HOW 2PAC AND DMX ALMOST JOINED FORCES

[JumpinJack AJ]

https://myrapverse.com/how-2pac-dmx-almost-joined-forces-on-death-row-records/?fbclid=IwAR3WFseVXSkEqQtl1Xe9_kzTSkypHdNQqLUa6Qzotk3kWqwCHtBFfwp2fPE

How 2Pac & DMX Almost Joined Forces on Death Row Records

DJ Skandalous

Last updated: 12/20/22 at 9:43 PM

The Year is 1994. 2Pac is filming his iconic Basketball/Hood Classic Movie “Above The Rim”. During this time 2Pac was still apart of Interscope Records. During a meet-up in New York, Pac met with Suge Knight. The two knew each other before their iconic Death Row days, as Suge got 2Pac to do a track for the “Murder Was The Case Soundtrack”. Suge ended up paying $200K for the song “Life’s So Hard”. The original track was not released however it was re-worked by 2Pac and Snoop. This song would later be enhanced further in 1997 for the Gang Related Soundtrack. The seeds for Suge signing 2Pac was already set in place before 2Pac would be incarcerated.

During this time, Suge also met with Irv Gotti and The Ruff Ryders in an attempt to sign DMX, Swizz Beatz, Irv Gotti and their crew to Death Row Records.

The founders of Ruff Ryder Entertainment Joaquin “Waah”, Darin “Dee” and Chivon Dean spoke on the matter. They said that they were close to signing, but the deal was not in their favor and they feared that their rappers would get slighted in the partnership with Ruff Ryder producers having to mainly produce for Westcoast artist instead of focusing on their team from Yonkers.

Swizz Beats also talked about how Suge Knight tried to strong-arm them into a deal. Pictured below are both 2Pac and Suge Knight with the Ruff Ryders in 1994. DMX however was not pictured here. There are several reports that Death Row again tried to sign them in 1995 and even flew them out to a LA Hotel which Pac was at and that 2Pac was supposed to speak to DMX about the East Coast drama.

This meeting could have further solidified Death Row into a Music Powerhouse of the 90s. Signing DMX and Ruff Ryders would have also been ideal for the iconic music label seeing how they had plans to create a sub-label called “Death Row East” in 1997. This expansion into New York would have positioned Eric B. as its President and Craig Mack and Bootcamp Clique as their first signings. However, 2Pac never came downstairs as he was too busy with several meetings taking place which could have prevented these parties from joining forces. DMX would later go on to diss 2Pac on several Freestyles and unreleased records in 1996. These lyrics would be used later on by DMX on his first album “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot” for the classic 1998 track “Get At Me Dog” with the 2Pac lines replaced.

It’s debatable if this was DMX just trying to get attention because if 2Pac responded to anyone it would blow them up, or if DMX felt slighted about Pac not coming down to the hotel lobby to meet them. Either way, Ruff Ryders probably made the best choice they could make. But DMX, Irv Gotti and Swizz Beatz with Pac on Death Row would have been legendary