Slow Burn: Biggie and Tupac | Episode 3 – "What's Beef?"

Original air date: November 13, 2019
Host: Joel Anderson

Episode Overview

This episode of Slow Burn dives deeply into the escalation of the feud between Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. ("Biggie Smalls"). It traces how personal misunderstandings, a web of shifting loyalties, and media narratives transformed an ambiguous conflict into a full-blown East Coast versus West Coast rivalry that shaped—and ultimately haunted—90s hip-hop. Central to this episode is the role of ambiguity, with the release of Biggie's "Who Shot Ya?" and Tupac's shooting in 1994 fueling speculation, suspicion, and, eventually, bitter public beef.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Biggie’s Rising Stardom & Image Contradictions (01:19–04:57)

• Biggie’s hits like "Juicy" and "Big Poppa" made him a relatable yet unique figure in hip hop, despite his reluctance to embrace the “teddy bear” image they painted.
  • Notable Quote:
    “Big didn’t even like Big Papa or Juicy.” – Nasheem Myrick, Biggie’s producer [01:19]
• Biggie’s real street background is emphasized by Cheo Hodari Coker:
  • “He had true street cred, you know.” [02:29]
• Puff Daddy's (Puffy) early recognition of Biggie’s star potential, focus on image and fashion.
  • Notable & Lighthearted Quote:
    “Yeah, is he Fat Boys fat or Heavy D fat?” – Puffy, via Matty C [03:25]

2. "Who Shot Ya?" and the Power of Miscommunication (04:40–06:29)

• "Who Shot Ya?"—described as more raw and menacing than Biggie’s other commercial songs—was released soon after Tupac’s shooting, unintentionally fanning rumors that it referenced Tupac.
  • Notable Quote:
    “Myrick’s beat wasn’t lush and funky like Biggie’s hits. It was tense and sparse, like a film noir soundtrack.” – Joel Anderson [04:45]
• The song’s ambiguous lyrics and release timing led Tupac and others to suspect Biggie of either taunting him or even being involved in the shooting.

3. Tupac’s Suspicion, Isolation, and the Vibe Interview (08:03–14:57)

• While incarcerated at Rikers Island, Tupac read a critical Village Voice article calling him a performance artist more than a rapper. Feeling misunderstood, he reaches out to Vibe journalist Kevin Powell.
• Tupac, in a vulnerable state, shares his hurt, trauma from the shooting, and suspicion toward Biggie and Puffy (“I want people to have the real story…” – Tupac, via Kevin Powell [11:06]).
• The Vibe cover story sparks national debate, with Tupac publicly implicating Biggie and Puffy in his 1994 shooting.
  • Notable Reaction:
    “He was upset… he’s being accused of something he ain’t do... throwing it in his face.” – Chico Del Vec, Biggie’s friend [14:29]
• Biggie, feeling betrayed, vows to “just stay away from it” and focus on music, but the whispers continue.

4. The Personal Becomes Regional: East Coast vs. West Coast (14:57–17:40)

• What began as a personal beef morphs into an East Coast vs. West Coast narrative, partly fueled by hip-hop publications like The Source and Vibe.
  • Dan Charnas describes New York’s “condescension” toward other regions and the growing resentment.
• Suge Knight, Death Row’s imposing CEO, seizes the moment and recruits Tupac while he’s in prison, further solidifying the rivalry.

5. Suge Knight and the Rise of Death Row Records (17:40–20:59)

• Death Row’s ascent is described, from Dr. Dre leaving N.W.A. to huge successes with "The Chronic" and Snoop Dogg’s "Doggystyle".
• Suge Knight’s conversations with Tupac in prison persuade the embattled rapper to consider Death Row, promising unprecedented support.

6. The 1995 Source Awards: When Tension Boiled Over (20:59–26:32)

• The Source Awards, intended to honor “real hip hop,” instead become a powder keg.
  • Suge Knight taunts Puffy onstage:
    “Any artists out there want to be an artist...and don’t want to have to worry about the executive producer trying to be all in the videos…come to Death Row.” – Suge Knight [24:48]
• Death Row’s performance features a cardboard cutout of Tupac (then still in prison), unnoticed by most.
• Snoop confronts the hostile New York crowd:
  • Iconic Quote:
    “The East Coast don’t love Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg?... Y’all don’t love us? Well, let it be known then—we don’t give a fuck.” – Snoop Dogg [25:54]

7. Real-World Violence Escalates (26:32–29:25)

• At a party in Atlanta, an altercation between Death Row and Bad Boy’s crews leads to the fatal shooting of Suge’s friend Big Jake. Suge accuses Puffy of involvement.
• The feud, now fueled by actual bloodshed, becomes inescapable for everyone involved.

8. Tupac’s Release and New Allegiances (29:25–31:40)

• Suge Knight posts $1.4 million bond to get Tupac out of prison, flying him to California.
• Danny Boy (Death Row artist) recounts Tupac’s first hours out—a mix of wild partying and immediate, obsessive work ethic.
  • Memorable Moment:
    “He get out of the car... face-first to the ground, passed out... Everybody snatch him up, pouring water on him and shit... But once Tupac entered the recording studio, his focus was sharp.” – Danny Boy [30:22–31:09]

9. A War Set in Motion (31:40–32:40)

• With Tupac free but deeply aggrieved, the stage is set for musical and literal confrontation:
  • “He had a career to rebuild, money to make, and scores to settle with Biggie and Puffy. He was ready to go to war.” – Joel Anderson [31:40]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We wasn’t even paying attention to that…no way in the world they would mistake that. We have no reason, no motive at all to have set Pac up.” – Nasheem Myrick on "Who Shot Ya?" [07:41]
• “Tupac said, if I get killed, I want people to have the real story.” – Kevin Powell [11:06]
• "Do I think it was right for him to implicate Diddy and Biggie? No, no, no." – Kevin Powell on Tupac’s accusations [12:18]
• "It became increasingly hard to focus on music, though. The whispers never went away." – Joel Anderson [14:57]
• “He was the only one of the homies that was really trying… he would be at the office at 9am, doing stuff...” – Reggie Wright, on Big Jake [27:53]
• “It wasn’t about record sales or regional respect…it was a blood dispute.” – Joel Anderson [29:25]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Biggie's reluctant rise: 01:19–03:38
• “Who Shot Ya?” and its aftermath: 04:40–07:41
• Tupac’s Vibe interview and accusations: 10:14–14:57
• East vs. West narrative crystallizes: 16:18–20:59
• Source Awards Show & "Death Row vs Bad Boy": 20:59–26:32
• Atlanta shooting, Big Jake’s death: 27:53–29:25
• Tupac’s release and recording spree: 30:22–31:40
• Closing reflections—beef becomes war: 31:40–32:40

Summary

This episode compellingly illustrates how misunderstandings, pride, and media stoking spun the Biggie-Tupac situation out of control, with “Who Shot Ya?” and the infamous Source Awards marking points of no return. What could have remained a personal dispute becomes an industry-wide, coast-to-coast conflict—irreversibly weaving together art, violence, and legacy. The episode sets the stage for Tupac’s explosive comeback, a harbinger of even deadlier conflicts to come.