Hit Em Up Diss Track

Lore & Background

The song was produced by long-time collaborator Johnny "J". The ferocity of Shakur's raging vocals was entirely authentic, fueled by his anger against Biggie and Bad Boy Records for the belief that they had a role in the ambush and attack on Shakur on November 30, 1994. Shakur was also enraged by Biggie's release of "Who Shot Ya?" only months after the shooting incident; though it did not mention Shakur by name, he believed it was directed towards him.

Shakur admitted to releasing "Hit 'Em Up" as a response to "Who Shot Ya?" The lyrics in "Hit 'Em Up" were aimed primarily at Biggie and Puffy. Shakur viciously insults Biggie throughout, referencing Biggie's estranged wife Faith Evans, and threatens further retaliation for the lines in "Who Shot Ya?", which he perceived were mocking his violent shooting at Quad Studios. He also used the song to express his belief that Biggie was guilty of stealing his style of rapping.

Shakur also attacked many other people associated with Bad Boy Records and with Biggie, such as Lil' Kim and Junior M.A.F.I.A. Bronx rapper Chino XL was also insulted for vulgar comments he made about Shakur on his song "Riiiot!". In the original recording, Shakur also insulted Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, and Lil' Cease at the ending segment, but removed it after partial issues with the microphone and being convinced by Outlawz members that they had nothing to do with the conflict between Death Row and Bad Boy.

Reader's Guide

"Hit 'Em Up" had a large role in exacerbating the East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry. Following its release, the East Coast rappers insulted in the song responded through tracks of their own. The controversy surrounding the song is due in part to Shakur's murder in a drive-by-shooting only three months after its release. The song is regarded as among the greatest diss tracks ever recorded. The music video for "Hit 'Em Up" was filmed in a warehouse off Slauson Avenue near the Fox Hills Mall in Los Angeles on June 3, 1996. It was filmed by the production company Look Hear Productions. The video featured actors impersonating Biggie, Puffy, and Lil' Kim.

Did You Know?

• The bassline and drum loop of the soundtrack are replayed samples from 'Don't Look Any Further' by Dennis Edwards, previously used in Eric B. & Rakim's 'Paid in Full'.
• The chorus of 'Hit 'Em Up' is a play on the chorus of Junior M.A.F.I.A's 'Player's Anthem'.
• The song features the word 'fuck' or 'motherfucker' 46 times and was issued a Parental Advisory label.
• Journalist Chuck Philips spotted Faith Evans at Can Am when he interviewed Shakur in 1995; people at the studio told him she recorded one or more 'Take Money' background vocals for the song.