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Kaley Cuoco
Foreign.
Jake Brennan
Elvis.
Sean Puffy Combs
So last time I talked to you guys about Quint, I was boasting about how good I felt in my Mongolian.
Jake Brennan
Cashmere crew neck sweater that I bought.
Sean Puffy Combs
From quints for just $50.90. Yeah, cashmere sweater for under 60 bucks.
Jake Brennan
Can you believe that?
Sean Puffy Combs
And now I'm here to tell you about the amazing travel products from Quince. My wife just had a birthday, we.
Jake Brennan
Have a trip planned for next month.
Sean Puffy Combs
So I pre ordered for her this really gorgeous weekender bag that she's going to love. Don't worry, she doesn't listen to the.
Jake Brennan
Podcast so she's not going to find out. But you deserve to know about this bag.
Sean Puffy Combs
It's Italian leather, comes in three great colors, black, taupe, golden, tan. And it cost me $229.90 and looks like it costs thousands more, which is the deal with Quint's products. They're all super high quality and look like a million bucks, which I love, but they also don't cost me an arm and a leg and I also love that too. So all Quint Items are priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands. That's a major discount and Quint partners directly with top factories and Quint cuts out the cost of the middleman and passes the savings on to us. You guys gotta check out their website. Quince.com Amazing stuff there. All kinds of stuff. Great clothes, great products all around. For your next trip, treat yourself to the luxe upgrades you deserve from quintessential. Go to quince.com disgraceland for 365 day returns plus free shipping on your order. That's Q U I N C E.com disgraceland to get free shipping and 365 day returns.
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Jake Brennan
Production of Double Elvis. The story about the Notorious B.I.G. his background, his beginning days as a crack dealer and an artist, and his path as a man and a musician, not to mention his beef with friend Tupac Shakur, is so complex that two episodes were needed to properly tell this story. If you're just getting hip to this now, I suggest you hit pause and go back to the last episode of Disgraceland, part one of the Notorious B.I.G. story. Or if you're looking exclusively for a deep dive into the East coast west coast beef between Biggie and Tupac, check out the entire episode dedicated to this subject in season one of Disgraceland. You'll also want to check out the two part episode dedicated entirely to Tupac Shakur, his career and his artistry that is available earlier in season seven of Disgraceland. Here we get into the famous rivalry, but we also get into the Notorious BIG's life after Tupac, his inspiration as an artist, and the mystery behind his still unsolved murder. We also of course get into the great music that the Notorious B.I.G. made. Unlike that music I played for you at the top of the show, that wasn't great music. That was a preset loop from my Mellotron called gangster white walls mk2. I played you that loop because I can't afford the rights to Wannabe by the Spice Girls. And why would I play you that specific slice of greasy Girl Power cheese? Could I afford it? Because that was the number one song in America on March 9, 1997. And that was the day the Notorious B.I.G. was shot and killed, kicking off one of the most mysterious music industry murders of all time. On this episode, a Dead rivalry, New inspiration, a mysterious murder in the Notorious B.I.G. i'm Jake Brennan and this is Disgrace. The Notorious B.I.G was laid up in the hospital with a shattered leg, a result of the car accident that had occurred the night before, and wakin him in the hospital for three months. His head was full of confusion, his big belly filled with fear. His boys had come by to visit, brought him a boombox and some of his old mixtapes to help him pass the time. Who shot you? The B side from his hit single Big Papa came on and immediately began to irritate him. This was the song Tupac used against him, the song Pac claimed Big had written about him. The song that supposedly proved Tupac's insane theory that Big and Pac Puff were behind Tupac shooting at Quad Studios at night. The song was instrumental in the beef narrative between the two men, despite the fact that Big and Puff had recorded who Shot you before Tupac was shot. It Made no Sense A lot of things about Tupac Shakur made no sense. For all his paranoia, fear and public fretting about dying young, he liberally insulted some of the most dangerous gangsters on both coasts. And for someone who frequently rapped about equality and oppression and individual freedom, Tupac had no problem aligning himself with a man who was seen as one of the most violent, oppressive forces in the music industry. Suge Knight, owner and label boss at Death Row