1. Tupac and Biggie’s friendship was shown in Netflix’s ‘Biggie: I Got A Story To Tell’ documentary.

‘Biggie: I Got A Story To Tell,’ a documentary on Biggie’s life, was released on Netflix in March 2021. Through rare behind-the-scenes footage and recollections from the rapper’s closest friends and family, the show delves into the rapper’s life. Getty Images/Netflix

2. It is widely reported that Tupac and Biggie first met in 1993.

According to some sources, the two met on the set of ‘Poetic Justice.’ Tupac was repeatedly playing Biggie’s ‘Party & Bulls**t,’ which was a major deal for an up-and-coming Biggie at the time. Pac was already a huge artist when he released his first single.

3. Others say they first met when Pac invited Biggie to a party at his house that same year.

Biggie allegedly requested that a local drug dealer introduce him to Tupac. The rappers shared a “huge freezer bag of the greenest vegetables I’d ever seen” at the party, according to Dan Smalls, an intern for Biggie’s label who was also in attendance.

4. The pair struck up a close friendship.

When Biggie came to visit from New York, he would crash in Pac’s LA home, where Pac allegedly sent Biggie bottles of Hennessey and gave him advise. At locations such as Madison Square Garden, the two performed together on stage, freestyling back and forth. Image credit: PA

5. Biggie even asked Tupac to become his manager, but Tupac declined.

Pac was a platinum-selling musician and movie star by this point, while Biggie was still fighting to keep up with Pac’s rapid professional advancement. Biggie wanted Pac to take over as his manager from Puff. Shakur advised Biggie, “Nah, remain with Puff.” “He’ll turn you into a star.”

6. Things turned sour when Tupac failed to heed Biggie’s advice.

Tupac began hanging out with Jaques ‘Haitian Jack’ Agnant and Jimmy Henchman while in New York filming the 1994 film ‘Above the Rim.’ Pac was advised by Biggie not to befriend these famously tough people, but he ignored his advice.

7. On 30th November 1994, Tupac was shot outside Quad Recording Studios in Times Square.

Pac was shot, assaulted, and robbed of his jewelry after being summoned to the studio by Biggie’s connected artist Lil’ Cease. Pac was led to assume that Biggie was behind the shooting after locating Biggie and Puff inside the building. That night, their friendship came to an end.

8. Days later, Pac was sentenced to a year and a half in prison for sexual abuse.

Pac spent the majority of his term in a maximum security jail when he was unable to pay his $3 million bail. Tupac, together with Suge Knight, the head of Death Row Records, swore to destroy Puff Daddy and Biggie’s rival label Bad Boy Records.

9. Whilst Pac was in jail, Biggie released the suspected Tupac diss track ‘Who Shot Ya’.

Biggie and Puff would both argue that the song was not intended for Tupac. Biggie said the song was written before to the Pac’s shooting outside the Quad. He remarked about Pac, “I’m still thinking this ni**a is my man.” “This has got to be chatter,” I kept telling myself. I can’t believe he thinks I’d do something like that to him.”

10. Whilst Biggie tried to belittle the situation, Tupac did the exact opposite.

Pac did all in his power to diss Bay Boy. He said Biggie was not just behind the shooting, but that Biggie’s style was a rip-off of his own. Pac also boasted of sleeping with Biggie’s wife, Faith Evans, and his Hip-Hop superiority.

11. On 7th September 1996, Tupac was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in Vegas.

Prior to Tupac’s death, the two never resolved their infamous feud. While there’s no proof that Biggie or Puffy were aware of Tupac’s death before it happened, the murder has been mired in mystery, rumors, and debate since that terrible day.

12. Biggie’s wife, Faith Evans, claimed that the rapper was distraught by Pac’s death.

“I recall Big weeping and summoning me. I am certain he was in Jersey. Because he was in astonishment, he called me crying. Given everything that was going on at the time, and all the publicity that was put on this so-called beef that he didn’t really have in his heart against anyone, I think it’s fair to say he was probably terrified,” she stated.

13. On 9th March 1997, Biggie was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in LA.

Biggie’s death, like Pac’s, has been shrouded in conspiracy theories, leading many to believe that it was the end of hip-hop at the time. Pac and Big were drawn together by hip-hop, but it also tore them apart. Their East Coast vs. West Coast animosity, possibly as much as their music, goes on via their legacy.