Tuesday, March 11, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
The two rappers were the central characters in that rivalry, but some observers of the rap scene say focusing on that is unfair.
Phyllis Pollack, a publicist who has represented several rap stars, including the Geto Boys and N.W.A., said it's too early to speculate on what role the bicoastal feud had in their deaths.
"Sure, there's been this competition, but that's been since day one, but we don't have artists on the West Coast saying, 'Let's kill off all of those East Coast rappers so we can sell more records on the East Coast," she said.
Jesse Washington, managing editor of VIBE magazine, acknowledged there was animosity between the rappers but cautioned against trying to read too much into the deaths. VIBE magazine sponsored the party that B.I.G. attended before his death Sunday.
"I think all I can say right now is that it's too early to attribute this to a coastal rivalry, Tupac revenge or anything else because there's just so many different possibilities and aspects to this whole situation," said Washington, a former Associated Press reporter.
More importantly, Washington said, the deaths are a "sad reflection on the level of violence in our community."
But Chaka Zulu, a cousin of Tupac Shakur's, disagreed.
"I think to some extent this was a retaliation for Pac's death," said Zulu, who is music director for Atlanta-area rap station WHTA-FM. "I don't think it came out of Pac's camp, though. I think it came from people that are caught up in the hype of the music and the East-Coast-West Coast thing. As said as it is, it empowers some people to say, 'This is my coast!"'
The Notorious B.I.G., whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was leaving a party celebrating the Soul Train Awards when someone drove by and shot through the passenger side door of the GMC Suburban where he was sitting. The driver of B.I.G.'s car drove to a hospital, where 24-year-old Wallace was pronounced dead.
Los Angeles police Lt. Ross Moen said Wallace died of multiple 9 mm gunshot wounds to the upper body. Police were interviewing about 200 witnesses and hope to soon release a sketch of the gunman, who is described as black, in his early 20s and believed to be driving a dark-colored sedan.
The gunman pulled along side of Wallace's vehicle at a stop light and fired before speeding away. One of three vehicles in Wallace's group tried to follow the suspect, but couldn't keep up with him, Moen said.
"We're not overlooking any possibilities of a payback or gang-related type shooting, (and) we're not overlooking the fact that this was possibly a hit, a direct target, coming out of possibly New York. It could come out of L.A. It could come out of Atlanta," Moen said.
No arrests have been made in the September shooting of Shakur, 25, either.
Shakur was in Las Vegas with Death Row Records founder Marion "Suge" Knight on Sept. 7 when he was shot near the Las Vegas Strip while sitting in the passenger seat of Knight's car. Shakur was rushed to the hospital, but died one week later. Knight suffered minor injuries and has been described as uncooperative by Las Vegas police.
On Monday, Death Row Records, which Knight ran and that produced Shakur, sent official condolences to friends and family of B.I.G.
"Having just had the untimely death of one of our own, Tupac Shakur, by way of the same senseless violence, we do sympathize with those closest to Mr. Wallace," a statement read.
Relations between the two rappers, once best of friends, became hostile as they competed for fans, fame and women.
The rivalry developed in the 1980s as West Coast rappers grew in popularity, surpassing many East Coast rappers' record sales. The Notorious B.I.G. was credited with helping put the East Coast rap scene back on the map a few years ago while building his gangsta rap persona around authenticity.
The feud between Wallace and Shakur was more than just a regional rivalry, however. It was very personal. It accelerated in 1994 after Shakur was robbed of $40,000 worth of jewelry and shot several times. Shakur, who was born in the Bronx but lived in California as an adult, claimed Wallace was behind the attack.
Wallace, also known as Biggie Smalls, always denied involvement, but Shakur held fast to his belief.
Shakur also claimed to have slept with Faith Evans, Wallace's estranged wife. Shakur bragged about his conquest in a song.
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Contributing to this story were staff writers Paula Story in Los Angeles and Nekesa Moody in Albany, N.Y.
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