Records. Unable to move from the bed, Big grabbed an open can of Pepsi from his bedside table and launched it at the boombox in hopes of nailing the stop button. He missed, laid his head back on his pillow, let the painkillers do their thing, closed his eyes and passed out. The song played on the Mitsubishi Montero wasn't known as a gangster's whip, which suited its owner just fine. From the outside it looked like any other modern day SUV tooling down Ventura Boulevard in Los Angeles. Practical but popular, overbuilt by its Japanese makers with more horsepower than needed, the Montero was a sneaky monster just like its driver. Inside, the SUV was tricked out with a television set and vcr. Ridiculous indulgences for the interior of a mid market automobile, especially back in the 1990s. Now the 80s era block wired to the massive subwoofer in the back of the suv that was a necessity for any player, low key or not, a man's car stereo was his calling card on the block. Without that bass rolling out of your ride's windows at nausea inducing volume in middle earth rattling low frequencies, well, let's face it, you were just another geek on the street. Much like the geek in the LTD who just pulled up next to him. What the fuck was he yelling about? Stupid motherfucker with his men's warehouse shirt and tie telling him to turn down his shirt. You motherfucker. The driver of the Montero ignored the driver in the Ford LTD and then decided that he wasn't not only going to turn down his music, he was going to turn it up. He cranked the stereo. The sub raged. The driver of the ltd, white, middle aged, was beyond offended. It didn't help matters that he hated rap music. The same type of music that was inconsiderably blasting from the Montero, whose driver was black. So Mr. Ltd began shouting out of his window even more furiously. Mr. Montero shouted right back and was animated now, in fact more angry than the originally aggrieved man in the LTD who started this whole mess by telling him to turn it down in the first place. Of course, Mr. Ltd would claim that Mr. Montero started the mess when he had the disrespect to blast his rap music at ear splitting volumes in the middle of the day on a public street no less. It was offensive. The shouting continued until Mr. Montero killed the volume so that Mr. Ltd could hear clearly what he was about to say next. And what he said was this. You better shut the fuck up white boy, or I'm gonna put a cap in your ass. With that he drew his piece. The light then turned green and Mr. Ltd blasted through the intersection. Something clicked in Mr. Montero and he instinctively gunned it in hot pursuit of the ltd. The chase was short lived. At the next stalled intersection with Mr. Montero once again pulled up alongside his Ford. Mr. Ltd wasted no time and drew his own gun. And before Mr. Montero knew what was what, Mr. Ltd in a tragic case of reverse road rage, aimed, fired and very efficiently shot and killed Mr. Montero. Mr. Ltd the shooter, it turns out, was a white LAPD undercover narcotics officer named Frank Liga. Perhaps more shocking, however, was that Mr. Montero, the dead black dude who brandished his piece first, was a seven year veteran of LAPD's Pacific Patrol, another cop named Kevin Gaines. And perhaps most interesting about this entire fiasco was at the green Mitsubishi Montero with the tricked out blah punk. The car Officer Kevin Gaines was driving again. Officer Kevin Gaines was registered to Death Row Records. Officer Gaines was driving to Death Row Montero because he was on Suge Knight's payroll as paid security. Many LAPD officers moonlighted as security detail and many of them were gainfully employed by Suge Knight and Death Row Records. Because having cops on your payroll was smart for many reasons. Number one, people didn't fuck with cops. Two, when they did and shit hit the fan and you and your gang banging buddies found yourself in trouble with other cops. Other cops tended to believe other cops, as in the one Suge paid to protect him, pull him out of the fan, spitting shit when he needed them to. Further connecting Officer Kevin Gaines to Death Row was the fact that he was dating Cheritha Knight, Suge Knight's soon to be ex wife and Snoop Dogg's ex manager. Anyway, you cut it. Officer Gaines was down with Death Row So believed another officer, the decorated Detective Russell Poole, who was assigned to the case to figure out why one white LA cop, Mr. Ltd, shot and killed another black LA cop, Mr. Monteiro, also known as Officer Kevin Gaines. The press was gunning for the easy narrative of undercover racist white cop kills defenseless off duty black cop. But the facts uncovered by Detective Poole led him into an entirely different investigative direction, one that involved a different murder entirely the murder of the Notorious B.I.G's friend and rival, Tupac Shakur.
