2Pac‘s still-unsolved murder is approaching its 27th anniversary, but like many fans who resonated with his music, the late rap icon remains on Nas’ mind.
The Queensbridge lyricist released his new album Magic 2 on Friday (July 21), and in the final moments of the Hit-Boy produced project, he shares a fond memory of Tupac Shakur.
AD LOADING...
During the spoken word outro of “Pistols On Your Album Cover” — a nod to Boogie Down Productions’ militant artwork — Nas recalls introducing ‘Pac to the intoxicating allure of Hennessy.
“I remember I put 2Pac onto that Henny,” he says. “Howard University… Howard Homecoming, D.C…. He was like, ‘What’s this?!’… He drank that shit, though… Word… Crazy. Super hard.”
The All Eyez On Me rapper would go on to rap about the French cognac brand several times, most notably on his 1996 hit “How Do U Want It” and posthumous 2004 song “Hennessy” which featured Obie Trice.
Elsewhere on “Pistols On Your Album Cover,” Nas salutes 2Pac’s late stepfather, Mutulu Shakur, who passed away aged 72 earlier this month.
AD LOADING...
“Money’s lovely but I could care less who has more than me/ I’m just happy Mutulu Shakur got free/ May he rest in peace, he was a warrior all of his days,” he raps.
This is far from the first time Esco has reflected on his somewhat turbulent relationship with ‘Pac during his recent career resurgence.
On “Death Row East,” from his 2021 album King’s Disease II, Nas recalled his brother Jungle confronting 2Pac about a perceived diss and flying out to Las Vegas to meet ‘Pac in hopes of squashing the infamous East Coast vs. West Coast beef.
Sadly, the peace talks never materialized as 2Pac passed away on September 13, 1996, six days after being shot in a drive-by in Sin City. However, the pair were able to resolve their own issues at the MTV Video Music Awards that June.
AD LOADING...
“Before Makaveli the Don left/ Booked a flight, flying out West/ We was tryna squash the whole shit in Vegas/ No media to eat it up and leak it in the papers,” Nas rapped on the song.
He then explained: “I flew to Vegas to shoot the ‘Street Dreams’ video and link with 2Pac. Tried to squash the East Coast/West Coast beef. We didn’t talk, but he was still alive in the hospital. And it rained that day in Vegas. Rest In Power.”
AD LOADING...
The pair’s feud began earlier that year after 2Pac thought Nas dissed him on his It Was Written track “The Message,” on which he rapped: “Fake thug, no love, you get the slug, CB4 Gusto.”
Stream Nas’ Magic 2, which features guest appearances from 50 Cent and 21 Savage, in full below:
