mentor because he was the more experienced artist, according to D-Dot in an interview. D-Dot was a close friend of both Tupac and Biggie.3 Shakur offered Smalls valuable advice, and even helped create the sound that made Smalls as big as he was. As their relationship grew and Shakur continued to mentor him, Biggie assumed that, since the two had been spending a lot of time together and had become close, he could ask Tupac to become his manager, according to Ben Westhoff.4 Tupac kindly declined, saying that Biggie’s manager “Puff Daddy” would take Biggie where he wanted to be in the charts, telling him that he was going to make it big in the industry.
Their friendship lasted one year, and the two made back and forth trips between Los Angeles and New York. Over time Tupac began to like the respect he received from the East Coast and became involved with some very dangerous shot callers, high-ranked gang affiliates, of the East Coast. Biggie warned Tupac about getting involved with particular individuals, because he knew just how dangerous some could be, and they weren’t afraid to take a life; but Shakur assumed he was on good terms with everyone.5
Tupac was being convicted of sexual assault charges and was looking at serving up to twenty-five years behind bars. On November 30, 1994, he made a stop in Harlem, New York, and was supposed to go to Quads Recording Studio to record with “Little Shawn,” an east coast rapper, since it would possibly be his last recording session for a long time. After a situation involving payment, the recording session was delayed, and Tupac finally arrived at midnight. Once he walked into the lobby, he was ambushed by three men in army fatigues, held at gunpoint, robbed, and then shot multiple times. According to Tupac, when he saw the faces of Biggie and Puff Daddy shortly after the incident, their faces looked guilty. This led Tupac to believe that Biggie knew about the set up and didn’t warn him in advance. That was the end of their friendship.6
On December 1, 1994, less than one day after the shooting, Shakur showed up to court bandaged up and in a wheelchair. He was found guilty of sexual assault and then sentenced to prison for a year and a half to four and a half years on February 8, 1995.7 During his time behind bars, Biggie released a track titled “Who Shot Ya,” which led Tupac to believe that it was a diss-track aimed at him because of the robbery, but Biggie discredited that claim. Shakur appealed his convictions and a New York judge released him on $1.4 million bail with the help of Surge Knight after he signed to Death Row Records.8 Tupac became as ruthless as ever, once he was released. He went to the extent of making the claim that he slept with Biggie’s wife, Faith Evans, and that Biggie was stealing his style because he was the superior in the industry, which he emphasized in his diss track “Hit ‘Em Up.”
On the night of September 7, 1996, the feud between the two came to a climax when Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas. He was placed in the intensive care unit. Days later, Tupac was pronounced dead from internal bleeding caused by multiple gun wounds.9 But the murder of Tupac was not the end of their situation. On March 9, 1997, Notorious B.I.G was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. Many believe his death was a result of the toxic relationship between himself and Tupac.10 Although both legends were killed and the issues between the two were never resolved, the two brought the West Coast vs. East Coast rivalry to life.11 It continues, and so does their legacy that was left behind.
- Stereo Williams, “Tupacs Hit Em Up: The Most Savage Diss Track Ever Turns 20,” The Daily Beast, June 04, 2016, accessed February 11, 2018, https://www.thedailybeast.com/tupacs-hit-em-up-the-most-savage-diss-track-ever-turns-20. ↵
- Candace Sandy and Dawn Marie Daniels, How long will they mourn me?: the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur (New York: Random House, 2006), 54. ↵
- “D-Dot talks Tupac & Biggie’s Early Friendship,” Interview by VladTV, D-Dot talks Tupac, biggie’s friendship before beef, November 11, 2013. ↵
- Ben Westhoff, Original gangstas: the untold story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the birth of West Coast rap (New York: Hachette Books, 2016),267. ↵
- Tayannah Lee McQuillar and Freddie Lee Johnson, Tupac Shakur: the life and times of an American icon (Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press, 2010), 137. ↵
- MusicVibe | September 13, “V Vintage (1996): Kevin Powell Interviews Tupac,” Vibe, February 24, 2015, , accessed March 08, 2018, https://www.vibe.com/2010/09/v-vintage-1996-kevin-powell-interviews-tupac/. ↵
- Natalie Finn, “Untangling the Conspiracies Surrounding Tupac Shakurs Unsolved Murder,” E! Online, February 25, 2018, accessed March 07, 2018, http://www.eonline.com/news/915786/the-unsolved-murder-of-tupac-shakur-untangling-the-epic-layers-of-conspiracy-surrounding-the-case. ↵
- Chuck Philips and Alan Abrahamson, “Rapper leaves tangled financial, legal legacy,” Los Angeles Times, December 24, 1996, accessed March 05, 2018, http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-shakurlegacy24dec2496-story.html. ↵
