Puff Daddy & Snoop Dogg Symbolically Use 1995 Source Awards Footage To Put BEEF To Bed (Video)
In an evening that saw a surprise Drake mixtape, and two star-studded Kanye West events in Manhattan, Puff Daddy and Snoop Dogg may have scored the most historical moment, as far as Hip-Hop is concerned.
At Madison Square Garden, the two veteran MCs, producers, and record executives co-headlined a New York City concert for the first time in history. Quite notably, the NBA All-Star-related event took place at the same exact venue, that 20 years ago, they were perceived as public foes. Although the two artists were friends in the early ’90s, just as they were in the late ’90s, this infamous part of history is forever associated with each.
On August 3, 1995 The second annual Source Awards took place on MSG’s Paramount Theater stage. There, Death Row Records and Bad Boy Records squared off in a war of words—mostly subliminal—at the podium, involving Suge Knight, Puff Daddy, Snoop Dogg, and The Notorious B.I.G., among other artists. The ensuing 18 months would lead to diss songs, videos, and interviews—and quite ultimately, to the murders of 2Pac and Biggie, with lots of allegations and suspicions pointed at the opposite parties.
Diddy, who rarely speaks about the so-called “East vs. West Coast Beef” of the mid-1990s, entered the stage wanting fans (including those watching on stream) to be fully aware of the monumental statement of last night’s concert.
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“…I also came here to set some shit right, as y’all saw on the screen,” said the Bad Boy Records founder/CEO after opening the show with footage from 1995 of Knight’s famed rant. “That negative energy started right here, right on this very stage,” Puffy continued. “If you about positivity, make some noise. So that’s what this is about, man. This is setting that scene straight, as if we can go back, but we can’t. But we get to celebrate on this stage.” The mogul kicked off his set with “Victory,” a Notorious B.I.G.-assisted hit from his 1997 debut album, No Way Out. Just as the song, in its day, seemingly tied into the feud, the performance comes as former rival Suge Knight awaits two trails, one featuring a murder charge that could keep him imprisoned for the rest of his life.
Notably, Snoop’s set welcomed Dr. Dre, who was also involved in the 1995 incident, and a former co-founder at Death Row. Faith Evans performed, another alum from the 20 year-old controversial footage. Former Bad Boy acts such as Black Rob, 112, and The LOX appeared. Lil’ Kim and Nas also performed in the evening. While neither was ever signed to Bad Boy, both MCs were entrenched in the ensuing feuds involving the labels, and 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G.
According to a WFTV report, tribute songs were performed, in addition to videos from the aforementioned slain superstars. “Notorious B.I.G. videos played in the background — as did one from Tupac Shakur — while the crowd and rappers danced excitedly. A choir joined Diddy, Evans and 112 for ‘I’ll Be Missing You,’ the song dedicated to the late B.I.G.,” reportedly transpired.
Artists who watched the historic beef play out in the ’90s, including Busta Rhymes, Doug E. Fresh, Naughty By Nature, Jermaine Dupri, and Jadakiss participated in the statement of peace, while today’s stars such as Kanye West, T.I., Big Sean, 2 Chainz, French Montana, and A$AP Ferg also performed.
How do you feel about this historic and symbolic statement? Will it be included in the chapters surrounding Rap (and its uglier era) to come?