Ive been a fan of Life After Death since it first dropped in 97, I was ALWAYS under the impression that BIG was gettin at Pac on tracks such as "Long KissGoodnight", "What's Beef", "Madd Rapper Skit", "Kick In Ya Door" etc, I HONESTLY recited EVERY line off that album thatcould be linked to the 2Pac/BIG "fued", and it seems to have been nothing more than rapping that can be confused by the uninformed . . .
He refrences someone getting "F'd 4, times/ damn that 3-9 F'd you up foreal tho", but if you were to be completely acquired, Pac wassentenced to 4 1/2 years in his sexual abuse case. Also the fact that there is NO direct diss towards BIG anywhere on Makaveli, but they were supposed to havebeef?? Pac dissed many more people, said many names, but BIG is not mentioned, not even on the beligerent "Bomb First", or the well strategized"Against All Odds", so what is it that Pac knew about BIG's possible lack of involvement in his 94 shooting, he essentially ignored any BIGrelated beef on what same may consider is moth scathing, yet honest album of his career.
In fact no one from Junior Mafia is dissed on Makaveli, and if they are, they are not referred to by any known name and or alias (with 2 exceptions I willatempt to make sense of) . . . Pac even abandoned the theory of him sleeping with Faith Evans . . . His whole angle changed with Makaveli, Biggie is mentionedby a name Suge Knight was known for calling him back in the 90s, he also disclosed this to a hip hop publication, that name is "Notorious P.I.G.",(also profiled in a 2005 issue of Rolling Stones, in a article taking a look at Suge's possible role in the BIG murder) I think Pac and BIG were played upto this beef by some added vocals . . . Similar to what Diddy may have done with tracks like "What's Beef", "My Downfall", "LongKiss Goodnight", Biggies is rapping about a sunject totallay different from what Diddy is sayin. Puff is clearly dissing Pac on most of his adlibs, BIGjust sounds like he's rapping . . . The Outlawz, and the individual speaking on the intro to Makaveli diss BIG, that's a fact, but there's no vocalon the album that I'm aware of, that recorded 2Pac dissing BIG by name . . . It all sounds like crafty editing . . . If someone has the liner notes toMakaveli, could you see who recieves credit as the voice on the intro to "Bomb First" and "Live & Die In LA" . . . Pac refocused hisananger towards Diddy, Jimmy Henchman, Nas, Jay Z very little, King Tut, Hatian Jack and continues to attack Mobb Deep . . . He name drops MANY rappers fromthe east, but BIG is mysteriously absent . . .
There's no garuntee that Pac was even prepared to release Makaveli at the point in which he did, his death is probabaly the reason it was released. I'msure he was VERY unhappy with Suge and Death Row records, and he desperately wanted to leave the label, but he wouldn't have risked his musical credibilityin order to get out of a contract . . . Pac knew the power of his music, and was very picky with what records he would and wouldn't use . . . Either Nas isa terribble liar, or he's telling the truth about he and Pac's situation in NY at the MTV Video Music Awards, I know for a fact they were both present,and from Nas's own account, Pac's death is the only thing that prevented certain tracks from being edited, and misrepresented some of Pac'sfeelings at the time of his death . . . The fact that he died right before the album released deffinetly helped him push 800K his first week, and this is 1996,rappers were selling well, but these #s were through the roof.
If you listen to the ending of "Toss It Up" you can hear Pac clearly say "you are NOT Lil Kim", "we took your beat" (which is arefernce to the similarities in the "Gettin' Money Remix" and "Hit Em Up") . . . He does diss Diddy by name on this track tho, with norecognizable mention of BIG. Pac goes hard on some of his own friends on this album, he was dissing Mobb Deep, and Jay for nothing more than being affiliatedwith BIG and Bad Boy, he dissed Dre for leaving what he felt was a strong team at Death Row, he attacks Dre's sexuality, but if you watch the video to"Big Poppa", BIG is sitting at a table with Treach, who is a dear friend of 2Pac, and has been since 1990, they are said to have met when they wereboth roadies (Pac with Digital Underground, and Treach with Queen Latifah), but they remained good friends until Pac's dying day. Pac didn't take theappearence personal as he did with other Bad Boy affiliated artists.
Ever wonder why Dre, Snoop, and countless other Death Row artist have never given a honest point of view of what happened to Pac on that night in Vegas . . .If anyone has a interview of Dre responding to Pac's allegations on Makaveli, it would be greatly appreciated if it was posted . . . What did Dre knowabout Death Row that made him want to make more positive music, only to change his mind and make a street album with Dre 2001?? Why did he let Suge keep hismasters from The Chronic, when Dre did infact own a percentage of Death Row Records, he left the label with nothing. He tells this story on his episode ofVH1's Behind The Music, he admits to not leaving Death Row with what he should have, but does admit that "peace of mind" is more important . . .But within the past 3 months he all of a sudden wants his masters back now that Suge may be finished with a successful record company situation, and his clearlack of finacial privelages at the moment.
I'm listening to Makaveli for the 3rd time in a day trying to see the direction Pac was directing anger at some artists and individuals and not mentioningothers . . . Jimmy Henchman, Hatian Jack, King Tut are not referenced once on "Hit Em Up", what did Pac learn between "Hit Em Up" and"Against All Odds"?? Who knows, but his anger is clearly redirected towards others for whatever reason that may be . . . Pac called out Kim, Biggie,Lil Cease, supposed Mob ties, by name on "Hit Em Up", but none of them are mentioned in a negative light on Makaveli . . . I don't believe incoincidence . . . Pac knew Big didn't know, but Diddy did.
The reports are saying his ambush was on the 10 floor, but some sources say Junior Mafia and BIG were on the 8th floor, the same floor first aid was performedon Pac . . . But Pac himself admits though serious, his wounds were not life threatning . . . Pac also claims Little Shawn was the only person who showednoticable emotion when he saw the condition Pac was in, he allegedly began to cry, Andre Harrell looked surprised, maybe he didn't have his checkbook onhim. Maybe Little Shawn realized Jimmy Henchman sacrificed his well being to settle an issue he had with Pac. I would love to see a recent interview withLittle Shawn, the most recent I can think was was in GQ magazine, but I can't give a honest opinoin on what year the issue may have been released . . .I'll try to find it and post it tho . . .
That's all for now . . .
