Slow Burn – Biggie and Tupac | Ep. 8: "Dead Wrong"

Release Date: December 18, 2019
Host: Joel Anderson
Key Interviewee: Greg Kading (Former LAPD Detective)
Main Theme:
An in-depth look at the final official investigation into the unsolved murders of Tupac Shakur and Christopher "Biggie" Wallace, focusing on the LAPD’s cold case task force led by Detective Greg Kading, and the tangled web of police corruption, rivalries, and myth that continue to surround the cases.

Episode Overview

This episode explores the last, most comprehensive attempt by law enforcement to solve the notorious killings of Tupac and Biggie. Through first-hand accounts, especially from Detective Greg Kading, listeners gain insight into the investigation’s breakthroughs, dead ends, and the enduring controversies. The show tackles the rumors of police involvement, the realities of gang dynamics in 1990s Los Angeles, and the impact of these unsolved murders on hip-hop and popular culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Relighting the Cold Case ([00:32]–[02:27])

• Greg Kading’s Reluctant Recruitment:
  Kading is brought into the LAPD task force despite being comfortable in his career. The weight of reopening the Biggie murder case looms over him due to the volume and complexity of the files.
  • Quote:
    "I just kind of remember laughing like, this is preposterous…holy smokes, this is a lot of work." – Greg Kading ([02:07])
• Scope of the Original Investigation:
  The LAPD’s initial response after Biggie's murder was intensive—they interviewed everyone from Puffy Combs to local bus drivers and checked surveillance from multiple locations, yet the trail went cold.

2. Rumors, Theories, and Mistrust ([02:27]–[04:33])

• Many in the hip-hop community and Biggie’s family believed corrupt LAPD officers were involved in the murder and possibly covering it up.
• Faith Evans’ Frustration:
  "I mean, one at all try to shame…the LAPD, but…it’s like, his murder as well as Tupac's, how could…they not…have any leads?...Maybe they're not following the right ones, you know." – Faith Evans ([03:06])
• A wrongful death suit filed by Biggie’s family forced the LAPD to revisit evidence, with a judge ordering the city to pay over $1 million in legal fees after evidence was withheld.

3. The Task Force’s Mandate ([04:33]–[04:56])

• The LAPD’s stance at the time: if there were corrupt officers involved, they would be exposed.
  • Quote:
    "We're going to go where the clues go. Whatever it is, it is. If there's dirty cops, fuck it, so be it. Let's get them out of here." – LAPD Detective to Kading ([04:33])
• The first year is spent mapping out the sprawling network of individuals potentially involved.

4. Focusing on Keefe D and Gangs ([04:56]–[05:47])

• The investigation zeroes in on Duane Keith Davis aka Keefe D, a known South Side Crip and drug kingpin.
• Kading’s team builds a federal drug case against Keefe D to pressure him into cooperating by threatening him with a 25-years-to-life sentence.

5. The Big Break & Unintended Revelations ([05:47]–[06:12])

• Keefe D finally agrees to talk to avoid a lengthy prison sentence. Unexpectedly, he denies involvement in Biggie’s murder.
  • Quote:
    "It's like, man, that one wasn't us. Those were his words. That one wasn't us." – Greg Kading quoting Keefe D ([05:59])
• Kading realizes the investigation is about to pivot: instead of providing closure on Biggie, Keefe D offers information about Tupac’s murder.

6. The Investigation’s Limits and Legacy ([06:12]–[07:41])

• Despite Kading's belief that his findings are the most plausible explanation for both murders, controversy remains, and many questions are left unanswered—no one has ever been charged in either case.
• Joel Anderson sums up the problem:
  "Even if you accept Kading's version of events, there are plenty of unanswered questions about the murders…There is no satisfying resolution here. Who killed Tupac and Biggie and why? Why has no one been charged in either man's murder? And what legacy did these two hip hop icons leave behind?" ([06:29])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Greg Kading on the daunting task:
  “I just kind of remember laughing like, this is preposterous. You know, I knew it was going to take months in order to kind of catch up...So it was just daunting. It's like, holy smokes, this is a lot of work.” ([02:07])

• Faith Evans on police failure:
  “How could they not, you know, have any leads? I'm sure they have a lot, but maybe they're not following the right ones, you know.” ([03:12])

• LAPD's commitment, as per Kading:
  “If there's dirty cops, fuck it, so be it. Let's get them out of here.” ([04:33])

• Keefe D’s pivotal denial:
  “Man, that one wasn't us. Those were his words.” ([05:59])

Key Timestamps

• [00:32] — Start of the actual content/episode
• [01:38] — Greg Kading’s recruitment and career context
• [02:07] — Kading’s first reaction to the case files
• [03:06] — Faith Evans on loss and lack of police progress
• [04:33] — The task force’s “no stone unturned” approach
• [04:56] — Focus shifts to Keefe D and gang dynamics
• [05:47] — Keefe D turns informant and the investigation’s twist
• [06:12] — The ongoing uncertainty, no closure

Episode Tone and Language

• The tone toggles between procedural (detailing the investigation’s steps) and personal (sharing grief, frustration, and moral complexity).
• Quotations maintain the speakers' direct, sometimes blunt, manner of expression.
• Underlying throughout is a sense of both urgency and futility—the stakes are monumental, but the resolution remains elusive.

Takeaway

This episode reveals how tangled the pursuit of truth and justice can become, especially with high-profile, culturally seismic murders like those of Tupac and Biggie. Despite massive scrutiny, legal wrangling, and the efforts of determined detectives, the full story and ultimate accountability remain just out of reach. The legacy of these cases is a haunting one: scrutiny of institutions, the power of rumor and myth, and the enduring heartbreak for those left behind.

For deeper insight, listen to the full episode for firsthand interviews and investigative audio.