The “facts”—the reality inserted into the lyrics of diss rap whenever disputes arise between two or more rappers—have long been an unwritten norm in the hip-hop community that cannot be altered. There are rappers who trade words, some who throw and some who catch, or those that have different “frequency” in their beliefs, way of life, or lyrics. These rappers readily pick sides to “des troy” one another and even start actual feuds in real life. The strong animosity between the two forces of the East and West of the United States is one of, if not the most severe and iconic confrontations in the underground world’s history.
For many years, the US East Coast has been regarded as the “cradle” of hip-hop. This culture, which is rich in diversity and unique personality, was born in New York City. If the East Coast is home to well-known rappers like Nas, Jay-Z, Diddy, and Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie), the West Coast is not far behind, boasting legendary artists like Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, and Shakur (2Pac).

This major conf lict had an impact that extended well beyond the borders of the music industry in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The world also witnessed the strug gle that turned into a “blo od w ar” when Biggie and 2Pac, two young talents, killed one after the other. Despite the fact that “peaceful order” was restored following that violent incident, numerous “cons piracy theories” concerning the enigmatic force behind it are being subtly circulated. All the components point to Sean Diddy Combs, the “se xual hunter” who stu nned the world media during a string of recent, grave charges.

Civil War Between the East and West Coasts: From Brothers to Enemies
Speaking briefly of the distinctions between the two regions, the West Coast is well-known for its conventional g angster rap style, while the East Coast “claims dominance” with its original, classic hip-hop style.

The music of the East Coast is primarily based on samples of jazz, funk, and joul pieces. The lyrics lead and reflect on societal issues and challenges in urban living, and they are rich in language and storytelling with a soothing tone.

West Coast songs, which are primarily about having fun, partying all night, and becoming famous, have a brighter colour due to their influence from gangsta rap. As a result, musicians in this area also prefer appealing, catchy tunes with powerful bass.

Having worked together on numerous stages and projects, Tupac Shakur (2Pac) and Biggie were close pals. It all began in October 1994 when Shakur was robbed of $40,000 and shot in the Quad Studios foyer. If Biggie and Diddy hadn’t been at the premises where the shooting occurred, everything would have been OK.

Shakur was charged with se x ual a ssa ult and appeared in court 24 hours after being shot. He received a one-year jail sentence. Biggie released the controversial B-side Who Shot Ya? in February 1995 while the rapper was incarcerated. The song’s lyrics were, “Come on… and open your filthy lips. I told you not to touch me, didn’t I? You can’t converse while holding a g u n to your mouth.
After his release from prison, Shakur shared in an interview that Puffy, Biggie and Andre Harrell, the president of Uptown Records, were the masterminds behind the shooting. Although sources immediately clarified that Biggie and Diddy had nothing to do with it, the song was recorded before the shooting, further confirming that it was a deliberate “showdown.”

Shakur’s accusations contributed to a division within the rap scene and among fans, especially as the West Coast Hip-hop community grew and expanded its market share on the music map, causing the once-dominant East Coast “playground” to falter.

The back-and-forth reached its clim ax when Suge Knight, founder of Dea th Row Records, the label Shakur later joined, “named” Diddy at the 1995 Source Awards. He said: “Any artist out there who wants to be creative and be a star, and not worry about your producer trying to get as much screen time as possible in your music videos, come to Dea th Row.”

Suge Knight’s “troll” of Diddy on television quickly stirred up the media at that time. This was considered a fatal “sla p” to Diddy’s narcissistic behavior when he regularly appeared in every music video of his “homegrown artist” under Bad Boy Records.

2Pac and Biggie’s cruel shot – Peace is established

On September 7, 1996, Shakur “collided” with Orlando Anderson, a member of the notorious Crips g ang who had attacked Suge Knight’s bodyguard not long before. While waiting at a red light in Suge Knight’s black BMW, a white Cadillac drove up and gunfire erupted. Shakur was shot multiple times and died on September 12, 1996, 6 days after the ma ssa cre.