Hit 'Em Up

On June 4, 1996, 2Pac and the Outlawz dropped what remains the most venomous diss track in hip-hop history. Recorded at Can Am Studios on April 19, 1996, with an early version dating back to October 31, 1995, the song targets the Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Mobb Deep, and Chino XL. Producer Johnny "J" built the beat around a sample of "Don't Look Any Further" by Dennis Edwards and the drum break from "Impeach the President" by the Honeydrippers. The result is a menacing, synth-driven track that journalist Chuck Philips described as "a caustic anti–East Coast jihad."

The music video, directed by J. Kevin Swain, shows 2Pac and the Outlawz in a warehouse, with actors portraying Biggie, Puffy, and Lil' Kim being ridiculed. The song's aggression escalated the East Coast–West Coast feud to a dangerous level. According to Lance "Un" Rivera, the Notorious B.I.G. cried upon first hearing the track. Three months later, 2Pac was killed in a drive-by shooting, forever linking the song to the tragedy.

Nearly three decades later, "Hit 'Em Up" continues to resonate. In December 2025, it debuted on a Billboard chart, marking another posthumous milestone. The track has been referenced by artists like NLE Choppa, who cited it as inspiration for his 2025 diss "KO." It also remains the subject of legal disputes, with Amaru Entertainment seeking dismissal of a royalties lawsuit filed by a producer's widow. [edit]