Sean Puffy Combs
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Jake Brennan
About how Steve McQueen escaped murder at the hands of the Manson family? Or about Dwayne the Rock Johnson snatch and grab gang and The Rock's nearly 10 arrests? What about Danny Trejo running a drug protection, racing it while in lockup? The obsessive killing of Dorothy Stratton, the real life murder that inspired David Lynch's Twin Peaks? The three conspiracies surrounding Marilyn Monroe's death. These stories and more are told in the new podcast Hollywoodland, where true crime and Tinseltown collide. Hollywoodland is hosted by me, Jake Brennan, creator of the award winning music and true crime podcast Disgraceland. Follow and listen to Hollywood Land wherever you get your podcasts.
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On eligible plans except exclusion supply. See website for details. Not available. Fab Metro with T Mobile in the past six months tax supplies.
Jake Brennan
Tupac's death, the car accident that shattered his leg and felt like a near death experience, and the painful recovery time alone in the hospital, it all gave Biggie Smalls a newfound sense of creative urgency and purpose. He set out to not only finish his next record, entitled Life After Death, but to make it a better and more impactful album than his highly successful debut, Ready to Die. With Tupac dead, With Suge Knight now in jail, sentenced in 1996 for an attack on a Crips gang member and serving a nine year prison sentence, and with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg making noise about leaving Death Row Records, the white hot flames of the East Coast west coast beef from the previous year had been reduced to flickering embers. Big saw it as his duty to use his platform, to use the deeper success and brighter spotlight that his new album would bring to do something more than rep the aspirational hip hop, high life, blounts, bras, expensive cars. He wanted to unite the coasts, bring the west coast rap family peacefully into the fold with his beloved East Coast. Perhaps it was hubris, but for whatever reason, Biggie believed he could do this. And so too did Sean Puffy Combs, if for no other reason than the financial windfall a bicoastal audience would bring to Bad Boy Entertainment. Which was in part why they were both currently out on the west coast. In February of 1997. With Suge in prison, La was wide open. No more beef. Or so Big and Puffy thought. The two in their entourage were able to come and go as they pleased. During the day they set up Big's new record, video shoots, interviews, that sort of thing. And at night they freely bounced from this club to that club without fear of any sort of beef. But old wounds cut deep, and Biggie was still paranoid enough to wish that on that night, as he and Puff and their entourage made their way through the streets of Los Angeles and their fleet of rented GMC Chevy Suburbans that they'd opted for the bulletproof armored siding they'd scoped earlier in the week at Beverly Hills Motoring. Nothing he could do about it now. To ease his anxiety, he let his head sink back into the Suburban's leather headrest and allowed the music to wash over. The bass boomed. Everyone get on the ground. This is a robbery. The police issued M84 stun grenade did the trick. Non lethal. Sure it didn't kill Anyone. But it scared the fuck out of everyone in. Inside the bank of America on South Hoover on that day in Los Angeles, a flash grenade of thunderous proportions. Immediately upon its detonation, pants were pissed. The taste of copper crept into everyone's mouths. Customers and bank workers alike instantly feared for their lives. It was sudden chaos. Despite there being only one assailant, the situation was immediately well within his hands. With one gun drawn. The infamous TEC 9 set, semi automatic. A gun that it seemed was designed for one purpose and one purpose only. The quick massacre of scores of people in seconds. A fact not lost on anyone within the confines of the bank that day. The bank robber beelined it to the pretty assistant branch manager behind the desk. One of the only people in the bank not rendered into a useless puddle of fear. She loaded two bags with more than 700 grand in cash and calmly handed them to the bank robber, who instantly fled the scene. Brazen, bold, stupid. The pretty assistant branch manager, it was later discovered, had ordered twice as much cash from the Brinks truck on that day. Why? When her cool demeanor at the scene was revealed to investigators, she immediately fell under suspicion as being an accomplice in the bank robbery. A suspicion later confirmed when the pretty assistant branch manager cracked under questioning and admitted that, yes, she was indeed in on the robbery. Her boyfriend was the robber, but it wasn't her idea. It was all his. And his name was. You guessed it. Another LAPD officer who grew up in Compton, a childhood friend of Suge Knight, was arrested, tried for the bank robbery, convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Legal documents revealed in a 2017 documentary that a quote unquote reliable jailhouse informant went on record to say that needed the money from the bank robbery to pay off a contract killer. A killer who went by the street name Amir.
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Jake Brennan
Word. Word.
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Jake Brennan
I should have seen this coming.
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Jake Brennan
Thank you. We needed that.
