Nipsey Hussle was posthumously honored with multiple platinum certifications for his Victory Lap album. Nipsey’s posthumous honor has become common with rappers receiving glory after their deaths. The late Los Angeles rapper Nipsey Hussle received a posthumous honor for his 2018 album Victory Lap, which went double platinum on its fifth anniversary. Many of the […]
Diddy’s former bodyguard Gene Deal is sharing his side of the story about his days with the Bad Boy mogul. Deal recently sat down with The Art of Dialogue, and according to him, some Hip Hop History stories have strayed from the truth. In 1997, Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace was murdered in Los Angeles. Despite reports, Deal rejects claims that the rapper was killed in a drive-by shooting.
For decades, it has been stated that both Tupac Shakur and Biggie were victims of drive-by-related incidents. There have been theories about who was responsible for both murders, and while some have pinpointed suspects, no one has officially been charged. Deal also believes Biggie’s killer was lurking outside the Petersen Automotive Museum waiting for the rapper.
Rapper Notorious B.I.G. AKA Biggie Smalls (Christopher Wallace) joined by Sean (Puffy) Combs and Lil’ Kim receives Billboard Music Award on December 6, 1995 at The Coliseum in New York City, New York. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
“It just hurts because they lie too much,” said Deal. “A lot of that sh*t be lies the way they put it together ’cause they listening to these white boys who wasn’t even there. I don’t want to make this racial, but they take these white boys who wasn’t even there and want to use the stories that they want to tell, which is not the truth.” He also added: “Wasn’t no drive-by. The car was standing there at the corner. The stories they tell is not truthful. And now people are sitting here believing.”
The former bodyguard said he quickly made his way to Biggie’s side to help in any way he could. “Every Biggie movie that you see, they say it’s a drive-by,” Deal continued. “When the witness tells you the car was stood right there at the corner…the car was probably there all night.” Further, “I saw this kid lose his life. This kid died while I was pulling him out of the car,” he said. “I wouldn’t put nobody in my shoes ’cause I don’t feel like they could handle it. If I didn’t have God in my life, if I didn’t have people praying for me, I don’t know if I could have handled it.”
Deal also said he “knew that somebody was going to die that night.” He had a feeling someone “was going to get shot,” and he did “everything in” his power to protect Diddy. “The people that was bodyguarding Big didn’t do everything in their power to stop it from being Big. And that hurts me, even though it wasn’t my principle. Every time you hear his music, every time you see one of these murals on the wall, now they got statues. It’s gon’ hurt until God takes me away from here.”
The Notorious B.I.G.’s estate and Air Jordan brand have teamed up to make the limited edition “Christopher Wallace Air Jordan XIII,” which will have 23 pairs. The shoes are in stock until Feb. 3. Air Jordan and The Notorious B.I.G.’s estate released a limited edition sneaker dedicated to the late rap legend. The “Christopher Wallace Air […]
Veteran artists often revisit times Rap’s Golden era when Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. were dominating the culture. Both rappers were killed in drive-by-related shootings six months apart, and their memories are regularly honored by the friends who knew them well.
Goodie Mob’s Big Gipp visited the Bad Speakers Podcast and was asked about his relationship with Tupac. He shared tales of getting kicked out of strip clubs and partying with the beloved star.
“That’s when he was in the city ’round here raising hell,” Gipp recalled. “Pac was like that. You ever got your homeboy, it’s almost like he ain’t scared of nothin’? It’s like, this n*gga here, he fool scary. He ain’t scared of nothin’, but you like, I’mma sit back and think about the situation. But shawty just gon’ react.”
“If you with him, and he do somethin’, then you with him,” he continued. Gipp also remembered watching Tupac in the studio, rapping “with a cup of Hennessy and a cigarette in [his] mouth.”
“Rapped that sh*t like water. He was just so much fun.”
NEW YORK – JULY 23: Rappers Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G. aka Biggie Smalls (Christoper Wallace) and Puff Daddy (sean Combes) perform onstage at the Palladium on July 23, 1993 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Gipp laughed about how the late rapper would “show out” wherever he went. Further, he spoke on The Soul Train Awards when Pac created a scene.
“Just imagine, we get out there to The Soul Train Awards. We giving out an award, when we give out the award, it go to commercial break,” said Gipp. It was then that Tupac, Suge Knight, and their crew interrupted the ceremony by kicking in the door and making a grand entrance.
“Just kick open, boom! It’s Tupac. He come down the middle of the road like, ‘Yeah! What’s up shawty! He got on all the camouflage, Big Suge with him. Ran right after Biggie and them.”
“So, when they show the movie, when Pac comes backstage and is going off on Biggie, Goodie Mob’s standing in the middle of them.”
Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur (Photo by Ke.Mazur/WireImage)
His commentary on pop culture has often created controversy, but that hasn’t stopped D.L. Hughley from chiming in. The veteran entertainer is an unapologetic voice in the industry, even engaging in a war of words with Kanye West. The comedian recently sat down with VladTV, where a chat about aging soon drifted to discussions about rappers.
“You have seen so many situations, you know why you’re alive now? You don’t believe you’re immortal,” said Hughley. He recalled the days of his youth when people would dangerous things that were considered normal. This included riding in the back of pickup trucks or not wearing a helmet when riding a bike.
“I believe that bad sh*t is possible,” Hughley further stated. “It’s arrogant to believe that something should go the way you think it should.”
Hughley and Vlad spoke on the differences between young people and their elders. Vlad noted that you don’t see old people who don’t use seatbelts or fail to take precautions.
“There’s some people who test death. When they say the power of life and death is in the tongue, I’ve heard people talk themselves into dying,” the comedian also stated. “You make a song called ‘Ready to Die,’ guess what might happen?”
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 02: Comedian D.L. Hughley performs onstage during 2022 Comedy Laugh Fest at State Farm Arena on January 02, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Uproxx’s new sneaker show, Fresh Pair, isn’t just about dope custom sneakers. It’s a deep dive into the careers, legacy, and the ambitions of its guests, reflected in wearable pieces of art that serve as both a celebration and a gift. In the premiere episode of the series, cohosts Katty Customs and Just Blaze were joined by iconic Yonkers rapper Jadakiss who was blown away by the attention to detail and deep research that went into his custom pair of Air Jordan 1s.
“This is ill man, ya’ll something else over here,” he says. “This is a mean pair, Fresh Pair made me a mean pair! I don’t know how ya’ll are going to top these… you’re going to need to make a hall or a wall of fame, these definitely going in there. Any other mean ones you make are going to be inspired somehow by these.”
Jadakiss’ custom AJ-1s tell a story of the raspy rapper’s rise from the streets to the stratosphere, while also paying tribute to the rappers who helped shaped his career and influence his unique style. Late legends Biggie and DMX are referenced on the sneaker’s heel wing logo and Jadakiss’ life spent with Styles P and Sheek Louch in The LOX is referenced at the tongue. It’s a poetic representation of a truly storied career and watching Kiss fall deeper in love with the sneaker as he unveils the details is a must-watch — if only to hear him say “this is crazy” so many times that he’s nearly breathless.
Check out the full episode above and be sure to catch the next episode of Fresh Pair on Wednesday, October 5th.
