10 Most Memorable Beefs In Rap Music History
1. Tupac And The Notorious B.I.G
No prizes for guessing that these two were going to end up here. The beef between The Notorious B.I.G and Tupac Shakur is hip-hop legend, and will forever be one of the most tragic stories of close friends turned bitter enemies.
The parallels between Biggie and Tupac's careers and rise to stardom were astounding and almost eerily similar, that it was no wonder the two became fast friends. Both were devoted to depicting the struggles of life on the streets, and made a name for themselves through their raw talent, and truly living the lives that they rapped about.
In 1994, Pac arrived at a recording studio in New York City where Biggie and Puffy were waiting upstairs. Before making it to them, Pac was shot and robbed in the lobby. It's still unknown to this day who the assailants were, but Tupac had his suspicions that it was his fellow NYC natives who were behind it. Biggie released Who Shot Ya? mere months after the incident, which definitely didn't do anything for proving his innocence.
Suge Knight, the mastermind that he was, capitalised on this and came to Tupac as a friend in his time of need, and further sowed the seeds of doubt in Pac's mind. Thus, the East Coast-West Coast rivalry was born, and two former friends found themselves on opposing sides.
Tupac released Hit 'Em Up in 1996, not long before he was fatally shot in Las Vegas. The diss served as the final blow traded between the pair, and a few months after Pac's murder, Biggie was also the victim in a shooting that claimed his life. It's a truly tragic ending to the saga and this is one beef that should have had a happier ending.