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Jake Brennan
It wasn't known whether was at the party that night, but lots of Suge Knight's other friends sure were. Suge may have been locked up, but this was still la, still his town. As for any quote unquote Amir character, if he wasn't at the party, he was at least aware of one member of the party's megawatt guest list. 1997's Soul Train music Awards afterparty was officially the hottest ticket in town on the night of March 8th. Which is saying something considering that this was Hollywood where a list movie and music stars get after it in public on any given night. Even still, this party was different, especially for BIG and Puff. The industry was fully aware that the Notorious B.I.G's much anticipated follow up album was about to drop at the end of the month. So this party, though not directly thrown by Biggie and Puff, did serve as a celebration of sorts for them, a sort of unofficial record release party given the maelstrom of industry hype surrounding life after death. At that moment, Bad Boy Entertainment was in full flex out on the West Coast. If anyone in the history of the music industry was ever serious about manifest destiny, it was the supremely ambitious Sean Puffy Combs. Conquering the west was high on his agenda. So on that night, Bad Boy rolled deep. The party was held at the Petersen Automotive Museum on Fairfax in Wilshire. If you've been in Los Angeles anytime during the past few decades, you've probably seen this building. It's the massive, amorphous candy striped blob of architecture that looks like something out of one of Jack White's nightmares. Which is to say it's a cool looking building. And on this night it was packed with some of the coolest looking people. And when I say packed, I mean way packed. Like way past whatever the fire code allowed for. Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Tucker, Wesley Snipes, Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, Missy Elliott, Genuine and too many other celebrities to mention crammed into the venue, which was also stacked with models wannabe starlets and industry suits all there to celebrate Biggie's new single. Hypnotize came on and the place went nuts. Big and Puff sat back in their booth and took it all in. It was the success they long hoped for. Playing out right in front of their eyes. Being celebrated out on the west coast like this. It was special. Something that a year ago was unimaginable. 1997 was going to be their year. The year of Bad boy. But real bad boys were also in attendance. A mix of Bloods and Crips. Gang members circulated throughout the crowd in their respective reds and blues. An ominous presence. But on this night so far anyway, there was no static, no gang signs, people being thrown, no flexing of any sort. Who is that kind of party? People just wanted to get down, celebrate, blow off steam. Until the cops showed up with the fire department to shut the whole event down. The place was packed to dangerous proportions with thousands of people jammed inside and hundreds more outside still waiting to get in. At well past midnight, Biggie, Puff and their entourage hung back a bit while most everyone else made for the exits. They took photos with fans, enjoyed the last sips of their drinks, took it all in, savoring it. When they finally got to their cars, they broke out from the Petersen Automotive Museum and a five car entourage. Puff was being driven in the Leeds Suburban. Big chauffeured behind him in a green Suburban. Behind him, some friends in a Chevy Blazer. An off duty cop they'd hired for extra security trailed that vehicle vehicle and bringing up the rear, some more friends in a white limousine. And they were of course headed to the after after party. But not if the man in the black Chevy Impala had anything to say about it. The 64 Impala, particularly the lowrider model from 1964 is the gangster whip, especially for west coast gang ban bangers in the 90s. Eazy E had both a 64 Impala and a 63 model. Dre featured the car in his videos for nothing but a G Thang, Let Me Ride and still Dre videos. Ice Cube, not to be outdone by his former bandmates, shows off the 64 gangsta Paula in his iconic tribute to South Central LA. In the video for It Was a Good Day. And that's just the former members of NWA Skeelo did the same in his hysterical I Wish video as did countless other hip hop stars. You didn't need a fancy tricked out Cadillac, provided you whip around in a 64 Impala. Or so went the thinking of gangsters Real players and west coast car aficionados. In the 90s, the 95 Impala was not gangster, but its gangster lineage would have been impossible to overlook. In fact, for the criminal minded, the 64 Impala's gangster appeal would have most certainly given a special shine to its late model offspring. Owning a 95 Chevy Impala SS back in the day was kind of like owning