- Michel Marriott, “Shots Silence Angry Voice Sharpened by the Streets,” The New York Times, September 15, 1996, accessed February 13, 2018, http://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/16/us/shots-silence-angry-voice-sharpened-by-the-streets.html. ↵
- Carrie Wittmer, “The murders of Biggie and Tupac are still a mystery after 20 years – here are all the theories about them,” Business Insider, March 27, 2017, accessed February 13, 2018, http://www.businessinsider.com/biggie-and-tupac-murder-theories-cases-suspects-2017-3/#but-then-a-violent-rivalry-started-2. ↵
- Meghan Giannotta, “A look at Tupac and Biggie’s infamous hip-hop feud,” Am New York, February 20, 2018, accessed March 05, 2018, https://www.amny.com/entertainment/east-coast-vs-west-coast-rivalry-a-look-at-tupac-and-biggie-s-infamous-hip-hop-feud-1.13742586. ↵
81 comments
Vanessa Tombo
This is my second article to read about the life of Tupac. I really enjoyed the approach taken by the writer. He chose to write about the rivalry between two of the most well-known rappers of the time and the legacy they left behind after their deaths. This article demonstrates how toxic relationships can arise from great friendships. The end of this article shows just how the feuds between the east coast and the west coast started.
Andrew Dominguez
The article was very interesting showing the relationship the two legend rappers had with one another. What I don’t understand is why would Tupac accuse his friend for calling the hit. The only reason would be so Biggy could be in the spot light now. Its crazy to think both rappers would be murdered, and I wonder if they were still alive would music have changed even more.
Tyler Thompson
It’s unfortunate that their affiliation with gangs, and false accusations about each other not only destroyed their friendships, but ended their lives as well. Tupac and Biggie were very strong developments to the history of hip-hop. This was very well written, and it was a very interesting read about a couple of the biggest names in music of the 20th century.
Thomas Fraire
The Feud between 2pac and biggie smalls is easily one of the greatest in rap history and to this day people still debate who did it better. extraordinary article! I, however I found it was fascinating to peruse about the progression between the two most prevalent rappers in music. It was extremely interesting to peruse about how these two went from companions to foe’s so rapidly. it’s miserable that these two couldn’t accommodate before their less than ideal passing. General, I truly delighted in this article and thought the subject was intriguing. I likewise appreciated how the writer kept the peruser drew in the distance however, this was extremely all around looked into and composed
Regina De La Parra
Great article! I was really impressed to learn a little bit more about Tupac’s life and his relationship with his friend Biggie. I am amazed at how bad and toxic their friendship was and how it even lead to death. I really liked this article because it the writing is done in a very clear way that helps you understand the whole story. Great article Robert!
Miranda Alamilla
It’s crazy to think that even with fortune and fame, friendships can be so toxic as to end in death. Tupac and B.I.G are two names that everyone in the Hip-Hop community knows. Despite their deep friendship and their inevitable closeness, both rappers lives’ were cut short at the height of a crime. It’s so sad to think that two lives were ended because of the choice to commit crimes already having luxuries that most do not. I really enjoyed the way this article was put together.
Cristina Cabello
There is no perfect relationship. Just like how there is no perfect friendship. I have always known about this story but not all the details. It is sad that they could not fix their differences. I really liked this article and how the author described this story. It was easy to read and very informational about their impactful lives. It was very unfortunate but everything happens for a reason.
Jose Figueroa
Tupac and Biggie were both major influences on the development of hip hop. It was interesting to see how the friendship came about just by the playing of Biggies music. I also did not know that Puff Daddy was Biggies manager. The article was well written but there could have been more depth in examining some of the alternate theories of what happened.
Alexandra Cantu
I love reading different topics and this was it. Ive heard of Tupac and Biggie I’m not really a big hip hop music lover but I did enjoy reading your paper. I really didn’t know much just that it was a rivalry between the East and West Coast. There once close relationship quickly became ugly which resulted in both their deaths. This was a captivating article, Good job!
Caroline Bush
Great article! I though it was interesting to read about the dynamics between the two most popular rappers in music. It was really interesting to read about how these two went from friends to enemy’s so quickly. its sad that these two could not reconcile before their untimely death. Overall I really enjoyed this article and thought the topic was interesting. I also enjoyed how the author kept the reader engaged all the way though, this was very well researched and written.