The East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud of the 1990s, primarily involving Tupac Shakur, Sean "Diddy" Combs, and The Notorious B.I.G., remains one of the most infamous sagas in music history. What began as a personal falling-out between former friends Tupac and Biggie after a 1994 shooting at Quad Studios in New York escalated into a deadly rivalry. Tupac believed Diddy and Biggie were involved in the ambush, fueling his anger and intensifying the conflict. After being bailed out of prison by Death Row Records' CEO Suge Knight, Tupac fully aligned himself with the West Coast and released the infamous diss track "Hit 'Em Up," publicly attacking Biggie and Bad Boy Records. As the feud gained national attention, gang affiliations on both sides deepened the animosity. Suge Knight’s provocations and media sensationalism only fueled the escalating tension between Death Row and Bad Boy.

The rivalry ultimately culminated in the tragic murders of both Tupac and Biggie. Tupac was shot in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, after a violent altercation with Orlando Anderson, a known gang member, and died six days later. Less than six months later, on March 9, 1997, Biggie was gunned down in Los Angeles after attending a party. Both murders remain officially unsolved, although recent developments, including the indictment of Duane "Keefe D" Davis in connection with Tupac’s death, have revived hope of uncovering the truth. The legacies of Tupac and Biggie continue to influence hip-hop, serving as stark reminders of the violent cost of fame and the dangerous intersection of music, street life, and power.

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