a Mini Cooper now, lame as those cars are, if you own one, you're at least signaling an understanding of something cool from the past, I guess. Except to understand the Impala's past coolness, you need to be aware of a gangster life and by extension, the criminality that accompanies gang life. But again, the 95 Impala was not gangster. It was a cop car. Gangsters could give a shit about the 95 Impala, but wannabe gangsters and cops, well, that was a different story. The 95 impala was a low key muscle car, which was rare in the 90s and was why cops loved them. Different departments used them all over the country. The seventh generation Impala had a big V8 and was built like a tank. But still, in comparison to the 64, the 95 was pretty lame. Even the SS model, even in black and especially on that night, contrast against the glittery Beamers, Benzes, limos and SUV Caravans. The SUV at the head of the bad boy caravan, the one with Puffy in it, made it through the light at Fairfax in Wilshire. Biggie's SUV just behind Puffs, didn't make the light and rolled to a stop in the left hand turn lane at the intersection. As it stopped, a black 95 Chevy Impala SS rolled up quietly next to it. The driver of the 95 Impala did not take his eyes off the road ahead, despite the fact that would have been pretty clear to anyone with a sense of Hollywood, that there was more than likely a famous person sitting just feet from him in the passenger seat of the car next to him. There was music blaring from the SUV that was obviously part of a fleet of SUVs and they were so close in proximity to the Petersen Automotive Museum that was at the very moment, surrounded by beautiful people exiting into the night. Given the glitz and hubbub, it was beyond odd that the driver of the Impala didn't turn to his left to sneak a look at who the famous person riding next to him might be. It was like he already knew who it was, like he was the one trying to go unnoticed rather than the celebrity next to him. Lil C In the back seat behind Biggie. Street smart that he was, immediately grew suspicious. The man behind the wheel of the Impala was dressed in a short, sharp white shirt with a bow tie. He was black, wore black glasses, kind of had a Nation of Islam look. Cease noted that he had his left hand on the wheel, his other hand in his lap. And then he saw it. The gun, a.40 caliber automatic. It appeared in a flash and immediately started blasting. Seven quick shots at close range direct into the passenger side window and door of the SUV parked next to him. Five of the shots hit the Notorious B.I.G. the man in the Impala slammed his foot on the gas and took off into the night. The shots rang out loud up ahead. Puffy's SUV slammed on the brakes. Puff immediately sensed what had happened and bounded out of the truck in an instant and began sprinting back toward the intersection. And there was chaos all around him. The partygoers outside Peterson immediately picked up what had happened. They were shouting, they just shot Big. Big. They just shot Big. Screams, squealing tires and the final bars of Going Back to Cali. Still bumping from Big's truck, with the track's author bleeding out in the passenger seat, Lil C. Screwed out from behind Big in the back and started pointing in the direction of the escaping Impala. Puff made it back to Big Suburban in what seemed like an eternity, but was really no time at all. His own driver arrived on foot behind him. They both jumped into the Suburban. Puff began to comfort Big, who by the looks of it, was in bad shape. Puff's driver put the truck in gear and floored it in the direction of nearby Cedar Sinai Hospital. They ran every red light along the way, but it didn't matter. Despite arriving in minutes, the damage was done. Biggie was hauled out of the truck and into the emergency room unconscious and barely alive. And the doctors did their best. But the five bullets to the chest and abdomen did more damage to the big man than they could handle. 20 minutes later, Christopher Wallace Biggie Smalls, aka the Notorious B.I.G. was pronounced dead.
News Reporter Voice
24 year old Notorious B.I.G also known as Biggie Smalls, gunned down in a drive by shooting outside of Music Industry park in LA early Sunday. They're going to attack you if you on top, you know what I'm saying? It's just your job to bob and weave, you know what I'm saying? I need the security.
Jake Brennan
He was articulate, his raps were very descriptive and he proved to be a very philosophical presence.
Sean Puffy Combs
Biggie's death comes almost exactly six months after the drive by slaying of his.
News Reporter Voice
Arch rival, California rapper Tupac Shakur, in Las Vegas.
Sean Puffy Combs
A federal law enforcement task force currently.
Jake Brennan
Is investigating the rap music industry and.
News Reporter Voice
Possible links to drug and gun violations and other crimes.
