Hit 'Em Up

About this song

The track was planned by 2Pac while he was still in prison, according to Outlawz rappers E.D.I. Mean and Young Noble. It was recorded in May 1996 at the Cam-Am studios in Los Angeles with Johnny J, who sampled the bassline from Dennis Edwards's 1984 song "Don't Look Any Further" and interpolated two Junior M.A.F.I.A. songs. The video was filmed in a warehouse on June 3, 1996, and it spawned controversy that intensified the East Coast–West Coast rivalry.

What it's about

The song is a diss track aimed at Biggie Smalls, P. Diddy and Mobb Deep, and it includes direct threats of violence. It grew out of 2Pac's feud with Biggie and Bad Boy Records, which he traced to a 1994 shooting at Quad Recording Studios.

Fun facts

• Samples “Don't Look Any Further by Dennis Edwards (Ft. Siedah Garrett)”.
• Sampled in 107 other songs, like “Hit 'Em Up by Eminem (Ft. D12)”.
• Covered 4 times, including “Went Out Bad, Bhabie by Woah Vicky”.
• Written by 2Pac, E.D.I. Mean, Hussein Fatal, Yaki Kadafi, Johnny J and Duane Hitchings.
• Produced by Johnny J and 2Pac.