Source: Al Pereira/Getty
Looks like there's more to learn 2 Pac and Notoriously BIG history. Busta Rhymes reveals that a popular Biggie Smalls verse was actually going to Pac.
As spotted on Pulse, the Rap legend recently visited the All the smoke podcast. While the “Touch It” MC discussed a variety of topics, ranging from his storied career to current events, it was a story he told about a studio session with BIG that has since gone viral. In the mid-90s Busta Rhymes aimed to secure Biggie, Method Man and Nas as features on one song. While the track didn't come together the way he originally intended, it spawned a very memorable performance from the King of New York.
“So there's a song in the middle of the Biggie and 2Pac beef and he [Biggie] recorded the verse in my studio. At the time I thought it would be great to have these three MCs on a J Dilla beat. I think BIG just got into a car crash with [Lil’] “Cheas and his leg were messed up and the elevator wasn't working,” Busta explained. “I got to Soundtracks [on] the third day. The elevators are fine,” Busta continues. “Big and [Lil’] stop come They pull up. Meth and Nas came two days in a row now. No Biggie. So they didn't come on the third day.”
The former Leaders of the New School member would go on to detail seeing BIG's creative process for the first time. “One hour, two hours. he just smokes. It doesn't write anything. About three hours in I'm like “Girl, you're not going to do that verse, girl?” This ni**a said, “I'm ready Bus.”
Busta Rhymes kept reciting the verse and emphasizing the lines directed at 2Pac through his rhythm and tone. “Diamonds around my neck, drop-top chrome / Chillin' on stage, smoking kilos of green / Oooh-wee, you see, the ugliest / Money-hungriest, Brooklyn Loch Ness / Nine thousand cock, wan fi' test?” / And the winner is, not that skinnier kid / Bandanas, tattoos, my fists never bruise / The still dry cruise.”
At the time, Bus was good friends with 2Pac so he told BIG that he would not release the song. Years later, the verse would reappear on Notorious BIG's posthumous album Born again in “Dangerous MC's.” You can listen to the original verse below.
