By Criss
By Ruth Hawkins
Published on April 15, 2024, at 1:00 AM PDT
In a recent revelation, hip-hop icon Busta Rhymes peeled back the layers of one of the most contentious verses in rap history. The verse in question appears in one of Biggie’s tracks and takes direct aim at the late Tupac Shakur during their infamous feud.
During an episode of the popular “All The Smoke” podcast, Busta, affectionately known as “Bus-A-Bus,” delved into the backstory of Biggie’s verse on “Dangerous MC’s.” What makes this revelation even more intriguing is that Biggie didn’t physically write down the verse; instead, it materialized spontaneously in the studio
“We were all in the same studio, but Biggie wasn’t present,” Busta recounted. “Interestingly, I don’t know if anyone had their rhymes prepared or even a fragment of it. But no one recorded their lines because everyone was waiting to see what Biggie would bring to the table.”
The tension in the room was palpable. Nas and Method Man had already laid down their verses, but Biggie’s absence left an air of anticipation. Busta continued, “We were in the motherfuckin’ studio, and Branson—the guy selling the most incredible bud in the hood—had these jars that looked like pickle jars. Cease rolled the blunts, and Biggie would show up with these Branson jars. He’d roll blunt after blunt, just sitting in one of those studio chairs with wheels, bobbing his head to the beat.”
Hours passed, and Biggie remained seemingly unfazed, not jotting down a single word. Busta recalled, “After about three hours, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I asked him, ‘My n-gga, you ain’t gonna drop that verse?’ And Biggie calmly replied, ‘I’m ready, Buss.’”
What followed was nothing short of poetic mastery. Biggie stepped into the recording booth and effortlessly delivered the verse that would reverberate through hip-hop history:
"Diamonds on my neck, chrome drop-top,
Chillin’ on the scene, smokin’ pounds of green,
Oooh-wee, you see, the ugliest,
Money-hungriest, Brooklyn Loch Ness,
Nine millimeter cock test, wan fi’ test?
And the winner is, not that thinner kid,
Bandanas, tattoos, my skin never bruise,
Land still cruise, Frank White…"
Busta found himself caught between loyalty to his friend Tupac (2Pac), whom Biggie had directly targeted, and his role as a mediator. “I love these n-ggas, man,” Busta reflected. “I get to be the bridge. I can’t add fuel to this fire, but I won’t extinguish it either.”
U ltimately, Diddy included Biggie’s incendiary verse on the “Born Again” album. Busta, serving as the creative director, ensured its rightful place in hip-hop lore. But the echoes of that fateful day in the studio continue to resonate, forever intertwining the legacies of Biggie, Tupac, and the art form they both shaped1.
In another nostalgic twist, Busta recently reminisced about working with Tupac, witnessing the late rapper pen multiple songs to the same beat. The threads of hip-hop history weave together, revealing the intricate tapestry of rivalries, creativity, and enduring impact2.
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