The Ballad of Biggie and Tupac

Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, also known as The Notorious B.I.G., are two of the most iconic figures in hip-hop history. Their backgrounds reveal a struggle through poverty and crime toward success in the rap industry.

Tupac Shakur, Born In 1971 In Harlem To a Black Panther Mother, Grew Up In Poverty, Dropped Out of High School, but Excelled In Poetry and English

Tupac Shakur, originally named Lesane Crooks, was born to Afeni Shakur, a Black Panther. Following his mother's acquittal before his birth, he was renamed after the indigenous South American revolutionary Tupac Amaru. The family relocated to Marin County, a suburb of San Francisco, where Tupac led a challenging life due to his mother's crack addiction. To support himself, he ventured into drug dealing and dropped out of high school, even though he was a talented English student and poet.

Tupac's talent was recognized by his English teacher, Leila Steinberg, who would let him stay at her place and eventually managed his career.

Tupac's Career Began With Digital Underground Before His Debut Album "Tupacalypse now"

His career kickstarted with Digital Underground, where he initially danced and later rapped—presenting a more profound aspect by commenting on Black community issues. "Tupacalypse Now" was his first venture into solo albums, with his songs not making radio play, but gaining attention when Vice President Dan Quayle criticized it for inciting violence. Tupac also began acting, starring in films like "Juice" and "Poetic Justice" in the early 1990s.

Biggie Smalls, Born Christopher Wallace In 1972 Brooklyn To Jamaican Immigrants, Rose From Humble Beginnings and Drug Dealing To Rap Success

Biggie Smalls, born Christopher Wallace in Brooklyn to Jamaican immigrants, attended schools that included fellow hip-hop icons. An exceptional English student, Biggie was supported by his preschool teacher mother through a second job. Despite this, he became involved in drug dealing during the crack epidemic of the 1980s, dropped out of high school, and spent time in jail.

Discovered by Sean Combs, Biggie Signed To Bad Boy Records, Releasing "Ready to Die" In 1994

After a stint in jail, Biggie's demo tape earned him a spot in Source Magazine's unsigned hype ...

Josh Clark reflects on the notorious and tragic rivalry between Tupac Shakur and Christopher "Biggie" Wallace, two of hip-hop's greatest icons, noting the significant contribution their feud made to the East Coast versus West Coast rap scene of the 1990s.

Tupac and Biggie's Friendship Soured After Tupac's 1994 Studio Robbery

The story of Tupac and Biggie's falling out begins with a profound betrayal.

Tupac Suspected Biggie and Combs, Causing a Rift

Clark states that the pair started as friends, with Tupac even acting as a mentor to Biggie after they met in 1993. Biggie often stayed on Tupac's couch during visits to LA. However, everything changed when Tupac was invited by Jimmy Henchman Roseman to do a guest spot for the rapper Little Sean, who was in Biggie's circle. On November 30th, before recording at Times Square Quad Recording Studios, Tupac was met by three men with guns who shot, robbed, and beat him. Biggie and Sean Combs were in the building at the time, and Tupac suspected they were involved in setting up the attack. The incident not only caused a rift but also intensified earlier tensions, as Tupac wasn't a fan of Sean Combs to begin with. Adding to the strain, Biggie had previously warned Tupac about the potential dangers of hanging out with Haitian Jack, a warning that later gained gravity after Tupac was accused of sexual assault alongside Haitian Jack and felt betrayed by him.

While Tupac was in jail, Biggie released "Who Shot Ya?", which Tupac took as a direct mockery of his ordeal, believing it referenced the shooting. These events laid the groundwork for a rivalry that soon spiralled beyond just the two rappers.

Rivalry Publicized: Two Rappers Representing East-West Coast Hip-hop Divide, Entourages in Rival Gangs

The public nature of their dispute intensified the existing East Coast-West Coast hip-hop divide.

"Hit 'em Up" By Tupac Accused Biggie of an Affair, Escalating the Feud

The tension between Tupac and Biggie became a full-blown aspect of their public p ...

Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant discuss the complex dynamics between record labels, managers, and artists that contributed to the infamous rivalry between Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.

Suge Knight, CEO of Death Row Records, Aided Tupac's Prison Release, Escalating Tensions With Biggie's Label Bad Boy Records and Head Sean Combs

Suge Knight, the CEO of Death Row Records and a blood from South Central Los Angeles, played a significant role in escalating the feud between Tupac and Biggie.

Knight Challenged Combs and Bad Boy Records At Awards Shows, Escalating the Rivalry Into a Business Conflict

Clark and Bryant mention that at the Source Awards in September 1995, Suge Knight publicly challenged Sean Combs, thereby inflaming the rivalry with Combs’ label, Bad Boy Records. The conflict with Combs was further intensified when Knight visited Tupac in prison and helped post bail to release him, aligning with Tupac's suspicions that Combs and Biggie were involved in his shooting and robbery.

Knight had become closer with Tupac during his prison time, offering financial assistance and fostering Tupac's existing tension with Biggie. The situation worsened when a fight at an Atlanta party, which both Knight and Combs attended, led to the death of Jake Robles, an employee of Death Row and Knight's close friend. Witnesses claimed that Combs' bodyguard was the shooter, leading to a personal vendetta for Knight against Combs.

Media Accused Of Sensationalizing Tupac-Biggie Tensions For Profit

Fans and Media Fueled East vs. West Coast Rivalry, Pressuring Artists

The tension between Tupac and Biggie wasn't just a matter of personal animosity but was also a media spectacle that capitalized on the burgeoning East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry. Clark and Bryant suggest that the fans and media may have pressured the two rappers to embody the lifestyle they described in their lyrics, an expectation particularly prevalent in hip-hop culture, which values authenticity or being "real."

The feud was enticing to th ...

Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant reminisce on the tragic and violent deaths of rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, emphasizing unresolved mysteries and ongoing suspicions involving figures in the music industry.

Tupac's 1996 Drive-By Murder Unsolved Until Recent Confession

Tupac Shakur's untimely death at age 25 remains one of the most notorious unsolved murders in music history, until the mention of a potential recent confession. Clark and Bryant unfold the contentious circumstances that led to this tragic event.

Tupac's Paranoia and Distrust, Including Of Suge Knight, May Have Led To His Death

Tupac was involved in an altercation with Orlando Anderson, a Crip, after a Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas. Merely hours later, Tupac and Suge Knight were stopped at a red light when a nearby Cadillac unleashed a fatal barrage of gunfire. Prior to his death, Tupac experienced growing distrust and paranoia, particularly directed toward Death Row Records and Suge Knight. Tupac suspected Suge Knight of mishandling his finances and stifling his progress in the movie industry.

Biggie Smalls, 24, Murdered In Drive-By; Suge Knight or Sean Combs Conspiracy Suspected

Biggie Smalls, also known as The Notorious B.I.G., faced a similar fate as Tupac when he was murdered at just 24 years old. He was leaving a Vibe Magazine party in Los Angeles when his life was abruptly ended in a drive-by shooting.

East-West Coast Rivalry and Violence in the Tragic Demises of Tupac and Biggie

Josh Clark underscores the heightened East-West coast hip-hop rivalry as a key context in which both rappers met their violent ends. Speculation about Suge Knight's involvement in ...