Biggie Smalls, Suge Knight, Puff Daddy, Snoop Dogg In The Same Room In The Early ’90s? Check The Tapes (Video)

Much has been written, speculated, and sadly, testified in the rift between Bad Boy Records and Death Row Records in the mid-to-late 1990s. While Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. were once friends and collaborators, Heads often fail to realize that prior to the 1995 Source Awards, things were not always so tense between the CEOs of both record labels.

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There is a famous photograph of Death Row’s CEO/co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight and Bad Boy’s CEO/founder Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs at a party. In classic Suge style, he rests his arm on Puff’s shoulder, jockeying for rank as well as showing the lens his “MOB” ring, and its ties to the Compton neighborhood. Very little is known of that night. However, a slept-on YouTube video breaks it all down in living color…

New York Party Scene, an underground Rap video show from the 1990s, hailing from Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, attended the presumed 1994 New York City release party for Murder Was The Case, the film. While the hosting is a bit “unique,” Lefty Left had the foresight and access to speak with Suge Knight, Dr. Dre, Puff Daddy, Snoop Dogg, Lil’ Cease, and even Biggie Smalls.

There’s some quality entertainment here, from Dre’s clear discomfort with the questions, Suge’s annoyed attitude, and of course Biggie being asked to freestyle for the cameras. However, there’s a lot to learn here too. This is one of the ONLY places you’ll ever find Dre talking about his later-shelved/botched Helter Skelter album with Ice Cube. You’ll see Cease take a jab at Murder Was The Case/Death Row, even before the beef started. You’ll see how real Biggie was to even the thirstiest of requests. Also, comb the room, and you’ll see a who’s who of stars from the day, including a short-haired DJ Evil Dee, and others.

Rest In Peace to Biggie and Tupac. It’s a shame that the peace had to cease. What do you gather from this moment in time?

Related: Suge Knight Weighs In On Dr. Dre’s Chronic Influencing Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready To Die

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