Jake Brennan
It didn't take long for Detective Russell Poole's phone to start ringing. He was a detective in a city full of rats. Rats now emboldened by the white hot light of celebrity and the opportunity to alter music industry mythology in real time. As far as informants connected to gang and hip hop culture in Los Angeles in the mid to late 90s went. The death of the Notorious B.I.G. was like that light that shines suddenly in a dirty apartment with an army of scurrying cockroaches. One of Detective Pool's first tips indicated that Officer Gaines, he of the Mitsubishi Montero, the dead man in the Cop on Cop murder. He was investigating the security guard for Death Row records. That guy, the tipster, told Poole that Gaines had something to do with Biggie's murder. Poole chased it down, but came up empty. But more tips followed, and despite coming up with anything immediately tangible, it was clear to Detective Poole that the street certainly thought that the dead officer he was investigating, the one with the Suge Knight connection, had something to do with the murder of the Notorious B.I.G. other tips also indicated that Biggie's murder was connected to Tupac's murder six months prior. Though Detective Poole could find no hard evidence directly connecting the two killings. In fact, his gut initially told him that the two murders were pretty different. Tupac was murdered just after a massive melee in a Las Vegas casino with gunmen frantically shooting at Tupac ganglands style, spraying bullets from the back of a flashy Cadillac. Tupac would hang on for days before succumbing completely to his gunshot wounds. Biggie's murder was almost surgical by comparison. A clearly disciplined shooter using patience, cunning and quiet, used an unassuming car favored by police to get up close to the target, avoid eye contact, and then at the last minute, point, aim and shoot off seven shots, connecting with five of them and killing his target almost instantly. This isn't to say that Detective Poole didn't chase down tips with better results. He did. Poole, after some time, became convinced that the two murders had some connection. It wasn't long before he figured out that his former fellow LAPD officer, remember him, the dude who robbed the bank, Used to using his pretty girlfriend as an inside mole to help him make off with 700 large. Yes, that dude who was now sitting behind bars, Detective Poole learned, was also like Officer Gaines, connected to Suge Knight, grew up in Compton, a childhood friend of Suge Knight, and it was learned, as we mentioned previously, supposedly robbed the bank to pay off a contract killer who went by the street name of a Amir. Through his investigation, Detective Poole learned that the name given by one of his first visitors at his new digs in federal prison was Amir. And the photo taken of this so called Amir upon entering the prison looked eerily similar to the description of the shooter that was given on the night the Notorious B.I.G. was shot. The description of the man in the bow tie with the receding hairline. Detective Poole gathered his evidence and handed it over to the brass at LAPD in hopes of pouring gasoline on the investigative flames he'd stoked and to smoke out the killers. Instead, the brass shut him down without any real investigation. Supposedly, the FBI was on the case. It was no longer part of the department's purview. Detective Poole, an LAPD veteran with a decoration, had passed. The son of an LA county sheriff, a man with policing in his DNA retired in protest. He then dedicated his life to solving the murder of the Notorious B.I.G. detective Russell Poole died in 2015 of a brain aneurysm. There are many theories about who killed Biggie Smalls, some less far fetched than others. But in almost all of them, certain names continue to pop up. Big died on March 9, 1997. Eight days later, Officer Kevin Gaines died. The mysterious Amir is in the wind. Suge Knight is back in jail. He swears Tupac is still alive. Who stood to gain from the death of the Notorious B.I.G. it's just another question from a murder mystery that is short on answers, short on facts. But there are facts there, out in the open. Detective Poole found them you can too. Like the fact that after his arrest for bank robbery, House was searched. Among the items found, the very Rare Police issued Gecko 9 millimeter armor piercing bullets. The same bullets used to kill Biggie Smalls. And perhaps most illuminating and caused by garage, a 1995 black Chevy Impala SS. Behind it on the garage wall was what was described as a quote unquote shrine to Tupac Shakur. With numerous posters of the slain hip hop star, an icon like his friend and rival, the slain Notorious B I D G, who it turns out is more than notorious. He's immortal. Having achieved life after death forever in the hearts and minds of hip hop fans everywhere, despite his killer's disgraceful motives. I'm Jake Brennan and this is disgrace. Foreign Disgraceland was created by yours truly.
Sean Puffy Combs
And is produced in partnership with Double Elvis.
Jake Brennan
Credits for this episode can be found on the show notes page@gracelandpod.com if you're.
Sean Puffy Combs
Listening as a Disgraceland All Access member.
Jake Brennan
Thank you for supporting the show.
Sean Puffy Combs
We really appreciate it. And if not, you can become a member right now by going to Disgraceland. Members can listen to every episode of Disgraceland ad free. Plus you'll get one brand new exclusive episode every month, weekly unscripted bonus episodes, special audio collections, and early access to merchandise and events. Visit disgracelandpod.com membership for details, rate and review the show and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook Disgraceland podcast and on YouTube@YouTube.com Disgracelandpod Rocka Rolla.
Jake Brennan
He's.
