Before Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s well-known rivalry, hip-hop was already marked by intense conflicts. Fans often debate which rap beef was the first, but some rivalries made a bigger impact than others. In the 1990s, two former friends clashed through diss tracks and hidden insults in their lyrics. Their crews also brought these battles into real life. Even decades later, this feud still affects the hip-hop world.
Rappers Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., whose real name was Christopher Wallace, are closely linked to the East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry. This feud continued with other artists like The Game and 50 Cent, and more recently with Ray Vaughn and Joey Badass. Over time, rappers have traded diss tracks on radio, online, and in clubs. Today, social media and streaming platforms let artists challenge each other instantly. While some have made peace, others keep their battles alive. In some cases, it was too late to fix these conflicts.
In the early 1990s, Tupac and Biggie admired each other. Their styles were different. Biggie’s songs were about money, power, and women. Tupac’s music focused more on politics and social issues. Still, they respected each other’s skills.
It is unclear exactly how they met. Some say they first met on the set of Poetic Justice, where Tupac acted with Janet Jackson. Tupac reportedly played Biggie’s song “Party and Bulls**t” on set, which helped earn respect for Biggie in hip-hop. Other reports say Biggie stayed at Tupac’s home when he worked in Los Angeles. Those close to the two rappers said they were once friends. But soon, things turned sour.
In November 1994, Tupac was shot outside the Quad Recording Studios in Times Square. The shooting happened after Lil Cease, an associate of Biggie, had called Tupac to the studio. Biggie was reportedly in the studio with Sean Combs, also known as Diddy, who was managing him at the time. Tupac believed Biggie’s team was behind the shooting. This marked the start of one of hip-hop’s biggest feuds.
A few days later, Tupac was sentenced to 18 months in prison for sexual abuse. While in jail, Tupac and Suge Knight, head of Death Row Records, worked to attack Sean Combs and Biggie’s Bad Boy Records. During Tupac’s prison time, Biggie released the song “Who Shot Ya.” Tupac thought it was aimed at him. Biggie and Combs said the song was recorded before the shooting and was not meant as a diss. But Tupac did not accept this explanation. He responded with the song “Hit ‘Em Up.” This track attacked Biggie, Combs, Mobb Deep, and Lil Kim. In the song, Tupac called Biggie and his crew “some mark-ass b*****s” and threatened them.
In September 1996, Tupac was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. The case remains unsolved, but many believe it was linked to the feud with Biggie, which was still unresolved. People close to Biggie say he had no involvement. Faith Evans, Biggie’s wife at the time, told MTV News in 2002 that Biggie was shocked by Tupac’s death.
“I remember Biggie calling me and crying,” Evans said. “He was in Jersey. He called me crying because he was in shock. I think he was scared, given all the hype about this so-called beef that he didn’t really have in his heart against anyone.”
The next year, Biggie was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. Like Tupac’s case, Biggie’s death remains a mystery.
There is no doubt that Tupac and Biggie’s rivalry changed hip-hop. Similar beefs, whether liked or not, are now a part of the culture. The spirit of competition lives on through their music. Their influence continues to inspire new generations of artists.
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