Old School Hip Hop

09/23/2026

Did you know 2Pac was technically NEVER signed to Death Row Records? 🤯

​While Pac was the face of Death Row, legally he remained signed to Interscope Records the whole time.

​Here’s the breakdown:

📄 The Contract: He signed a 5-page "deal memo" in prison to get released, but a formal, standalone Death Row contract was never finalized during his 11 months of freedom.

💰 The Bail: Suge Knight was the front guy, but the $1.4M bail was actually backed by Interscope and Atlantic Records as an advance against Pac’s future royalties.

⚖️ The Aftermath: When Afeni Shakur took control of his estate after his passing, estate negotiations and rights to his masters went straight through Jimmy Iovine and Interscope—not Death Row.

​Music industry contracts are always crazier than the folklore! 🎶👇 What do you think about this? Did you know 2Pac was never signed to the label?

09/22/2026

Fat Joe has said directly, in his own words on multiple podcast appearances, that Tupac called him for protection while he was locked up in New York. According to Joe, that protection is what later allowed Pac to have a peaceful sit-down with Nas in Central Park to end their beef. Fat Joe considers himself one of the only people from New York who genuinely looked out for Tupac during that period. It's worth noting some, including Tupac's own cousin, have publicly disputed parts of Fat Joe's account over the years. 😳

09/22/2026

In a new interview with Tony Yayo and Uncle Murda, Fat Joe reveals "Lean Back" remix with Eminem would never happen if DJ Khaled didn't encourage him 👀

09/22/2026

09/22/2026

Former Bad Boy bodyguard Gene Deal sat down with The Art Of Dialogue to spill some serious 90s hip-hop history. According to Gene, Diddy had an extreme obsession with 2Pac—studying, copying, and trying to emulate him across almost every area of life:

​👕 Fashion & Style: Diddy reportedly went out and bought the exact same Versace shirts Pac was rocking.

🎵 Music & Image: Gene claims Bad Boy shifted Biggie’s early image and sound to match 2Pac’s blueprint after seeing how Pac moved.

🎤 Career Moves: From trying to jump into acting and rapping himself, to allegedly repeating lines from Pac’s speech during a Grammy acceptance.

👀 Personal Life: Gene alleges Diddy actively pursued women Pac was once involved with (including Sarah Chapman).

According to Gene, Diddy and Bad Boy studied 2Pac's 'I Get Around' song and video and they followed that blueprint which allowed them to become successful.

09/21/2026

Tupac Shakur felt deeply insulted and hurt during the filming of Poetic Justice (1993) when Janet Jackson reportedly asked him to take an AIDS/HIV test before doing a kissing scene.

Tupac Shakur explained his side of the story and his feelings of betrayal regarding the HIV test request in this archival clip:

The Conflict on Set

The Request: Janet Jackson allegedly asked producers to have Tupac tested for HIV/AIDS before filming their romantic kissing scene, partly due to concerns over his public pl***oy image and comments he made.

Tupac's Reaction: Tupac felt deeply offended, viewing the demand as a lack of respect because he believed they had built a genuine friendship during the production. He initially pushed back and felt the gesture signaled that their bond wasn't as real as he thought. 🤜🤛

09/21/2026

This is Tough 🤔👀💯🔥

The Choice is Yours 🏆

👑

09/20/2026

This is the last time E-40 saw 2Pac 😔

Pac talked to him about his new name Makaveli, shared some tracks with him, and mentioned albums for after his death. E-40 first found it weird, then understood Pac was going into the studio and recording 6-7 tracks a day

Tupac would have stayed for the whole shoot, played pool with Ice-T, Richie Rich, Celly. Cel, Mack 10 and Too $hort, spent time with everyone The Click etc…

E-40 has often said it was one of his fondest memories and one of the saddest at the same time

09/20/2026

Craig Mack released his debut album Project: Funk Da World September 20, 1994 🕊

🙏 🕊💔