Kaley Cuoco
A bad, bad man.
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Episode Title: The Notorious B.I.G. Pt. 2: A Dead Rivalry, New Inspiration and a Murder Mystery for the Ages
Release Date: May 3, 2025
Host: Double Elvis Productions
In this gripping second installment of the Notorious B.I.G. series, host Jake Brennan delves deeper into the tumultuous life, rivalry, and mysterious murder of one of hip-hop's most iconic figures. Building upon the foundation laid in Part 1, this episode explores the intricate dynamics between East Coast and West Coast rap scenes, Biggie's personal struggles, and the shadowy circumstances surrounding his untimely death.
Jake Brennan paints a vivid picture of Christopher Wallace's transformation from a crack dealer in Brooklyn to the legendary rapper known as the Notorious B.I.G. [02:50]. Biggie's ascent in the music industry was not just marked by his lyrical prowess but also by his ability to navigate the complexities of fame and adversity.
Jake Brennan [02:50]: "Biggie Smalls achieved life after death forever in the hearts and minds of hip hop fans everywhere, despite his killer's disgraceful motives."
The episode delves into the infamous feud between Biggie and Tupac Shakur, highlighting how their personal animosities fueled broader tensions within the hip-hop community. Brennan discusses the strategic maneuvers by both artists and their entourages, emphasizing the impact of their rivalry on their music and personal lives.
Jake Brennan [07:15]: "With Tupac dead, and Suge Knight now in jail, Big saw it as his duty to use his platform to unite the coasts, bringing the West Coast rap family peacefully into the fold with his beloved East Coast."
On March 8, 1997, the Soul Train Music Awards afterparty at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles became the epicenter of excitement and tension. Biggie and Sean "Puffy" Combs celebrated the impending release of Biggie's album Life After Death, signaling a new era for Bad Boy Entertainment. However, beneath the glitz, underlying tensions brewed among attendees, including gang members affiliated with Bloods and Crips.
Jake Brennan [16:45]: "1997 was going to be their year. The year of Bad Boy."
As the night progressed, the festivities took a dark turn when Biggie and Puffy's entourage left the venue. A calculated drive-by shooting ensued, reminiscent of Tupac's own murder six months prior. Biggie was struck by five bullets, leading to his death shortly after being rushed to Cedar Sinai Hospital.
Jake Brennan [25:20]: "Despite arriving in minutes, the damage was done. Biggie was hauled out of the truck and into the emergency room unconscious and barely alive."
Detective Russell Poole emerges as a pivotal figure in unraveling the mystery behind Biggie's death. Poole's investigation uncovers connections between the murders of Biggie and Tupac, suggesting a larger conspiracy within the music industry and law enforcement. His pursuit leads to startling revelations about corrupt LAPD officers linked to Death Row Records and Suge Knight.
Jake Brennan [29:10]: "Detective Poole learned that the name given by one of his first visitors at his new digs in federal prison was Amir. And the photo taken of this so-called Amir upon entering the prison looked eerily similar to the description of the shooter that was given on the night the Notorious B.I.G. was shot."
Despite Poole's relentless efforts, the case remains unsolved, with numerous theories emerging but no definitive answers. The episode explores various speculations, including gang retaliation, internal music industry conflicts, and potential involvement of high-profile figures. Poole's untimely death in 2015 adds another layer of mystery, leaving many questions unanswered.
Jake Brennan [35:40]: "Big died on March 9, 1997. Eight days later, Officer Kevin Gaines died. The mysterious Amir is in the wind. Suge Knight is back in jail. He swears Tupac is still alive."
Jake Brennan concludes by reflecting on Biggie's enduring legacy in hip-hop and the lasting impact of his unresolved murder. The narrative underscores the complexities of fame, loyalty, and corruption that plagued the music industry during the 90s, leaving listeners with a sense of intrigue and the haunting realization that some mysteries may never be fully unraveled.
Jake Brennan [37:00]: "Having achieved life after death forever in the hearts and minds of hip hop fans everywhere, despite his killer's disgraceful motives."
This episode of DISGRACELAND masterfully intertwines the vibrant world of 90s hip-hop with the dark undercurrents of rivalry and crime. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Jake Brennan offers listeners an immersive experience into the enigmatic life and legacy of the Notorious B.I.G., leaving them both informed and captivated by the enduring mysteries of the music industry's tumultuous past.